Rega Planar 3 vs Rekkord M500
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Rega Planar 3 · Rekkord M500.
| Specification | Rega Planar 3 |
Rekkord M500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Highlighted difference. $1,125 | $1,199 |
| Category | Hi-fi | Hi-fi |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2016–present | 2023–present |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | Rega Exact (optional fit) | Highlighted difference. Ortofon 2M Blue |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | 12mm float glass | aluminium |
| Tonearm | RB330 | 8.3" ULM aluminium, gimbal bearing |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
The Rega Planar 3 undercuts the Rekkord M500 by $74 — $1,125 against $1,199.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
Bottom line: the Rega Planar 3 has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $74 gap.
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Rega Planar 3…
Retailer searches
7 US retailers stock Rega — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Advice | hifi independent | Free shipping on most orders. | View at Audio Advice ↗ |
| Music Direct | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $49. | View at Music Direct ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | View at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | View at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| World Wide Stereo | hifi independent | Free shipping on all orders. | View at World Wide Stereo ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Rekkord M500…