Rega Planar 2 Nd3 MM

The Rega Planar 2 Nd3 MM is the Planar 2 turntable supplied with Rega's Nd3 moving magnet cartridge factory-fitted in place of the standard Carbon. Developed over ten years, the Nd3 is believed to be the first moving magnet cartridge to use an ultra-high-powered neodymium (N55) magnet, bringing much of the energy and detail of moving coil designs to a plug-and-play MM package. As a factory-fitted package, it costs less than buying the deck and cartridge separately.

The handmade Nd3 has a bonded elliptical diamond stylus on an aluminium cantilever, miniaturised parallel coils and a rigid, lightweight glass-filled PPS body with Rega's 3-point fixing. It sits on the hand-assembled RB220 tonearm, with patented ultra-low-friction bearings, adjustable bias, an integrated arm clip and a custom aluminium arm tube. A 24V low-noise, low-vibration motor with the EBLT drive belt turns a 10 mm Optiwhite float-glass platter on an 11 mm self-securing brass central bearing, all set in a high-gloss acrylic or walnut-effect laminated plinth.

It plays 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records, with speed changed by hand at the pulley. The Planar 2 has no built-in phono stage, so connect it to an amplifier with a phono (MM) input or a separate phono stage such as the Rega Fono Mini A2D. Gloss finishes come with a clear dust cover and the walnut finish with a smoked dust cover. Bought at Blacknote, the Planar 2 Nd3 MM comes with Rega's lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.