TURNTABLES
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▪ Rega Planar 3/Elys2
£649
Rega’s Planar 3/Elys 2 combination wins our Product of the Year title yet again. (We said just the same thing last year.) Once again, no rival we tested this year even came close to knocking this excellent package off the top spot.
The current Planar doesn’t look terribly different from the original (from the late ’70s), and yet every part of this deck has been carefully developed leading to regular hikes in performance.
More than a facelift
The changes between this generation and the last have been significant. It starts with the glossy plinth; it’s far smarter and more rigid than before, with a pair of phenolic braces on the top and bottom surfaces that strengthen the area between the tonearm and brass main bearing – most definitely a good thing.
The all-important main bearing has been redesigned to improve fit, while there are also upgrades to the subplatter, platter, motor PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and feet. Most of these aim to improve sound, but the plinth’s gloss finish
