Awarded and Acclaimed: Entry-Level High-End Rega Planar 1 Turntable Bundle Features Plug-and-Play Ease, RB110 Tonearm, Carbon Phono Cartridge, and Fono Mini A2D mk2 MM Phono Preamplifier
Combining the ultimate in user friendliness with high-performance sound, and sold with a Fono Mini A2D mk2 MM phono preamplifier in this money-saving bundle, the award-winning Rega Planar 1 turntable is ready to play just seconds after you unpack it. Just hook it up to Fono Mini (or the phono preamp of your choice), slide the balance weight onto the rear of the tonearm until it no longer budges, remove the stylus guard, place an LP on the platter, and bingo – you're spinning vinyl.
Such simplicity wouldn't mean as much if the U.K.-made Planar 1 overlooks what happens after you drop the needle. But Rega designed this stellar plug-n-play 'table to ensure you enjoy engaging fidelity from your 33RPM and 45RPM LPs. Whether you're new to analog or getting back in the habit, Planar 1 reveals the kinds of information, warmth, detail, and involving presentation for which vinyl is adored – the very same emotion-triggering qualities cheap, and cheaply made, entry-level 'tables cannot deliver. Maximized with audiophile-minded parts and features, Planar 1 is not that kind of rig.
The enhancements start with the brand-new RB110 tonearm, built with patent-pending, ultra-low-friction, bespoke zero-play bearings. A stiffer headshell provides incredible usability and stylish appearance, while the bias assembly and integrated arm clip complement the 'table's automatic bias adjustment ability – eliminating any need for the user to set bias. The cartridge? A Rega Carbon MM, supplied and fitted at the factory. The motor? A 24-volt synchronous model – the first ever on an entry-level Rega turntable – with a new motor PCB and an aluminum pulley providing low noise and excellent speed stability. That eye-catching plinth? Available in gloss black and white, the glass-laminated Thermoset design comes complete with an ergonomic on/off switch intelligently located on its underside. Loaded with generous mass, a 23mm flywheel-effect phenolic resin platter rounds out what you see on top.
Planar 1 also comes with a dust cover, improved feet (increased stability and reduced vibration), motor cover tray with integrated cooling, a plug-and-play balance weight, and a central bearing housing highlighted by an elevated brass main bearing that offers improved fit, reduced stress, and minimized energy transfer.
And with the inclusion of Fono Mini, you can transfer your vinyl LPs to your computer for archiving. The device converts analog signals via USB connectivity – making it a snap to transfer your analog collection records to high-resolution digital audio. As a phono preamplifier, Fono Mini delivers excellent timing, space, detail, and spaciousness when playing back LPs.
If you want to transfer vinyl to your PC, you simply need to install a digital audio editor. Operation couldn't be simpler. On the front panel of the redesigned extruded aluminum case, you'll find a USB output and two controls: one for level and one for balance. After you install the digital-editing program on your computer, just use the controls on the Fono Mini front panel, where you can adjust the levels for optimum recording quality. That's it!
Have questions about this bundle? Contact a Music Direct audio consultant and we'll help you with anything else you need to know.
"With no obvious flaws, this is the record player to get up to £500."
—What Hi-Fi?, Best Turntable €200-€500 2024 Award
“The Rega Planar 1 retains much of the lean, tight, lithe, and lively sound of Rega equipment in general.”
—Hi-Fi+, 2022 Highly Commended Product Award, Low Cost Turntable
"A no-brainer."
—Stephen Mejias, Stereophile, Recommended Component
"Even as an entry-level turntable, this is the kind of player that could feasibly be the last of your system's components you'd feel necessary to upgrade."
—What Hi-Fi?, five-star review
"[The] overall unity of the presentation, the impression of interaction between musicians, and the sensation of a piece of music being a single entity is as strong here as it is with Rega turntables costing plenty more."
—Simon Lucas, Trusted Reviews, Highly Recommended, five-star review
"The Planar 1 made its way into my system with the understanding that one day it will be replaced by something with a little more sophistication. However, this upgrade desire has not struck me in three years of ownership."
—Michael Zisserson, Future Audiophile
