The Creative Audio Philosophy: Source First

For over 47 years, Winnipeg audiophiles have trusted Creative Audio with their treasured music. Our system design and upgrade philosophy has always been ‘source first’. The best speakers in the world can’t make a poor source sound better. Put another way, your system can only sound as good as its source.

Clearly Rega agrees. Why else would the invest so much in making their award-winning turntables even better? Rega recognizes that an extraordinary audio experience starts at the top, with the source. Determined to bring great music to as many people as possible, they have obsessed over the details, creating a range of record players that spans most budgets and system levels.

After working with Rega turntables for over 30 years, it’s fair to say we know a thing or three about them and the purpose of this Guide is to share that knowledge with you!

Turntables 101

To fully appreciate the fanatical attention to detail found in every Rega model, we need a firm grasp of the complexities in what appears to be a simple device.

The three main tasks of a turntable are:

1. To turn the record, precisely and steadily, at either 33 1/3 or 45 revolutions per minute, or RPM.

2. To faithfully convert the modulations in the record groove into an electrical signal using an extremely sensitive device called a stylus (commonly known as the needle).

3. To prevent any other vibrations, external or internal, from reaching the stylus as these will interfere with the delicate low-level signal, masking detail.

Spinning ‘Round

All Rega turntables are belt-driven, meaning that the high-speed rotation from a motor is transferred to the main platter using a belt. For the pitch of the music to be accurate the rotation of the record must be precise and steady.

In their relentless pursuit of perfection, Rega have applied an incredible amount of advanced engineering into every aspect of the drive system of their turntables. This includes:

• The motor. Not only must the motor rotate at a high, precise, and steady speed, it is also crucial that it not introduce any additional vibrations or resonances as these will be picked up by the very sensitive stylus tracing the groove. For that reason, Rega uses low-noise, low-vibration 24 volt motors in all models.

• The power supply. A motor’s rotation and vibration characteristics are directly affected by the quality of the power that drives it. An optional upgrade for the Planar 3, and standard with the Planar 6 and above, is an outboard power supply that Rega has designed to provide clean and precise power for optimal motor performance.

• The belt. Yes, Rega even makes their own belts! The belt transfers the power from the motor to the platter; an imperfect belt will introduce inconsistencies in speed. In a tool custom-designed for the purpose, Rega moulds their round-section belts using a proprietary blend of materials. The belts are then cryogenically frozen and barrelled to ensure perfect cross-sectional roundness. Details: they matter.

• The platter. Having done everything possible to provide accurate and steady rotation, Rega aren’t taking any chances. A heavy platter creates a flywheel effect through its momentum which serves to further enhance speed stability. For the majority of their models Rega use glass platters, including double-and triple-layer platters with additional weight on the perimeter to multiply the flywheel effect. Their highest end models use precision platters made from diamond-cut ceramic oxide.

Good Vibrations

Once we get the turning the record part sorted out, now it’s time to extract the vibrations from the groove. There are two critical components in this process:

• The tonearm, which must offer frictionless movement in all planes if it is to allow the needle to trace the groove without impediment. This requires bearings made with exceptionally tight tolerances. In addition, the tonearm must be rigid, damping the vibrations coming from the needle riding in the groove, otherwise these will be fed back into the signal path.

• The cartridge, which houses the stylus and motor assembly. As the needle-like tip of the stylus rides in the modulations of the groove, the vibrations created travel up the cantilever into the tiny motor assembly which generates the electrical current that will eventually be heard through your speakers. Every aspect of the cartridge, from the shape of the diamond tip to the material the cartridge body is made of, will determine its musical performance and ability to resolve fine detail.

Rega’s tonearms are legendary in the hi-fi industry. In fact, many high-end turntable manufacturers use them in their designs. Their superb bearing assemblies with micron low tolerances in their highest end models ensure the necessary lack of friction. Rigidity is assured thanks to a patented design using a cast, single-piece arm tube that eliminates the structural compromise that come with a detachable headshell, to say nothing of the potential for signal deterioration there as well. The tapered shape of the arm tube is unique and helps to break up unwanted resonances.

Rega has designed and manufactured their own cartridges now for many years. In 2025 they released the most significant upgrade to their entry-level range with the new Nd series of entry-level cartridges. These feature innovative use of powerful neodymium magnets. From the Nd series up to the range-topping Aphelion 2 moving coil, Rega covers all bases with their cartridges. To go into further detail would require a separate Guide just for cartridges, but suffice to say that Rega offers each of their turntable models bundled with the most appropriate cartridges for maximum value, and there’s always some savings to be had with those bundles.

Bad Vibrations

The only vibrations we want in a turntable are those in the groove of the record. That is why the base, or plinth, of the turntable is so important. It is here where Rega uses some of their most advanced engineering techniques and materials to deliver better sound.

The plinth must provide a rigid platform for the motor, platter assembly, and tonearm. It must dampen any vibrations from within the turntable system, as well as those coming from the outside world, such as footfall from someone walking by or even from the music itself if you’re enjoying a loud listening session.

Relying on a simple law of physics, that a lighter mass will store (and then release) less energy than a heavier one, Rega focuses on making their plinths as light as possible. Lightweight wood-based plinths in the first few models make way for foam core and then skeletal foam core in the highest models. These ultra-lightweight plinths represent the pinnacle of Rega’s engineering efforts. To aid in rigidity, a bracing system is used in many models to enhance the vibration-damping characteristics of the plinth.

Now that you have a better understanding of turntables and Rega’s design philosophy, let’s dive in and look at each model!

Planar 1

The Planar 1 represents Rega’s unwillingness to compromise. Determined to bring great sound quality to more music lovers, Rega explored options for a more affordable Planar turntable. It would’ve been easy to outsource something cheap from a Chinese supplier, slap the Rega name on it and call it a day. But that’s not Rega. None of what they do would matter one iota if they went that route.

Instead, the took the proven Planar formula and simplified it. The Planar 1 is built by hand in England, in the same factory that builds the reference-level Naia. The beating heart of the Planar 1 is its innate ability to get the music right, something you just won’t find in other record players at this price point.

Rega Planar 1 Key Features

• 24V low-noise, low-vibration motor

• Advanced EBLT drive belt

• Flywheel effect phenolic resin platter

• RB110 tonearm with low-friction bearings

• Lightweight plinth

• Rega Carbon cartridge

The Planar 1 is available in matte black or white, as well as a walnut-effect finish.

Planar 2

Take a Planar 3, shave a couple of mm off the glass platter, simplify the tonearm, remove the option to upgrade the power supply and what you get is a Planar 2. The essence of the one of the most legendary turntables in the world remains intact and is available at a lower price point.

As much as we appreciate what Rega achieved with the Planar 1, the Planar 2 represents a significant leap in performance. We recommend that you beg or borrow (but perhaps not steal) if you need to. You and your music deserve what the Planar 2 will give you.

Key Upgrades on the Rega Planar 2

• 10mm float glass platter

• RB220 one-piece tonearm

• Lightweight plinth

• Rega Nd3 cartridge

The Planar 2 is available in gloss black, white, or red as well as a walnut-effect finish.

Planar 3

The Planar 3 is a hi-fi legend. It is the cornerstone of the Planar range of turntables, and is our most popular model. There’s no question that the exceptional RB330 tonearm is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, resulting in what we firmly believe is the most engagingly musical record player you will find at this price point, period.

Everything Rega strives for is here: tonal accuracy yes, but also an inherent sense of the rhythm of the music. It doesn’t matter how accurate it is if you can’t follow the tune, and that’s what Rega gets that so many others do not. We guarantee this turntable will have you up well past your bedtime as you revisit all those records you thought you knew so well.

Key Upgrades on the Planar 3

• Upgrade option: Neo PSU (power supply unit)

• 12mm float glass platter

• RB330 tonearm with high quality shielded RCA cables

• Lightweight plinth with double-brace technology for improved rigidity

• Cartridge options: no cartridge, Nd3, Nd5

The Planar 3 is available in three high-gloss colours (black, white, red) as well as light oak effect veneer.

Planar 3 RS

Planar 6

The Planar 6 is the entry point for a new level of Rega performance. This is where Rega’s high-end experience begins. Compared to the Planar 3, the 6 paints the music over a quieter background, revealing fine details you have never noticed before. The Planar 6 is the first Rega model to feature their ultra-lightweight foam core plinth, but one thing that is not lightweight about the 6 is its bass performance. This is where Rega really starts to show some slam.

We love the Planar 3 but there is no question that the Planar 6 delivers a significantly elevated vinyl listening experience.

Key Upgrades on the Planar 6

• Custom matched Neo PSU (power supply unit) included

• Reference EBLT belt

• Dual-layer float glass platter

• RB330 tonearm with stainless balance weight

• Foam core plinth with double-brace

• Cartridge options: no cartridge, Nd5, Nd7, Ania Pro

The Planar 6 is available in matte black or white.

Planar 8

Now things are starting to get really serious. The Planar 8 represents the most dramatic visual change from the rest of the Planar range with its skeletal foam core plinth. Obsessed with making the plinth as light - but rigid - as possible, Rega have carved away all but the most essential parts of the plinth. This provides a solid base for the upgraded RB880 tonearm. They’ve also added another layer to the glass platter and added a second belt to the drive system.

The quiet background of the Planar 8 is significantly quieter than that of the 6. It is almost eerie hearing your music emanate from such inky blackness, and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget. With the Planar 8 the music starts to wrap around you, transporting you to a different world, a world where you get lost in glorious music.

Key Upgrades on the Planar 8

• Dual Reference EBLT belts

• Triple-layer float glass platter

• RB880 tonearm

• Ultra-lightweight skeletal foam core plinth with double-brace

• Cartridge options: no cartridge, Nd7, Ania Pro, Apheta 3

The Planar 8 is available in matte black or white.

Planar 10

Rega made an important decision when designing their penultimate turntable, the Planar 10. They knew they could eke out even more performance from the Planar 8, but at this level there is the risk that the turntable sacrifices music for the sake of detail. Far too many times we’ve heard high-end tables that might tickle a bit of cerebral matter but leave our hearts feeling cold and our feet planted firmly on the floor. Where did the music go?

With the Planar 10, we guarantee you’ve never heard your favourite vinyl albums sound this good. You’ll be almost breathless as you hear things you’ve never heard before. You’ll be wide-eyed, yes, but you’ll also have a massive smile on your face. High-end audio has never been this fun.

Key Upgrades on the Planar 10

• PL10 DSP power supply included

• Diamond-cut ceramic oxide platter

• RB3000 tonearm with hand polished arm tube

• Cartridge options: no cartridge, Apheta 3, Aphelion 2

The Planar 10 is available in matte black or white.

Naia

The Naia is the result of Rega’s cost-no-object Naiad project. Where the Naiad was designed as a prototype, taking every Rega philosophy to its purest form without concern for cost or mass-production, the Naia was a distillation of its virtues into something that could be regularly produced at the Rega factory.

Naia represents the Rega experience, dressed up in the finest custom tailored tuxedo made from only the most luxurious fabrics. The Naia is for the music lover who refuses to compromise, who accepts only the best. Describing its sound with mere words completely misses the point of this design, so this will have to suffice: listening to music on the Naia is akin to inviting the musicians into your listening room for your own private performance.

Key Upgrades on the Naia

• Graphene impregnated carbon fibre skeletal plinth

• Low mass skeletal aluminium isolation feet

• Reference Power Supply

• Triple Reference EBLT drive system

• ZTA (zirconium toughened alumina) main bearing

• Resonance controlled ceramic platter with complex profile

• RB Titanium reference tonearm

• Cartridge options: no cartridge, Aphelion 2

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Okay, that’s all great - but which Rega model is right for me?

A: Following our philosophy of ‘source first’, the simple answer is: the best one you can afford! In our opinion, every system benefits from having the best source possible within your budget. Now of course there are limits to this…we wouldn’t pair a Naia (worth over $20,000) with a $500 amplifier and speakers. That said, we generally consider the Planar 3 to be a baseline starting point. If you have a large vinyl collection, we think you should strongly consider the Planar 6. With higher-end systems, we consider a Planar 8 to be a baseline, and go from there.

If your needs are more casual, if you only listen to records occasionally, then the Planar 2 or Planar 1 would be excellent, budget-friendly choices.

The truth is, every situation is unique and we want to provide the best advice for you, so feel free to reach out to us to discuss your system and we can help you find the right Rega Planar model for you.

Q: I already have a Rega turntable. Should I upgrade? If so, to which model?

A: Our advice with respect to upgrades is that you’ll get the best bang for your buck by jumping up two steps from wherever you are now. For example, if you have a Planar 1 (or older equivalent), we’d recommend a jump to the Planar 3. From a Planar 2 we’d go to a Planar 6, and so on. Like the previous answer, what is right for you depends on your system, budget, and needs. Contact us and we can help you decide.

Q: I don’t have the budget to upgrade my current Rega. Is there anything I can do to make it better?

A: Absolutely! The first thing we’d do - and this is the most affordable - is replace the belt. This is always good as a matter of practice after about 5 years of use, but with Rega’s new EBLT designs, any table that doesn’t have an EBLT will benefit from this upgrade! Another surefire way to improve your turntable’s sound is to upgrade the phono stage. Also, depending on the model of Rega you have, we might recommend a cartridge upgrade as well. Rest assured there are many ways to breathe new life into your existing Rega deck, and we’d be happy to help!