Rega was founded in 1973 in Essex, UK, by Roy Gandy and Tony Relph: the name combines the first syllables of their surnames, RElph and GAndy. The first turntable was the Planet; the Planar 2, in 1975, put the brand on the map, and the Planar 3 introduced the glass platter, a design Rega still uses today. Gandy later bought out his partner. The company is privately held, has its factory in Southend-on-Sea, and builds all its models in the UK.
The core of the catalog is RB's in-house built turntables and tonearms: the RB300, from 1983, has long been one of the most widely used tonearms, even by other manufacturers. Moving up the range, the main changes are the plinths: the Planar 3 RS Edition uses an HPL laminate with an aluminum skin, the Planar 8 and 10 a Tancast 8 foam core, while the Naia adds carbon fiber heads with graphene, ceramic reinforcements, a three-belt drive, and the RB Titanium tonearm. The Neo PSU MK2 power supply regulates the speed and allows for electronic switching between 33 and 45 rpm.
Rega also produces cartridges: the moving magnet Nd series, introduced in 2024, uses neodymium magnets (Nd3, Nd5, Nd7, and Nd9), while the Ania, Ania Pro, Apheta 3, and Aphelion 2 are moving coil. The amplifiers are based on a circuit developed by Terry Bateman during the Brio-R era and refined in subsequent generations, up to the Aethos; the Brio MK7, designed with Ashton Wagner, adds a DAC section, as does the Elex MK4.
For sale you will find the Planar 1, Planar 1 Plus, Planar 2, Planar 3, Planar 3 RS Edition, Planar 6, Planar 6 RS Edition, Planar 8, Planar 10 and Naia turntables; the RB220, RB330, RB880, RB3000 and RB Titanium arms; the io, Brio MK7, Elex MK4, Elicit MK5, Aethos and Osiris amplifiers, the Mercury preamp and the Solis power amp; the Isis and Valve Isis CD players, the Fono MM MK5, Fono MC MK4, Aura MC and Aos MC phono preamps, the Kyte and Aya speakers.
When choosing a turntable, it's best to look at the complete package. The Planar 3 RS Edition, for example, comes with the RB330 tonearm, Neo PSU MK2 power supply, and Nd5 cartridge already installed; the Planar 6 RS Edition adds the Tancast 8 plinth, RB880 tonearm, and Nd9. With a moving coil cartridge like the Ania or Aphelion 2, however, you'll need a suitable MC input, such as the Fono MC MK4 or Aura MC.
On the amplification front, the io is the compact choice for those who listen to vinyl and analog sources: 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms, MM phono input and headphone output, but no digital input. If your system also includes a TV, streamer, or computer, the Brio MK7 and Elex MK4 accept digital signals directly; the Elicit MK5, Aethos, and Osiris are the next steps in the range, and you should listen to them with your own speakers before deciding.
In our Carpi showroom, you can listen to Rega turntables and electronics in the listening room and receive advice on matching them with cartridges and speakers. The same models can be ordered online at audiocostruzioni.com with shipping, asking us for advice first by email if necessary.
