Rega Planar 3 turntable
Hi-fi turntables · 2016–present In production
$1,125 US reference price
Rega Planar 3 is a current belt-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback hi-fi turntable. The US reference price is $1,125.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- Phono input or preamp needed
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Cartridge identified
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Budget for a phono input or separate phono preamp as well as amplification and speakers. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
A widely recommended entry point into serious hi-fi, particularly among UK dealers. The current version pairs the RB330 arm with a lightweight, rigid plinth and 12mm glass platter; buy it bare or with a factory-fitted Rega cartridge.
The benchmark mid-range turntable since 1977 — every rival is measured against it.
Model history: The current Planar 3 (2016) replaced the multi-award-winning RP3 in what Rega calls the biggest redesign of the model ever, keeping only the dustcover and hinges; it introduced a new 24V motor with improved control PCB and the new RB330 tonearm (replacing the RB303) with zero-tolerance bearings and a stiffer bearing housing.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Rega Exact (optional fit) |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | 12mm float glass |
| Tonearm | RB330 |
| Dimensions | 447 x 117 x 360 mm (W x H x D, lid closed) |
| Weight | 13.2 lb (6 kg) |
| Finishes | Light Oak Effect is a newer addition (2024) — verify DB includes it alongside white/black/red gloss. |
| Warranty | Lifetime Limited Warranty against manufacturing defects (excludes wear and tear/consumable parts) |
| Years | 2016–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (151 of 183). On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 67% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Rega Exact.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $1,125. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the Rega Planar 3
7 US retailers stock Rega — linked directly to the product page where we have one, otherwise to a site search for the deck.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Direct | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $49. | View at Music Direct ↗ |
| 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 ↗ |
| Audio Advice | hifi independent | Free shipping on most orders. | Search at Audio Advice ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
| World Wide Stereo | hifi independent | Free shipping on all orders. | Search at World Wide Stereo ↗ |