Thanks to a phenolic-resin skin and upgraded particulate core-material, the plinth is also lighter than its predecessor, while the new RB303 ’arm features a newly designed tube said to increase rigidity. With a phenolic-resin “double brace” creating a “stressed beam” between the main-bearing hub and tonearm mount, Rega’s Planar 3 is a significant step forward. You won’t get much frequency extension or wide dynamics here, but what you will get is the pace, musical interplay, and involvement that make analog special. The ’arm is the new RB101, which comes pre-mounted with a Carbon moving-magnet cartridge. Perhaps even more remarkably, Rega is able to achieve this while keeping all manufacturing in the UK! Building on success, the P1 uses the classic Rega motor, drive system, and main bearing, but instead of a glass platter this one is made of MDF. That doesn’t mean the Planar 1 performs at exactly the same level as the original Planar 2 or 3, but it does mean that Rega’s commitment to value remains paramount. It’s notable that Rega’s entry-level ’table today sells for roughly the same price it did some 20 years ago. New DC model offers a higher-precision power supply. It doesn’t excel in any one area but gets the basics so right that it’s hard to criticize what’s lacking-because, after all, that’s what good entry-level models should provide: a solid foundation for musical pleasure. Pre-mounted with Ortofon’s 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge, the Carbon offers all one expects from a modestly priced ’table.
The most significant upgrade to Pro-Ject’s latest Debut is found in the model’s name, which refers to the lighter, more rigid, single-piece 8.6″ carbon-fiber armtube that replaces the Debut III’s aluminum tube.