Rega has been making turntables for over 40 years. The Planar 1 is their entry point, but it doesn’t cut corners on the fundamentals. It strips away complexity in favor of a design that works from the moment you unbox it. Slide the counterweight on, remove the stylus guard, and you’re listening to vinyl in under a minute.

The RB110 tonearm and pre-fitted Carbon phono cartridge track records cleanly and consistently. The 24V motor keeps speed stable at both 33 and 45 RPM, with minimal vibration transferred to the platter. The result is a quiet, detailed analog sound that outperforms most all-in-one suitcase players by a wide margin. The plinth is lightweight but rigid, and the entire setup is refreshingly simple to maintain.

One honest note: the Planar 1 uses a plastic platter, not the glass or acrylic found on higher-end Rega models. It doesn’t hurt sound quality at this price point, but it’s worth knowing if you plan to upgrade later. For a first serious turntable, this is a confident, reliable choice.