Rega Planar 3 (original)
Vintage & classic turntables · 1977–2000 Discontinued
£260 typical UK used price
The original Planar 3 of 1977 became the reference affordable turntable, especially after 1983 when it gained the one-piece cast RB300 tonearm, a significant upgrade over the arm it replaced. It sold in vast numbers and ran until the P3 rename in 2000; the modern Planar 3 is its direct descendant.
A widely recommended British used-market classic, particularly RB300-equipped examples.
Who it suits
Best suited to: buyers comfortable assessing used condition and budgeting for servicing (drive mechanism, bearing, stylus). Less ideal for: a no-hassle purchase with a manufacturer warranty — buy a current model instead.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history — for this drive type, check the drive belt (often perished or stretched with age) and bearing, plus the stylus regardless.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | glass |
| Tonearm | Rega R200 (RB300 from 1983) |
| Years | 1977–2000 |
Where to buy the Rega Planar 3 (original)
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
Compare it
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