PLANAR 10

Turntables

The Planar 10 was inspired by the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad. Built around our ultra-light skeletal plinth, constructed from Tancast 8 core and covered in a high-pressure laminate (HPL) skin. The Planar 10 is the first production turntable to use ceramic bracing which provides the ultimate rigid surface for mounting the precision reference RB3000 tonearm and custom central bearing assembly.

*New matt white finish available from April 2023 - The white Planar 10  is supplied as standard with a clear dustcover and black mat.

 

The Ultimate in Rega Performance

The Planar 10 is also fitted with a bespoke ceramic oxide platter which is diamond cut during manufacture for ultimate accuracy and speed stability. The Rega 24 V synchronous motor is controlled by our most advanced outboard power supply, the P10-PSU. This supply delivers the ultimate in motor vibration reduction, electronic fine speed adjustment and the convenience of electronic speed change. The Planar 10 is designed to deliver the ultimate in Rega performance by extracting more information from the vinyl groove than ever before.

 

KEY FEATURES

• RB3000 tonearm
• Apheta 3 or Aphelion 2 factory fitted (optional)
• Ceramic Oxide diamond cut platter
• DB technology with ceramic top brace
• Tancast 8 foamcore plinth
• P10 custom matched PSU
• Reference EBLT drive belt fitted as standard
• Available in two matt finishes, Polaris grey and white (new for 2023)
• Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects

 

ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT PLINTH

The Planar 10 is the third Rega turntable constructed using our latest technology the ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core (a material developed for the aerospace industry). This material is sandwiched between two layers of HPL (high-pressure laminate). HPL is exceptionally thin and extremely rigid.

This new construction makes the new Planar 10 skeletal plinth 30% lighter than the original RP10 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model.

DOUBLE BRACE TECHNOLOGY

“Mass absorbs energy - lost energy equals lost music”! A super lightweight plinth combined with a ceramic top brace and phenolic resin bottom brace mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) forms a structurally sound, “stressed beam,” assembly.

This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonances which will add unnatural distortions to the music. Equally, heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy such as motor or bearing noise directly into the rotating record. The tonearm and cartridge must be able to read accurately, directly from the platter. This unique Rega double brace solution enables this.

The use of braces instead of the complete skin allows increased thickness in these key areas while providing further weight reduction to the plinth which directly addresses the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.

RB3000 ΤΟNEARM

Rega is renowned for the quality of its tonearm bearing assemblies. In particular the accurate manufacturing of our bearing housing and bearing spindles. Technical characteristics such as “roundness” and “parallelity” are critical.

Over the past three years, Rega has found a new manufacturing process which improves on all these characteristics resulting in a micron perfect bearing fit. The RB3000 is the first Rega arm to benefit from these improvements. The entire tonearm structure is designed to have the minimum of mechanical joints while using the stiffest materials in all critical areas.

The tolerance of the RB3000 tonearm is so tight that no adhesive is used at any point throughout the construction. Our latest low mass, precision engineered, vertical bearing assembly has been manufactured to further complement the inherent design philosophy of the Planar 10 turntable.

The RB3000 tonearm uses our advanced, preloaded zero tolerance bearing assembly adjusted to less than 1000th of a mm. This gives friction-free movement and zero levels of unwanted play. Simply put, friction-free bearings with no play enable ridges in the record groove of less than a micron to be read.

The RB3000 also uses our latest award-winning, aluminium, Rega arm tube (each one of which is meticulously hand polished, keeping mass to an absolute minimum) which was redesigned to redistribute mass and further reduce stresses and resonances. This advanced design tube increases the stiffness and rigidity of the overall assembly whilst reducing stress on the bearings even further.

HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY

This latest design demonstrates attention to detail and modern CNC engineering advances. This allows new compromises, bringing Rega’s main bearing design closer than ever to the unachievable ideal.

The Planar 10 uses a new low mass central bearing assembly. A single piece machined aluminium sub-platter and hardened tool steel spindle run inside a custom brass housing designed with improved mechanical integrity. The complete assembly is cleverly mounted within the chassis to eradicate unwanted potential energy being transferred or stored in the plinth.

CERAMIC PLATTER

The P10 uses a custom ceramic, flywheel effect platter. The platter is produced from ceramic oxide powder which is compressed, fired and diamond cut to ensure perfect accuracy and flatness across the surface. The latest platter features a modified construction with improved coupling to the sub-platter.

24 V LOW NOISE MOTOR ASSEMBLY

The Planar 10 uses Rega’s latest generation, 24 V, synchronous, low vibration motor technology. Uniquely mounted using the highest level of coupling while retaining higher vibration isolation than any previous model, this new motor mounting technique (mounted from the bottom) has been taken directly from the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad. This unique mounting method removes all stress from the motor body whilst holding the drive pulley perfectly still. This enables better speed stability and accuracy from the turntable.

The reduced vibration and more rigid mounting delivers superior drive from the new EBLT drive belts. Each motor is hand-tuned to match its own custom-matched PL10 PSU power supply before fitting to the turntable to optimise the anti-vibration circuit.

EBLT DRIVE BELTS

For three years Rega has been researching and developing with chemists the use of a bespoke new rubber compound for drive belts. Using a specialised curing system, the new drive belt offers superior consistency of modulus (a constant representing the degree to which a substance has a particular property, especially elasticity).

These new belts are manufactured on Rega designed, state of the art, super-accurate tools (inspired by working with the manufacturer of high-tech Formula 1 engine parts) which produce ‘perfectly round’ and ‘dimensionally accurate’ belts, critical for perfect speed stability.

PL10 PSU

The PL10 PSU offers the ultimate in motor control stability, convenient electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control and user adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment to ensure total accuracy and control over the life of the motor.

Housed in Rega’s latest custom-designed case, the PL10 PSU is dedicated to running our 24v, low noise motor as quietly and as accurately as possible. The speed and control of the motor is achieved by using a new DSP (Digital Signal Processing) generator built upon a high stability crystal. This device will divide the accurate square wave from the crystal to the exact frequency required to turn the platter at the selected speed.

The DSP core will also generate a near perfect sinusoidal waveform to power the motor. Factory set vibration removal and fine speed adjustments are then made to the power supply to tune each motor for optimal performance.

DUST COVER

The outer frame of the previous model has now been removed and a new stylish, removable, single piece dustcover has been introduced further reducing the overall mass of the turntable.

REVIEW & AWARDS

Analog Corner #295: Rega Planar 10 turntable, RB3000 tonearm, Apheta 3 phono cartridge - Read More

"Rega's new P10 is by far the company's most sophisticated, refined, quiet, and subtle-sounding turntable yet. It combines the immediacy, grip, and rhythm'n'pacing excitement Regas have always produced, with the subtlety and delicacy typically found on far more costly analog front ends. The same is true of the Apheta 3 cartridge. If there's a better $6695 plug'n'play turntable out there—or, for that matter, a better or at least competitive one for $10,000—I don't know what it is. I may try a few other more costly cartridges on the P10 before sending it back, but that's a different review." - Michael Fremer 

Rega Planar 10 Turntable Review - Read More

"Is it worth the extra outlay? This is going to come down to what £2,000 means to you. A Planar 8 with an Ania and a Fono MC is a trio of components that add up to a genuine bargain - the best vinyl front end I know for the price. The Planar 10 is capable of levels of performance that are no less emphatic but as we’ve moved into the shades of brilliance area, it isn’t the profound leap forward that the Planar 8 is over the Planar 6 - it can’t be, that’s the laws of diminishing returns in action. This being the case, I am still impressed as to how much better the Planar 10 has actually turned out to be. The message is clear enough though. For most people, the Planar 8 will be as good as they ever need and that’s why it secures the Editor’s Choice. The Planar 10 is for people shooting for perfection and it does sufficiently well at that, that it has to come Highly Recommended." - Ed Selley 

BEST TURNTABLE REGA PLANAR 10 - Read More

"Reviewer Noel Keywood said “I put on the Direct Cut of Sing Sing Sing, from the Syd Lawrence orchestra's Big Band Spectacular – and it was just that – spectacular. The live fast drum work came over with grippy timing and resonant power, pushing out at me with eye-popping drama. From this recent, miked-up live studio recording I got hear background acoustic and great atmosphere as a result. It was like being there. The Planar 10 comes over as smooth, clean and muscular in dynamic contrast. Absent were edginess, noise, sibilance or spit, making for a seemingly 'quiet' rendition. Less, but more".  A great turntable package that easily deserves our World Award for 2020 of Best Turntable."

Rega Planar 10 / Apheta 3 review - Read More

Rega Planar 10: a bona fide ultra-fi bargain - Read More

PLATESPILLERNES SVAR PÅ LETT TUNGVEKT - Read More

Analogue Judgement - Read More

"Rega’s Planar 10 is very much an analogue turntable. Yes, I know they all are – but some push closer to CD balance these days." 

Rega Planar 10 Turntable Review - Read More

"The bottom line? Yes, you can spend more money on a turntable, but, honestly, I can’t think of why you’d need to. I can’t imagine having a more satisfying and engaging experience than the one that the Planar 10 offers from LPs. It’s an outstandingly well-thought-out, well-engineered, and well-made product, and will last a lifetime making beautiful music. What more could one ask for? Unequivocally, my highest possible recommendation. " - Stephen Scharf

Rega P10 Turntable | REVIEW - Read More

 Rega Planar 10 - Read More

"Given that the Planar 10 shares concepts and design ideas with the Planar 8, which was one of our favourite turntables of last year, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see that this is something of a superstar. What is surprising, however, is that even allowing for the significant price increase, this is more of a leap forward in performance terms than the superficially similar appearance of the two models might suggest. It manages to deliver a performance that is outstanding even at the relatively lofty price point, and it does so while retaining the same joy and charm the company holds dear. The Planar 10 is a masterpiece and any owner will feel proud to have one of the company’s finest achievements " - Hi-Fi Choice 

The Rega P10 Turntable and Apheta 3 Cartridge - Read More

"Living with the P10/Apheta combination for some time now, I couldn’t be happier about writing the check, and that’s the highest praise I can give this table. You can spend a lot more on a turntable and cartridge, but I doubt you can find a turntable offering more performance for the dollar, euro or pound. It’s funny after 40 years of buying turntables that I keep coming back to Rega " 

Rega Research Planar 10 Turntable and Aphelion 2 Cartridge - Read More

"Rega has delivered a superb flagship vinyl spinner that competes closely with the very finest at its price point. Indeed, for a deck of this caliber, the price makes it something of a bargain. For 50 years, Gandy and his team have been steadily refining their distinct design and engineering principles, and the Planar 10 is a fully developed realization of their priorities. It’s incredibly simple to set up, beautifully made, and aesthetically pleasing. Combined with its captivating sound, those characteristics make it easy to recommend the Planar 10, without reservation. Few decks are capable of expressing the mood and atmosphere of music to this degree and I really enjoyed that particular quality in the Planar 10. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to that late-night bar in Rio. There’s a leggy Brazilian still waiting for me with a caipirinha . . . " - Jonathan Gorse

Rega Planar 10 Turntable Review - Read More

"Rather than indelibly stamping themselves on the music they play, Rega turntables have always been commendably smooth and self-effacing. The new Planar 10 carries on with this tradition but takes it to another level. The result is a superb sounding vinyl spinner, but one that doesn’t fit the traditional mould of cosy, warm sounding record players that some analogue addicts covet so much. Whether you enjoy this is solely down to you then, a matter of taste. For me, I think it isn’t for turntables to have character, that’s for their owners – so I love it. " - David Price

The best record player in the high-end class - Read More

"Rega Planar 10 is an expensive turntable that at first glance hardly impresses anyone with its lightweight chassis and milky white plate. It does not look very expensive, I must admit, but drop the needle into the groove and be prepared to hold on to the chin. It plays far above its league and it is unlikely that it will be an easy task to find better analog sound than this, in this price range. At least for those who appreciate an airy, ultra-neutral, precise, open and dynamic sound image. It sounds more potent and dynamic than its predecessor RP10, and with the new Apheta 3, this is a package that can put an end to the search for a better turntable, for many vinyl lovers. " - Lasse Svendsen

Rega Planar 10 – HiFi Review - Read More

"Clearly the Rega Planar 10 gets my ‘Outstanding’ recommendation without a second thought.  It is such a beautiful piece of engineering and sound reproduction that nothing is getting close to it in my, albeit slightly limited, experience.  I feel the Planar 10 expresses the joy of vinyl and it leaves nothing behind.  Thinking back to P8, retailing near £1.699, and comparing it to this P10, retailing near £3,599, I think it is a matter of personal choice on how to spend your money.  The Apheta 3 cartridge is an extra £900, factory fitted and I would recommend this option.  At this level, the Rega Aura phono stage seems to be a wise investment if you are laying this amount of money on a vinyl solution. " - Simon Wilce

Rega RP10 Turntable - Read More

"So, a perfect choice for us and one of the most natural candidates for an Audiophilia Star Component Award. Very highly recommended.  " - Anthony Kershaw

SPECIFICATIONS