Tom’s Guide Verdict
The Rega Planar 1 Plus is the ultimate starter turntable.
Its stunning to look at, with a bunch of attractive finishes and a premium-feeling tonearm.
Some may not appreciate the completely manual operation, but others will love its tactility and involvement.
Theres a tangible sense of a vinyl fanaticism that oozes from every pore of the Rega Planar 1 Plus.
If youre looking to get into vinyl, this is the way to do it.
As a completely manual turntable, the Planar 1 Plus isnt going to hey absolutely everyone.
Its one of thebest record playersthat Ive ever tested let me tell you why.
If you reside in ol blighty, youll pay 399 anincredibleprice for a very accomplished beginner turntable.
In the U.S., the turntable costs slightly more.
It’s $599.
Not so with the Rega Planar 1 Plus.
It outperforms the also excellentU-Turn Orbit Special, and costs around the same.
Theres an MDF plinth, a tonearm and a plastic platter.
All of the belt drive mechanics are hidden under the platter for a very clean, minimalist look.
The other two color options beyond the walnut finish I have here are matte white and black.
Its a classy turntable, and thats echoed in its color options.
The build quality here is brilliant.
Everything feels very well screwed together, and the tonearm could easily have come from something far more expensive.
Thatsslightlymore annoying than other decks and their around the platter design (like Pro-jects manual models).
The small drive wheels make it much easier to swap speeds in the long run.
Just move the belt from the 45 position to 33, and vice versa.
The headline feature is the built-in phono pre-amp.
The phono pre-amp is the Fono Mini A2D, a well-regarded model.
Vibration-dampened feet round out the feature set.
Thats a pair of KEF LS50 Metas and an NAD C399.
The built-in pre-amp means I didnt need to use my own phono stage.
What I heard was nothing short of remarkable for the price.
Mix it with excellent high-end detail and top-notch spatial imaging, and youve a recipe for success.
Perhaps a little low end gets lost when things get busier, but thats nitpicking when the rest soundssogood.
Theres somethingintangibleabout the sound.
It was like I was discovering my favorite vinyl all over again.
I couldnt hear anything new coming from the track.
Ive listened to it hundreds of times on more expensive hardware than this.
Critical listening went out of the window, and I became lost in the music.
Before I knew it, the stylus was in the run-out groove.
Eagerly, I placed Dua Lipa on the platter.
The same thing again.
The pulsating bass lines may not have been the lowest, but they were dynamic and fun.
Duas voice was crystal clear…
I got lost again.
Rega Planar 1 Plus review: Verdict
Looking for your firstseriousturntable?
Rega just seems togetvinyl.
The Planar 1 Plus whisked me away to a place where there was nothing but the music.
Are there some slight problems?
Of course there are, nothings perfect.
Id like to be able to turn the pre-amp off, and electronic speed control would be nice.
But Ive never been taken aback by something quite like the Rega Planar 1 Plus.
