Rega
Beautifully engineered turntables, built in Southend-on-Sea since 1973
Rega Reference Dealer for Newcastle & Gateshead. 26 years of belief in what Rega builds — and why it matters.
Audio Republic is a Rega turntable Gateshead specialist with 26 years as a Reference Dealer. We stock the full Rega range from Planar 1 to Naia, with RS editions on permanent demonstration. Andrew has set up hundreds of Rega turntables and knows the range inside out.
Rega’s spiritual ethos is to give every customer the best possible sound quality for their respective budget, backed up with second-to-none customer service. That’s not a marketing line — it’s a design philosophy that shapes every component they make, from the entry-level Planar 1 through to the flagship Naia.
Most turntable brands at similar prices make cost-cutting engineering decisions that result in second-rate solutions. Andrew puts it plainly: “Competitors’ tonearms at the same price as a Rega RB330 have more joints than you’ll find in an ashtray. They are on fundamentally different planets.”
That difference is audible. When a Rega Planar 3 RS is properly calibrated to run at exactly 33rpm, the rock solid speed stability, bass punch and clarity will take you by surprise. Put on the Rolling Stones’ Miss You and the effect is transformational.
Below you’ll find the full Rega range we keep on permanent demonstration — from the Planar 1 through to the Naia, including the RS editions we consider essential listening for anyone seriously considering a Rega.
RS — Rega Special
RS stands for Rega Special — a deliberate nod to Roy Gandy’s background as a Ford motor engineer, where RS meant Rally Sport. The same principle applies: take the standard model, apply more precise engineering and better components, and produce something that genuinely outperforms its price point.
The Planar 3 RS and Planar 6 RS are the models Andrew recommends most often. The RS editions come supplied with Rega’s own ND5 cartridge (worth £300) as standard — a meaningful inclusion that reflects Rega’s commitment to giving customers the best possible result from day one.
The Range
We keep the full Rega turntable range on permanent demonstration — including the RS editions, which we consider essential listening for anyone seriously considering a Rega.
Planar 2
The Planar 2 was developed alongside the Planar 3, and it shows. It steps up to a glass platter, Rega’s RB220 tonearm with zero-play bearings, and a new 24V low-noise motor.
What Hi-Fi? named it Best Mid-Price Record Player 2024, and it’s not hard to hear why — the timing and rhythmic drive that Rega is known for is fully present here, at a price that won’t keep you awake at night.
A genuine step forward from the Planar 1, without asking you to spend Planar 3 money to get there.
Planar 1
Proof that entry-level doesn’t mean compromised. No unnecessary features, no gimmicks — just precision where it matters. The Planar 1 is the purest expression of Rega’s philosophy: everything that helps the music, nothing that doesn’t.
PLANAR 3 / PLANAR 3 RS
The Planar 3 RS costs £999 — keeping it under a grand was a deliberate decision by Rega, and it represents outstanding value at that price.
The RS edition brings a stiffer HPL plinth, the external Neo Mk2 power supply for improved speed stability, a reference EBLT drive belt, and Rega’s ND5 cartridge (worth £295) as standard.
Reviewers note the sound is more stable and composed than previous Planar 3 generations, allowing music to flow in an engaging fashion with the minimum of turntable character.
This is the model most people land on — and for good reason.
PLANAR 6 / PLANAR 6 RS
The Planar 6 RS is the crossover point between Rega’s more affordable plinth designs and the distinctive skeletal models above — it has a full-size plinth, but made from TanCast 8 foam, making it stiffer yet weighing less than half as much as a Planar 3 plinth.
This is Andrew’s sweet spot recommendation for most serious listeners — the model where Rega’s engineering philosophy becomes most audibly apparent. Cartridge choice at this level becomes genuinely personal: the Nagaoka MP500 for warmth and bass authority, the Audio Technica VM760SL for clarity and dynamics.
PLANAR 8
Rega drew clear inspiration for the Planar 8 from their no-compromise Naiad turntable.
The plinth is strikingly skeletal, saving mass without sacrificing rigidity, and a major upgrade is the RB880 tonearm with a redesigned vertical bearing assembly.
The super flywheel triple-layer glass platter was developed in collaboration with a UK glass engineering company to Rega’s exact specifications.
This is where the philosophy stops being theoretical and becomes genuinely reference-grade.
PLANAR 10
The full expression of Rega’s Naiad-derived engineering in a production turntable. TanCast 8 foam plinth, RB3000 tonearm, ceramic platter, offboard power supply and speed control.
At this level the engineering decisions are no longer about value for money — they’re about extracting everything the design is capable of. Remarkable.
NAIA
The Naia’s plinth is TanCast 8 foam skinned in graphene-infused carbon fibre — both stiffer and lighter.
At its centre is a bearing made of zirconium toughened alumina, arriving at Rega as a powder and becoming, over several days and numerous processes, an ultra-low friction assembly.
Reviewers describe it as impressively neutral and transparent — a design that gets out of the way and lets the record itself be the story
. We had the Naia in our showroom for Rega’s exclusive Research event in April 2026, demonstrated by Rega’s own Rob Noble. If you’d like to hear it, speak to Andrew.
Built to Last, Backed Properly
Rega’s lifetime limited warranty fundamentally describes the complete confidence they have in the build quality of their products. It’s an unmatched, industry-defining warranty — and it tells a story of user satisfaction over commercial profitability.
Rega run a profitable business, but they do that through customer satisfaction — not by reducing it through poorly made products.
Every Rega turntable from the Planar 1 through to the Planar 10 is covered for manufacturing defects for as long as you own it. Designed and assembled in the UK. That means something.
26 Years
Andrew has been a Rega dealer for 26 years. That’s not a commercial arrangement — it’s a long-standing belief in what Rega builds and why it matters.
In April 2026, we hosted an exclusive Rega Research event here in Gateshead — one of very few such events held in the North East — with Rega’s own Rob Noble demonstrating their flagship range in person. It’s the kind of relationship that only exists when both sides genuinely believe in the same things.
Setup and Servicing
Every Rega turntable we sell is set up properly before it leaves us. Near is never good enough — correct cartridge alignment, tonearm height, tracking force and anti-skate aren’t optional extras, they’re the difference between a turntable that works and one that sounds extraordinary.
We also offer professional setup and cartridge fitting for Rega turntables bought elsewhere, for a fee. If your Rega isn’t performing as it should, bring it in.
Common Rega Questions
Is a Rega turntable difficult to set up?
Not if it’s done properly from the start — which is exactly what we do. Every Rega we sell leaves us correctly aligned and calibrated. If you’ve bought one elsewhere and it doesn’t sound right, bring it in and we’ll have a look.
Which Rega model is the sweet spot?
For most listeners, the Planar 6 RS. It’s the model where Rega’s engineering philosophy becomes most audibly apparent — and where the RS edition makes the biggest difference. That said, the Planar 3 RS is genuinely remarkable for its price, and the right answer always depends on your system and what you listen to.
Does Rega work well with other brands' cartridges?
Yes — Rega tonearms are well-suited to a wide range of cartridges. At Planar 3 RS level, the Audio Technica VM740ML is an outstanding pairing. At Planar 6 RS and above, it comes down to taste: the Nagaoka MP500 for warmth and bass authority, the Audio Technica VM760SL for clarity and precision.
Can I hear a Rega at home before deciding?
Yes. We offer home demonstrations across the North East — Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Sunderland. It’s the best way to hear how a Rega performs with your music, in your room, with your existing equipment.
What does the Rega lifetime warranty actually cover?
Manufacturing defects, for as long as you own the product. It doesn’t cover wear-and-tear items like drive belts or styli, but for the turntable itself — the engineering, the build, the components — Rega stand behind it for life. That confidence is earned, not assumed.
Hear it for yourself
We have Rega turntables on permanent demonstration in our Gateshead showroom — from the Planar 1 through to the Naia.
If you’d prefer to hear how a Rega performs in your own home, with your own music and your own system, we offer home demonstrations across Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Sunderland.
No pressure. Just good sound.