Rega Planar 3 RS Turntable - Brushed Aluminum Satin - Nd5 Cartridge

A Planar 3, Rebuilt Around a Stiffer Metal-Skinned Plinth

The Rega Planar 3 RS Edition takes the familiar Planar 3 recipe and rebuilds its plinth in a brand-new brushed-aluminum HPL laminate, a material Rega otherwise reserves for the Planar 6, 8, and 10. The result is the stiffest plinth Rega has built at Planar 3 level, finished in a dark satin metallic with a high-gloss black edge.

It ships with the Rega Nd5 moving-magnet cartridge factory-fitted on the RB330 tonearm, plus Rega's Neo MK2 power supply included as standard equipment — a step up from the base Planar 3, where the Neo MK2 is only an optional add-on.

The RS Edition is fully manual otherwise, with no built-in phono preamp, and connects to an MM phono input on your amplifier or a separate phono stage, never straight into a line-level input.

Where the Metal-Skinned Plinth Earns Its Keep

A Stiffer Plinth, Borrowed From Higher-Tier Decks

Rega's high-pressure laminate plinth technology normally lives on the Planar 6, 8, and 10; the RS Edition brings a brushed-aluminum version of it down to Planar 3 level, paired with the same double-brace system that ties the tonearm mount rigidly to the main bearing.

That extra rigidity matters because a plinth that flexes or resonates feeds unwanted energy back into the record as it plays. Rega's own testing found the stiffer HPL skin measurably tightens up that behavior compared with the standard Planar 3's acrylic-laminated plinth.

Neo MK2 Power Supply, Included as Standard

Unlike the base Planar 3, where the Neo MK2 is a separate purchase, the RS Edition ships with its own hand-matched Neo MK2 power supply built in, adding push-button electronic speed change and finer motor control right out of the box.

Each 24-volt motor is individually tuned to its own Neo MK2 supply at the factory, the same pairing process Rega uses on the Planar 6 and above, to help keep motor noise and vibration out of the signal the cartridge picks up.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? called the RS Edition "a beautifully made deck that sounds fantastic," with "a substantial increase in clarity and detail" and a sound "more muscular, open and stable" than the standard Planar 3.

Who Is the Rega Planar 3 RS Best For?

• You want the Planar 3 formula pushed further: the stiffer metal-skinned plinth and included Neo MK2 power supply are genuine upgrades over the standard Planar 3, not just cosmetic changes
• You want electronic speed control out of the box: the Neo MK2 power supply is included as standard here, where it's only an optional add-on on the base Planar 3
• You want a genuinely award-winning turntable: What Hi-Fi? named the RS Edition its 2025 Product of the Year, alongside a Best Turntable win in its own price class
• You already have (or plan to add) a phono stage: the RS Edition has no built-in phono preamp, so it needs an MM phono input on your amp, or a separate Phono preamplifiers
• You want a choice of finishes: the RS Edition ships only in its brushed dark aluminum satin finish, so if you want Gloss Black, Gloss White, or Light Oak instead, the standard Planar 3 is the better starting point

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The attached RCA cable runs from the tonearm to your amplifier's MM phono input, or to a separate phono preamp if your amp doesn't have one built in. Never connect the RS Edition straight into a standard line-level or AUX input.

During setup, fit the platter and drive belt, balance the tonearm, and set tracking force and bias to the recommended 1.75g. The Nd5 arrives already mounted and aligned, and the included Neo MK2 connects with a single mini-DIN cable.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a Rega Planar 3 RS:

• Phono preamplifiers — required if your amplifier has no built-in MM phono input
• Integrated amplifiers — look for one with a built-in MM phono stage to skip a separate box
• Turntable accessories — mats, levels, and clamps for getting the most from this setup
• Audio racks — a firm, level, vibration-free shelf a turntable actually needs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the RS Edition have a built-in phono preamp?

It doesn't. Connect it to an MM phono input, or add a separate moving-magnet phono preamp. It can't connect directly to a standard line-level input on its own.

Is the Neo MK2 power supply included, or an extra cost?

It's included as standard on the RS Edition. On the base Planar 3, the same Neo MK2 is only an optional upgrade.

Is the Nd5 cartridge already installed?

Yes. Rega mounts and aligns it at the factory. You still balance the tonearm and set tracking force and bias to 1.75g during setup.

What actually makes the RS Edition's plinth different?

It uses a brand-new brushed-aluminum high-pressure laminate, a material Rega normally reserves for the Planar 6, 8, and 10, rather than the standard Planar 3's acrylic laminate.

Does it come in other finishes?

It doesn't. The RS Edition ships only in its brushed dark aluminum satin finish. The standard Planar 3 offers Gloss Black, Gloss White, and Light Oak instead.

Is this the same as the standard Planar 3 with Nd5?

It isn't. The RS Edition uses a different, stiffer HPL plinth and includes the Neo MK2 power supply as standard, where the base Planar 3/Nd5 uses an acrylic-laminated plinth and treats the Neo MK2 as an optional upgrade.

See It in Action

Sound Advice reviews the Rega Planar 3 RS:

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