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#44 of 64 Rega Planar 2
Rega · Ranked #44 of 64

Rega Planar 2

The Rega Planar 2 remains a benchmark entry-to-mid level turntable, offering the brand's signature clarity and rhythmic precision without unnecessary complexity.

Drive BeltPreamp ExternalSetup ~18 min
4.4out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 4 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Rega Planar 2 remains a benchmark entry-to-mid level turntable, offering the brand's signature clarity and rhythmic precision without unnecessary complexity. It's an excellent choice for vinyl newcomers who want a 'set it and forget it' deck that still rewards careful system matching, though purists may eventually want to upgrade the arm or cartridge.

▤

Specifications

Drive Type
Belt-driven
Motor
24V synchronous AC
Tonearm
RB220
Cartridge
Rega Carbon MM (pre-fitted)
Platter
6mm glass
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.151%
S/N ratio
63 dB
Speed deviation
0.53%
Platter mass
1100 g

Wow & flutter measured W.R.M.S. at 33⅓ rpm; S/N ratio A-weighted. Lower wow & flutter and speed deviation are better; higher S/N is better.

⚖

Pros & cons

✓What we liked

  • Exceptional detail retrieval for the price point
  • Easy setup even for first-time vinyl users
  • Neutral, uncolored sound signature
  • Solid build quality typical of Rega engineering
  • Upgradable tonearm and cartridge later on

✕What we didn’t

  • No built-in phono preamp
  • Basic dust cover feels flimsy
  • Manual speed change requires belt repositioning
  • Limited adjustability for advanced tweaking
❝

What owners say

Marcus T.14 Nov 2023 ★★★☆☆

Punches well above its price

Coming from a budget Audio-Technica, the difference in soundstage and detail was immediately obvious. Setup took ten minutes and it's been rock solid since.

Diane K.02 Feb 2024 ★★★★☆

Great sound, wish it had a preamp

Had to buy a separate phono stage which added to the cost, but once dialed in the sound is warm and detailed. Build quality feels premium for this tier.

Ricardo P.19 Aug 2023 ★★★★☆

Reliable workhorse

Been spinning records on this for over a year now. No wow or flutter issues, and the Carbon cartridge tracks well even on older warped records.

Sam W.30 May 2024 ★★★★☆

Perfect first serious turntable

I upgraded from a suitcase player and this is night and day. Rega's reputation for simplicity and performance is well deserved here.

⇄

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