Rega Planar 3 vs Thorens TD 402 DD
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Rega Planar 3 · Thorens TD 402 DD.
| Specification | Rega Planar 3 |
Thorens TD 402 DD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,125 | Highlighted difference. $1,100 |
| Category | Hi-fi | Hi-fi |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2016–present | 2019–present |
| Drive | belt drive | direct drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | semi-automatic |
| Cartridge supplied | Rega Exact (optional fit) | Highlighted difference. Audio-Technica AT-VM95E |
| Phono stage | No | Highlighted difference. Yes |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | 12mm float glass | aluminium |
| Tonearm | RB330 | straight aluminium |
| 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 Thorens TD 402 DD undercuts the Rega Planar 3 by $25 — $1,100 against $1,125.
The mechanics differ too: the Rega Planar 3 is belt-drive, the Thorens TD 402 DD is direct-drive. The Thorens TD 402 DD gets instant start-up, rock-steady speed under load, and enough torque to nudge or backspin the record — the reason DJs and scratch decks are built this way.
The Thorens TD 402 DD has a built-in phono stage. Skip the phono stage and you'll need one built into your amp, or a separate box, to play through normal speakers.
Operation differs: the Rega Planar 3 is manual, the Thorens TD 402 DD is semi-automatic.
Bottom line: $25 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.
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 Thorens TD 402 DD…
Retailer searches
2 US retailers stock Thorens — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |