Rega Planar 2 red laqué avec cellule Nd3

Rega Planar 2 Turntable with Rega Nd3 Cartridge

The Rega Planar 2 is a manual turntable designed in the United Kingdom. It now comes factory-fitted with the new Nd3 moving magnet cartridge, developed over a period of 10 years, which replaces the multi-award-winning Elys 2 moving magnet cartridge. This new cartridge promises significantly higher performance by using ultra-powerful neodymium magnets, enabling this completely unique design.

The Planar 2 is the result of two years of development carried out in parallel with the latest Planar 3. It stands out thanks to its RB220 tonearm, ultra-quiet 24 V motor, and high-gloss laminated acrylic plinth.

Design and manufacturing

Plinth and base

The plinth, made from an ultra-rigid laminated acrylic material, minimizes resonance to ensure stable playback. The turntable’s design is enhanced by a transparent dust cover, which protects the unit from dust and debris when not in use. The base is available in three elegant finishes: high-gloss black, lacquered white, and red.

Polished glass platter

The turntable is equipped with a 10 mm floating glass platter, which provides a stable, resonance-free platform for the record. The platter is made from high-quality Optiwhite glass, ensuring excellent clarity and a sleek appearance. Under the platter, a new self-securing main brass bearing (patent pending) offers a better fit and reduces stress on the bearing, preventing the transfer of potential energy.

Low-noise 24V motor

The Planar 2 + Nd3 is equipped with a low-noise, low-vibration 24V motor, as well as a redesigned printed circuit board. This advanced motor system ensures constant speed and minimal vibration, resulting in cleaner, more accurate sound. The turntable offers manual speed control, allowing users to easily switch between 33 1/3 and 45 revolutions per minute.

Tonearm and cartridge

Rega RB220 tonearm

The RB220 tonearm is a centerpiece of the Planar 2. Made entirely from aluminum, it provides excellent rigidity and high tracking accuracy. The ultra-low-friction bearings, designed by Rega, are housed in a redesigned, lighter, and stiffer assembly. The RB220 incorporates an anti-skating mechanism as well as an adjustable counterweight to precisely set tracking force. A cueing lever allows smooth raising and lowering of the tonearm, and a clip holds the arm in its rest position after use.

Nd3 moving magnet cartridge

The Planar 2 + Nd3 is supplied from the factory with the Rega Nd3 moving magnet cartridge, a high-quality option that delivers excellent sound performance straight out of the box. The Nd3 cartridge is fitted with a diamond stylus and a lightweight aluminum cantilever, ensuring precise tracking and minimal distortion. The cartridge’s moving magnet design provides a balanced, dynamic sound with a wide frequency response and good channel separation.

Sound performance

The Rega Planar 2 delivers very high-level sound reproduction, combining clarity, dynamics, and musicality. Every element of its design has been optimized to extract the maximum amount of detail from the grooves of vinyl records.

The laminated plinth and polished glass platter ensure stable playback, free from unwanted vibrations. The low-noise 24V motor guarantees smooth, silent platter rotation with no audible speed fluctuation.

Thanks to its high rigidity and precision bearings, the RB220 tonearm enables the Nd3 cartridge to follow the grooves faithfully and capture every subtlety of the recording. The cartridge’s compliance is perfectly matched to the tonearm’s mass for optimal synergy.

The Planar 2 thus reproduces all the harmonic richness and dynamics of your vinyl records. Tonal colors are natural, voices are present, and the musical message remains intact. The soundstage is wide and stable, with impressive depth.

Ease of installation and use

The Rega Planar 2 is almost ready to play straight out of the box. Only a few simple settings remain to be made, such as adjusting the counterweight and anti-skating. The Nd3 cartridge is already pre-mounted and factory-aligned. The turntable is equipped with a standard RCA output, allowing easy connection to a phono preamplifier or to an amplifier with a built-in phono input. It also comes with a detachable power cord, making it simple to integrate into your audio system.

Day-to-day use of the turntable is a real pleasure thanks to its well-thought-out ergonomics. The controls are intuitive and well laid out, offering a smooth experience. The cueing lever allows precise handling of the tonearm, while the power switch is easily accessible.

Main advantages

• Careful design and manufacturing, premium-quality materials
• Laminated plinth and polished glass platter for optimal stability
• Quiet, consistent 24V motor, belt drive
• Rigid, precise aluminum RB220 tonearm with high-performance bearings
• Pre-mounted Rega Nd3 cartridge, matched to the tonearm, faithful groove tracking
• Clear, dynamic, and musical sound reproduction, rich in detail
• Elegant lacquered white finish, dust cover and felt mat included
• Easy to install and to use on a daily basis

Technical specifications

Turntable

• Speeds: 33, 45 revolutions per minute
• Motor: silent 24 V
• Plinth: high-gloss acrylic laminate
• Bearing: 11 mm self-locking brass
• Platter: 10 mm opti‑white float glass

Physical characteristics

• Dimensions (lid closed): 447 × 117 × 360 mm (W × H × D)
• Weight: 5.5 kg
• Included accessories:
  • Transparent protective dust cover
  • Felt mat

RB220 tonearm

• Construction: one‑piece aluminum tube
• Three‑point mounting system
• Extremely low friction
• Technical characteristics:
  • Effective mass: 11 g
  • Distance platter center / arm base center: 222 mm
  • Effective length: 236.5 mm
  • Overhang: 14.5 mm

Rega Nd3 cartridge

• Construction:
  • Bonded elliptical stylus
  • Aluminum cantilever
  • Neodymium magnet
  • Ultra‑rigid, lightweight polysulfone (PPS) body
  • Rega three‑point mounting system
• Technical specifications:
  • Nominal output voltage: 5 to 6 mV
  • Miniaturized parallel coils
  • Tracking force: 1.75 g
  • Body color: red