About The Rega Planar 2 Turntable
Quite a large step up from the Planar 1, the Rega Planar 2 is undoubtedly the best turntable in its class. The addition of a solid glass platter and the one piece RB220 tonearm really lifts the performance of this turntable to another level. With very attractive gloss black & white finishes, the Planar 2 is the clear choice for budding vinyl connoisseurs.
The new Planar 2 was developed over two years and features the superbly constructed RB220 tonearm which is packed with ground breaking features.
A 24v, low noise motor, acrylic laminated plinth, precision central bearing and so much more. Every feature of this innovative turntable is designed to extract the maximum amount of information and detail from your vinyl collection.
The RB220 tonearm is packed with ground breaking new features. Incorporating ultra-low friction, Rega designed, bespoke, zero play ball bearings (patent pending), housed within a stiffer lightweight bearing housing which was developed with a an automatic bias setting negating the need for the user to set bias, making it almost completely plug and play apart from simple arm balancing. The housing also includes an integrated arm clip and uses Rega's latest custom aluminium arm tube.
The Planar 2 has an 11mm self-securing brass bearing (patent pending) ensuring a tight fit and less stress on the bearing preventing the transfer of potential energy. It also is supplied with a high gloss acrylic laminated super-stiffer plinth with an ergonomically positioned power switch. The all-important motor is a 24 volt low noise, low vibration motor assembly and PCB.
The old RP2 had a quite novel MDF platter which was and is better than the thin pressed steel platters on most other turntables in the category, but now the Planar 2 sports a 10mm float glass 'Optiwhite' 10mm platter which assists with improved speed accuracy.
If you're like most customers buying in this price-range it is possibly your first or first decent record player. So to make it easier and quicker to get going, Rega supply a Moving Magnet cartridge in the package. No, you don't have to fiddle around with the tiny wires or mounting screws as it is all done at the factory in England. However, the Planar 2 is definitely capable of a further upgrade if you want to maximise performance. You will need an amplifier with a phono input or a phono preamplifier and Rega should be your first choice and they are reasonably priced. The support feet have also been re-designed. This improved foot assembly increases stability and reduces vibration transfer to the plinth. This doesn't mean you can dance around close to the player and it won't jump. Very few super high-end models can do that. Finally the player comes with a hinged acrylic lid which is not shown in many of the images.
Rega Planar 2 Review
"We spin SBTRKT's Wonder Where We Land album and the Planar 2 finds its groove straight away. Anyone well-versed in Rega decks will no doubt recognise its sonic stamp: balanced and authoritative with impressive scale and natural musicality. It gets us toe-tapping to New Dorp, New York the moment the first beat thumps into being. The Rega delivers the bass line with punch, its low end earning its wings for handling the depth and texture of the guttural bass guitar in Gon Stay. And it has the agility and momentum to bounce along to Ezra Koenig's perky vocal accompaniment. There's insight into his playful quips, and a fitting solidity to the more thickset monologue that reveals the Rega's midrange versatility.
Any hi-fi kit that's going to get the best of SBTRKT has to be fairly methodical in its handling of flittering tinny beats, slicing percussions and frenetic rhythms, and while the Rega has the necessary precision and rhythmic know-how to coordinate them accurately in the soundstage, its delivery isn't without enthusiasm.
The Rega is big-sounding enough for the lush electronic soundscapes laced with synth chords to sound bold and atmospheric too. It gets into a Saturday night feeling with the album's pop melodies, and uptempo drums are energetic and punctual in the mix. It's equally at home with the intricate, nuanced arrangements of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue too, rendering the dynamic subtlety and timing to grasp the music's subtly shifting manner, and packing a single wistful trumpet note with texture and information. The ability to tie all the musical strands together and paint them on a precise and spacious canvas seems to come easy to the Rega, and in that aspect its delivery just works.
It's a proper step-up in performance from the RP1 too. The Planar 2 is a high-performing deck at a competitive price. And it can celebrate its milestone birthday with another five-star review from us." What Hi-Fi?
Our Take On The Rega Planar 2
The Rega Planar 2 is a significant upgrade from the Planar 1, making it one of the best turntables in its class. With a solid glass platter and the innovative RB220 tonearm, this turntable delivers outstanding performance. The RB220 tonearm features ground breaking technologies, including zero play ball bearings and an automatic bias setting, making it easy to set up and use. The turntable also boasts a 24v low noise motor, a precision central bearing, and a high gloss acrylic plinth. With its Optiwhite 10mm glass platter, it improves speed accuracy, and the inclusion of a pre-installed Moving Magnet cartridge ensures it's ready to go straight out of the box. Ideal for budding vinyl enthusiasts, the Planar 2 offers room for upgrades and is built for extracting every detail from your vinyl collection.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Two Speed Manual Belt Drive Turntable
- The Planar 2 is a manual turntable. If you would like a neat semi-automatic solution which looks good and operates flawlessly the Audio Technica AT6006R Tonearm Safety Raiser is a great way to automatically lift the tonearm at the end of the record, reducing stylus wear.
- Tonearm: RB220 Tonearm with 3-Point Mounting
- Lift: There is a Hydraulic Lift on the Tonearm
- Cartridge: Choice of Factory Fitted Rega Carbon or Rega Nd3 Moving Magnet Cartridge
- Speeds: 33⅓ & 45 RPM
- Plinth: Light Weight Plinth Design
- Platter: Optiwhite 10 mm Float Glass Platter
- Mat: Felt Mat
- Dustcover: Hinged Acrylic Dustcover/Lid
- Motor: 24 Volt Low Noise Low Vibration Hand Tuned Motor Assembly
- Available Finishes: Gloss White, Gloss Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 447 x 117 x 360 mm - Lid closed
- Nett Weight: 5.5 kg
- Designed & Made In England
- Manufacturer's Warranty: Turntable 3 Years, Cartridge 90 Days
- Learn more about Rega
Note: Main Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.