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Is Rega Planar 1 – the best beginners turntable?
Yes!
And maybe no.
But mostly yes, let me explain.
Rega Planar History
Rega is one of those turntables which is often in the list of best beginners’ tables, and for a good reason. The Legacy of Planar is dating all the way to 1975, and now almost 50 years in future there are perfecting the same formula all repeatedly again. And how knows maybe at mark of 50 years Planar will reach that entry level perfection, but for now it has some issues. But that will come latter, lets at first speak to what you see first as a buyer and that is looks and style.
Looks and Style
Lets be honest, while sonic capabilities is always the most important aspect of any HIFI gear, we always want that we can get it In most prettiest packages possible. And to me Rega, hits all the boxes for me. The aesthetic of minimalism with glossy finish, look just perfect for me and interior of my home. And when I say minimal, I really mean it. The only button that you have is turn on and off, which is hidden bellow the table. The only distinguish thing is P1 logo, which is stylized modern thin sans serif font in the right corners of table. It also looks very well constructed, with Plinth while not the most massive looks in ergonomics, gives impression of turntable from far more expensive range. We have resin platter, and carbon tonearm which beautiful compliments entire package.
Ease of Use and Setup
And I think here we come to the second point when you buy a turntable is setting it up. And in my opinion this is a greatest plus for a beginners turntable is, that Rega is so easy to setup, that it almost feels like plug and play. And mostly that is because Regas RB110 tonearm which come with weight already setup, so that user literally needs to just plug it in, put you favorite vinyl and you are done. There is even an option for turntable with phono pre amp already built inside, so that you have even less barrier between you and your vinyl enjoying experience. This all makes it great first turntable to own.
Rega Carbon
And speaking about that tonearm, it comes equipped with Rega carbon cartridge which is a nifty little hard worker. In my experience in this budget level, it is incredible how much detail it is able to extract. Many of its counterparts always sacrifice detail in this level, for the “warmth”, and Rega is going different direction. Timing of sound is more pronounced, even thou at time it lacks a bit transparency, but gives sound a bit of punch and heftiness.
Sound Quality
Listening Dire Straits, making movies. It becomes apparent that this is not your everyday budget turntable. After soft interlude with Tunnel of Love, punch of drum and strumming of Mark Knopfler feels like it is time to move your body in rhythm of song. And you really feel that drum, the sound has a body, it is not a hollow affair with cheap turntables.
Maybe, where it could extract more information is bass, where it feels less impactful, but it is still there lifting the song and filling the room, but it will require some speakers which are more on bassy side to get some meaningful bass. Which is definitely little bit evidence while listening to Radiohead Nation Anthem. Base in that song definitely driving the song, and you definitely feel it, but it lacks a little bit more authority and strength.
But while we are still on the same record, lets go to next song with how to disappear completely, and it is an ambient rock rendition where Thom Yorke is crooning softly to this electronic textures and passages, and details does really help you to close your eyes and appreciate craftsmanship of Radioheads masterpiece. Just close your eyes. And you can really hear how Toms voice is slowly separating from sounds in background.
Shortcomings
So at this point, I have given a lot of praise to Rega, but is it the best beginners turntable. Well it comes with it few shortcomings.
Maybe the biggest for beginners is belt drive, which is completely manual. Which means that if you want to switch between 33 and 45, you will have to lift platter and manually move belt to desired position. While it seems like not such a big problem. From time to time, in my longer listening sessions, I omitted to play my 45 rpm vinyl because of that hassle. Some of my heavy metal vinyl`s are 45, and if I am not connecting few of them usably I just skip them.
An yeah, there is no 78 rpm, but I don’t care about that.
The other thing, is as I mentioned earlier, is lack of that traditional warmth of Vinyl. Which is a good thing, but first time listeners of vinyl might be little turned of , by lack of it, and maybe at first say that it sounds sterile*even some saying digital). Bute hang on to that feeling, in few months, you will forget about it all and appreciate fine details of Rega.
Conclusion
I would also like to give shoutout for you to reconsider Rega`s very affordable Fono Mini, that is a great addon. It opens the sound, and gives it a bit more finesse that you will definitely appreciate.
In the end best entry level turntable is not the one that sounds the best, it is the one that reminds you with every scratch and groove, why you like so much the sound of vinyl. It is one that brings joy to your house and with ease of use will be a pleasure to setup and play. And I think Rega is just that.
Thank you for watching this review, I am going now to listen to some Vinyl`s.
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