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Review: Rega Planar 3 Turntable

Category: Analog

This review will deal with the current Rega P3 turntable with Rega RB 300 tone arm and some of the updates that are
available for this venerable performer.

There is not much sense in going into a lengthy review of this table. It has been reviewed many times in the past years and in the Planar 3 or the current P 3 it has remained a bedrock of analog playback for well over 30 years and was updated by Rega to P3 in 2000.

However over the years some after market companies have offered several upgrades for the P 3. This will deal with the J.A. Michell Techno Weight for the RB 300 Tone Arm,the Deep Groove sub platter and the Iron Audio Acrylic Platter. Each of these upgrades brings the performance of the P 3 to a higher level of analog playback and each of these items are quite cost effective for the price/performance dollar invested.

Straight out of the box the Rega P3 is a great table and at its price/performnce ratio there is little in the market place that can touch it. In recent years the RB 300 tone arm has become somewhat of an icon in its own right,with many high end tables employing this arm or a derivative of the RB 300 in higher priced turntables.

However there is on the market today several counter weights for the RB 300. I have used the Expressimo and the Clear Audio offset counter weight with excellent results and this has moved the overall sonics of the RB 300 to loftier performance levels and has improved tracking to another level.

Although this time sought to use the J.A. Michell counter weight, which is the new buzz in Rega counter weights today. This is a well thought out design and the machining is top class all the way. This is a four piece system, which consists of new end stub,slider,2 counter weights and adjuster for stylus pressure. One counter weight for 3 to 6 grams the other counter weight for 6 to 13 grams, so virtually any modern phono cartridge is usable with the RB 300 arm. It does take a little more finesse to get this counter weight right than with the other two menetioned,but once properly set up, brings the overall sonics of the RB 300 several levels up from the other contenders. Vinyl Engine on the net has covered this counter weight and while I thought their claims were somewhat over embellished, I now have to admit that for the most part their analysis of the Michell Rega Counter Weight was right on. One just has to hear the RB 300 arm with this counter weight. It is a major leaque improvement of the stock Rega Counter Weight and easily surpasses the Expressimo and Clear Audio Rega counter weights. The Michell is far more precise in its overall execution and allows the RB 300 arm to far excell its performance bar. I highly recommend this J.A. Michell Counter Weight for the Rega RB 300 tone arm. A very worthwhile upgrade, that far belies its modest cost.

Next upgrade was the Rega sub platter, to the Deep Groove sub platter with ruby ball bearing. Not a lot has been written about this. However the stock sub platter on the P 3 is slighly off speed on the fast side and the general trick has been to add to electrical tape to the perimeter of the stock sub platter to get spot on speed. However the sub platter does not have much weight to it and is made of some plastic fiber material. Therefore the flywheel effect if any is quite minimal and the start time to speed is about 2 1/2 to 3 revolutions to 33.3 rpm.

The Deep Groove sub platter for the Rega P 3 solves a multitude of those inherent problems with the stock sub platter. The Deep Groove sub platter is precisioned machined from aluminium stock and is ever so slightly larger to avoid speed problems. The ruby ball bearing along with its lubricant allows the platter to reach full rotational speed in one revolution and appears to put less stress on the belt and motor pulley assembly and due to its slightly heavier weight adds the much needed flywheel effect to the P 3. This is a very easy install and can be
handled by anyone with basic turntable skills. The directions are clear concise and step by step and with 20 minutes at most the job is done. Using the VPI strobe disc confirm the one revolution to speed and was rock steady at 33.3 rpm. A great upgrade that is more than offset by the price and brings up the level of the P 3. I do recommend this upgrade as the Rega greatly benefits from the lower noise floor,flywheel effect and the reduced stress on the motor,belt and pulley.

The platter on the Rega P3 and other Regas has been the glass platter with felt mat. Although it was considered a revolution in its day, time and technology has pushed forward and the word today is acrylic platters. the one used here is the Iron Audio pure acrylic platter as replacement for the glass platter. This is a very nicely machined acrylic platter with frosted top and polished clear side. It is well balanced,flat without visible warpage and fits precisely of the Rega and Deep Groove sub platter. It is somewhat thicker than the glass platter and is slightly recessed underneath so that the stock height is retained. Nice side benefit to this is that the sub platter becomes less visible with the recess. The Iron Audio Acrylic Platter makes a tremendous difference in the sonics of the Rega. Sound stage is vastly opened,depth front to back is seamless and well defined and detail one thought that was not there, comes to life. This is one of the most dramatic upgrades with immediate benefits I can think of. Can be used with the stock Rega Felt Mat, or in this case the Herbie turntable mat.

These upgrades are more than cost effective,greatly enchance the overall performance of the venerable P3 to loftier heights and if your really into analog, these are a must have for the Rega Planar 3 or P3.

The Rega P 3 now competes and is on par with my VPI Scout and the overall cost is less.

The J.A. Michell Counter Weight was $125.00

The Deep Groove Sub Platter was $189.00

The Iron Audio Acrylic Platter was $95.00

The Rega P3 was purchased for $500.00

So at a total of $909.00 here is a great analog playback system that is on par with my VPI Scout at $1,500.00.

This is just posted as food for thought if one is considering the upgrade path for a Rega Planar 3 or P 3. Plus these do not have to be done all at once and can be added as time and budget dictates.

So if you have been looking at some of the higher priced tables, but budget dictates else, here is a solution that delivers perfomance one can get easily spolied to and one does not have to make excuses for. One of analogs great turntables with updates that bring it to higher levels of resolution with cost effectiveness a priority.

Doesn't get much better than this.

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VPI,Oracle,Project, you name it,has been through here at one or another.
ferrari
ferrari OP
617 posts
 
Great posts to this thread, thanks to all respondents.

On the subject of motor or gear oils. One has to keep in mind these are not mean't for low speed application. None of these lubricants will ever reach their thermal viscosity rating at low speed application. In particular multi viscosity oils, the polymer elasticer used in multi weight oils will fail to obtain their highest viscosity rating.

Why some manufacturers use engine motor oils as a spindle lubricant is a mystery to me, as all of these types of lubricants are not for low speed application. Single weight lubricants appear to be the worse of all applications due to the fact they will never reach the proper operating temperature in a low speed application.All lubricants have a temperature designed to work at,and the amount used is of no signifcance. In order to protect properly the lubricant must reach thermal stability.

Over the years I have found that the JA Michell spindle bearing oil has the right viscosity for turntable application and will work with any bearing I have used.

Proper leveling of a turntable is absolutely critical in proper operation. That has been a given for as long as we have had the analog medium. Take the time to make sure the turntable is level. The circle level bubble is one of the great devices to use for this.

In recent years speed controls for turntables have come to the forefront. By applying the correct 60Hz to the motor yeilds a signifcant sonic improvement. Seldom does anyone have a spot on 60Hz from the wall. Mine here is 61.8 Hz. Recently borrowed a friends VPI first generation unit. To my amazement the entire analog presentation moved to a level that was several steps above. So this is one item that does have a dramatic positive sonic impact of the analog medium. So in the near future will be using one of these with the Rega P3. If I can find a VPI or the newer Orbit 1 speed control. This is in my opinion a must have for any turntable.

The addition of a Speed Control unit will be the last upgrade to the Rega P3. In my opinion to do more to the Rega P3, one might as well move onto the VPI Scout or similar turntable.
gadfly's avatar
gadfly
194 posts
 
Well, Seandtaylor99, Valvoline SAE 85W-140 synthetic blend gear oil is the ticket. Sure was funny buying that container of Valvoline knowing it was for a turntable. Seemed ham fisted when I was in Pep Boys, but ...

I removed the blu-tac and tape from the subplatter that I was using for mass and speed control. I cleared out the well, bearing, and shaft with denatured alcohol and filled it with the oil and it works like a charm.

A drop? I filled a small glass bottle that had an eye dropper and had to put about 6 'drops' in there 'till it was right. But the oil welled up around the shaft creating that ring you mentioned.

I put on Ellington's "The Pianist" and I've really got to thank you for your earlier replies. Wow is gone. It also seems like attack is a little better as well. Stepping into notes and decay are more present.

I think I will still get the subplatter but it going further down on the list. (Rega uses a variation in their higher models..) Even with the speed a percentage fast, I still like it. I guess that is what makes this a "pacey" deck, as they say.

Table is level; bubble right in the center ring. I glued the level onto the table a while back so that I would not lose track of it & always be 'using' it.

No one here has yet to mention the VTAF. That is next up.

Thanks, Ferrari, for the original posting. The acrylic platter is still on my list along with re-wiring the arm. I think I've got to really think about the Heed. Maybe I like the 1% speed increase.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
Gadfly ... glad it worked out. It is incredible how much difference a little oil makes.

"None of these lubricants will ever reach their thermal viscosity rating at low speed application"

The first weight in a multiweight oil is the room temperature pouring weight. The second is the high temp. weight, and is not relevant for turntable applications (we hope !)

So a 5w30 is a 5w at room temp.

similarly an 80w140 gear oil will be an 80 weight oil in the turntable bearing. The 140 is meaningless.

Rega recommends 80w hypoid gear oil. Since manual transmissions contain brass and steel and require a strong film of lubrication it's little surprise that it would work in a brass and steel bearing setup such as the Rega.

The michel bearing is quite different from Rega's so their oil may or may not work in a rega bearing, but in general Rega bearings do not work with thin oil.

If I ever get around to trying a straight 140w gear oil I'll report on my findings. It's not generally available at motor stores so I need to look around a bit more to try to find it. Even if it doesn't work out I doubt it will cost more than $10 to try.
gadfly's avatar
gadfly
194 posts
 
after living with the new oil and seeing how the greatest level of wow has been decreased I have noticed that it is not all the way gone. This may because of power at the wall or motor speed variation, which virtually turns out to be the same thing. - Oil has been filled to the point where there is a rim of oil visible above the well clinging to the spindle.

There is still a level of wow noticeable and it varies during paying times, which puts the power clearly in the blame category.

note: I use talc on the belt. Is it possible the talc is dusting and fouling the spin of the motor shaft?

Upgrading the motor should be part of this equation as well. But how to approach all this budgetwise and get the most effect for the dollar at each change is my concern.

I don't want to upgrade the motor yet as I think that since I already have one I will try to improve around it and if it is still at fault in the end, out it goes.

Adding the sublatter and then the Iron Audio platter may be the first place to start as if there are inconsistencies in motor speed that can be overcome by a better flywheel then there you go.

Finally adding the Pro-Ject Speedbox [not SE] should put the finishing touches on the speed mess, I hope.

Is there something I am missing?

*** have mercy and don't tell me to get another table. That is a fiendish response due to cause hangwringing on my part and bad karma on yours. ***
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
If you have an old planar 3 then I think the motor upgrade should be your first action. The upgraded motor attaches directly to the plinth, and is not suspended with rubber bands, as with the old planar 3 motor.

Most users report greatly improved speed stability with the new motor. I have the new motor on my planar 3 (I did it when I moved to the US, rather than as an upgrade) and speed stability is excellent since my re-oiling.

I still maintain that the flywheel effect will not change, and could be reduced by going to an acrylic platter, and since the subplatter is of relatively small diameter I doubt if this contributes at all to the flywheel effect.

If the new subplatter improves speed stability it would probably be due to machining tolerance of the bearing shaft and the pulley surface, rather than a flywheel effect.

Google polar moment of inertia ... a good flywheel needs mass at the periphery of a decent size diameter. The acrylic platter will have less mass than the glass platter, and the subplatter has insufficient diameter.

Also watch for slightly off-center LPs. I have a number in my collection, and you can see the tonearm swing gently back and forth if viewed from above.
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