Rega Planar 3 RS Edition Turntable
Hear voices with more body and instruments with more room around them, without making record playing more complicated.
An upgrade should change more than the finish
Moving up from a simpler record player should bring out more of the texture in a voice and make larger recordings feel less crowded. A different finish or a longer feature list doesn't tell you how much of that you will hear. You also need to know whether the cartridge and power supply are included or will be extra purchases.
A better deck, not just a better cartridge
We chose the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition because it improves the deck as well as the cartridge. You get the Nd5 factory fitted, a Neo Mk2 supply matched to the individual motor, a Reference EBLT belt and an aluminium-skinned HPL plinth. You hear more body in voices and more space between instruments, especially when several are playing at once.
A standard Planar 3 can also be ordered with the Nd5. If you're comparing those two versions, the cartridge is the same; the RS's plinth, belt and matched Neo supply are what change.
On a living-room sideboard, leave room for the Neo supply as well as the turntable. Keep the deck on a level, rigid surface away from the speakers, and put the Neo as far from the turntable as its cable allows to reduce the chance of hum pickup. Keep its power and speed buttons within easy reach.
The Neo is a motor power supply, not a phono preamplifier. Connect the RS's RCA leads to an MM phono input, or to an external MM phono stage before a line input. The cartridge is factory fitted, but the arm still needs to be balanced and its tracking force set before the first record.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Give voices and instruments more body
Listen to an acoustic guitar and you should hear the wooden body as well as the strings. With a voice, listen for its tone and the small changes in phrasing, not just whether the words are clear. The Nd5 cartridge and RB330 arm help bring out those details.
Hear the space between instruments
The brushed finish is an aluminium skin over HPL, not a solid aluminium chassis. The HPL and bracing make the plinth more rigid without adding much weight. That helps keep the singer and instruments separate when the music gets busy, so you can follow each part.
Change speed without lifting the platter
The Neo Mk2 switches between 33⅓ and 45 rpm at a button press, so you don't remove the platter and reposition the belt. Rega matches the Neo to the individual motor to keep vibration down and the platter turning steadily. That matters to a sustained piano note as well as the timing of a bass line. You still lower and lift the arm yourself; the speed button doesn't make this an automatic turntable.
How it compares with the standard P3
What Hi-Fi? compared the RS directly with the Planar 3/Nd3 and heard fuller voices, more detail and a wider sense of space. The reviewers also fitted the standard deck with an Nd5, Neo supply and upgraded belt, but still preferred the RS for its scale, precision and sense of space.
The Audio Two Verdict
If you're looking at a P3 with the Nd5 and planning to add a Neo, we would put the RS beside it before you decide. The reason to choose it is the sound, not just the finish or the speed button. We would check your phono stage and where the turntable will sit, because both can affect how much of that improvement you hear. If you compare it with the P6, compare prices with a cartridge fitted rather than the P6's no-cartridge price.
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| More texture in voices and acoustic instruments | Factory-fitted Nd5 moving-magnet cartridge with a nude elliptical diamond stylus |
| Individual parts stay easier to follow as a recording gets busier | RB330 tonearm with low-friction, high-precision bearings |
| A clearer sense of space around instruments | Aluminium-skinned HPL plinth and bracing between the arm and main bearing |
| Sustained notes sound steady rather than wavering | Individually matched motor circuit, Neo Mk2 supply and Reference EBLT belt |
| Switch between 33⅓ and 45 rpm without removing the platter | Electronic speed selection through the included Neo Mk2 supply |
Technical Highlights
- Drive and speeds: Belt drive, manual arm operation, 33⅓ and 45 rpm with electronic speed selection.
- Cartridge: Factory-fitted Rega Nd5 moving magnet; nude elliptical diamond, 5–6 mV nominal output and 1.75 g tracking force.
- Tonearm and connection: Rega RB330 with RCA phono leads; requires an MM phono input or separate MM phono stage.
- Motor and supply: Hand-tuned 24 V motor, custom-matched Neo Mk2 supply and Reference EBLT belt included.
- Plinth and finish: Aluminium-skinned HPL laminate with double bracing; dark brushed-metal finish with gloss-black edges.
- Platter and cover: 12 mm polished-edge Opti-White glass platter; smoked dust cover included.
- Size and weight: Turntable measures 447 mm W × 117 mm H × 360 mm D with the lid closed; 6.0 kg, with the Neo supply separate.
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. That said, a system at this level is worth a conversation before you commit: we can make sure it's the right fit for your room, your source, and how you actually listen. Reach out and we'll help you get it right.