Rega Planar 3 RS Edition Review: A Turntable Package That Earns Its Price

Introduction

The Rega Planar 3 has long been one of the most trusted starting points for a serious vinyl setup, and the new Rega Planar 3 RS Edition packages several upgrades from higher in the Rega range into a single, factory-finished turntable. In 2023, Rega released a 50th anniversary edition of the Planar 3 with a set of meaningful improvements, but it was only available that year. It turned out to be a phenomenal value, and the RS Edition revives that idea, priced just a little above the standard Planar 3.

Rega has been hand-building its products in Southend-on-Sea in the UK since 1973, and the company has grown from a one-person operation into a business of more than 100 employees. Around 85 percent of its raw materials are sourced locally within the UK. That long-running focus on detail and build quality is why Rega turntables tend to stay in service for decades, and why 40-year-old examples often need nothing more than a minor tune-up before they are ready for another ten years of records.

Who the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition Is For

This turntable suits listeners who want a complete, factory-finished package rather than a project. The bundled ND5 cartridge arrives pre-mounted and factory tested, and Rega’s three-point mounting system keeps alignment consistent every time. If you would rather spend your first evening playing records than adjusting a cartridge, that combination matters as much as any individual specification.

The RS Edition is also the version to consider if you play a mix of 33 and 45 RPM records. The bundled external power supply switches between the two speeds at the press of a button and allows fine speed adjustment, which is a genuine convenience in daily use.

Beyond those practical points, the RS Edition makes sense for anyone who already likes the Planar 3 formula and wants the refinements Rega reserves for its more expensive models. The tonearm, cartridge, and platter are shared with the standard model, while the motor, pulley, belt, power supply, and finish are the parts that change.

Main Strengths: Tonearm and ND5 Cartridge

The RB330 tonearm is a standout in its class, thanks to precision bearings and tight tolerances, and it is designed to work perfectly with Rega phono cartridges. It is the same arm used on the standard Planar 3, and it remains one of the strongest arguments for the platform.

The ND5 cartridge is arguably the headline inclusion. It is the middle model in Rega’s ND series, a line that took more than ten years to develop and is the first family of moving magnet cartridges to use neodymium magnets. Each ND5 is hand-built by Rega technicians and uses a true elliptical nude stylus ground to exacting standards.

Rega also redesigned the generator to improve channel balance and linearity while minimizing crosstalk, which widens the sound stage. The internal coils are wound with ultra-fine 38 micron wire, producing a generator with lower inductance and impedance and impressive high-frequency detail.

The cartridge body is moulded from glass-filled PPS, a material chosen for lightweight rigidity and borrowed from Rega’s moving coil designs. In use, the ND5 is clear and dynamic, tracks better, and generates less surface noise than the Rega cartridges that came before it.

Main Strengths: Platter, Bearing, and Build Quality

The platter is another long-running Rega signature. The current design is a 12 mm thick float glass platter with excellent rotational stability, a concept Rega has refined for more than 50 years. Stable rotation locks in pitch, and that is what gives these turntables the natural rhythm and pacing they are known for.

Rega’s double brace technology is on board as well, coupling the tonearm and the main bearing with a lightweight aluminum brace to reduce flex where it matters most. Combined with the hand-built construction and locally sourced materials, it is the reason a Planar 3 tends to remain serviceable and enjoyable for a very long time.

What the RS Edition Adds Over the Standard Planar 3

The RB330 tonearm, the ND5 cartridge, the float glass platter, and the double brace design are all part of the standard Planar 3 package as well. The RS Edition sits a little above it in price, and the difference is concentrated in the parts that govern speed and day-to-day usability.

Neo Mark II External Power Supply

The RS Edition includes the Neo Mark II external power supply, which was originally introduced with the Planar 6. It lets you switch from 33 to 45 RPM at the press of a button, fine-tune the speed, and it reduces motor vibration for improved performance. In the RS Edition, the motor and the Neo Mark II are hand-tuned to each other. On its own, the Neo Mark II sells for $445.

CNC Machined Drive Pulley

The drive pulley is borrowed from the Planar 6 as well. It is a precision machined part that offers better speed accuracy than the standard pulley. Rega does not sell it separately, and its estimated value is around $100.

Reference EBLT Drive Belt

The Reference EBLT belt is the third speed-related upgrade. Rega worked with chemists to create a new belt material and built a custom machine to precision-cut each belt. Every belt is cryogenically frozen and barreled to remove imperfections, and the Reference version goes through an even more intensive curing process to achieve the roundest possible shape, which supports speed, stability, and longevity. The Reference belt sells separately for $75.

Smoked Dust Cover and Dark Brushed Aluminum Finish

A smoked dust cover, the same style used on Rega’s higher-end models, is included, and it sells separately for $135. The RS Edition also introduces a new finish, a dark brushed aluminum skin that adds extra rigidity and a more modern look. Rega does not publish a separate price for the upgraded plinth, but the other four items add up to more than $750 in value for roughly $200 more than the standard Planar 3.

Listening Impressions: How the Planar 3 RS Edition Sounds

Against the standard Planar 3 fitted with the same ND5 cartridge, the RS Edition comes across as the smoother and more relaxed of the two. Much of that character comes from the speed consistency delivered by the Neo Mark II, the CNC machined pulley, and the Reference belt, which together give the presentation a more natural, live musical feel.

There is also a hint of extra bass impact in the RS Edition, possibly a result of the aluminum plinth, although the difference is subtle. The bigger takeaway is that everything flows a little more smoothly, which is exactly what the speed-related upgrades are designed to deliver.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main limitation is cartridge choice. The RS Edition ships with the ND5 and no other cartridge is offered as part of the package. Because the ND5 is so capable, some buyers may find themselves wanting to move up to the Rega ND7 or to an Ania moving coil cartridge later, and those would be separate purchases.

If you already own the 50th anniversary Planar 3, there is no pressing reason to replace it. That said, when the stylus eventually needs replacing, the ND5 is a strong step up to consider.

It is also worth asking whether you will use what you are paying for. The extra cost is concentrated in the power supply, pulley, belt, dust cover, and plinth finish, so the RS Edition makes the most sense if push-button speed switching, fine speed adjustment, and lower motor vibration are things you value.

Buying Advice: Is the Planar 3 RS Edition Worth It?

Add up the individual components and the case is straightforward. The Neo Mark II power supply alone sells for $445, the CNC machined pulley is worth roughly $100, the Reference EBLT belt sells for $75, and the smoked dust cover sells for $135. That is more than $750 in upgrades for about $200 over the standard Planar 3 with the ND5, before counting the new plinth finish.

The RS Edition with the ND5 may even be a better package than the 50th anniversary model, and it costs about $100 more. For anyone already considering a Planar 3, this is the version that makes the decision easy.

Conclusion

The Rega Planar 3 RS Edition takes the value proposition of the standard Planar 3 and adds the parts that improve speed stability and daily usability, while keeping the pre-mounted, factory-tested ND5 cartridge that gives the package its clear and dynamic sound. If a Planar 3 is on your shortlist, the RS Edition is the one worth pricing out first.