Rega Planar 10 Turntable Overview

Dreamonoid's Hi-Fi overviews the Rega Planar 10, one of Rega's top of the line turntables. Joey goes into depth on who this turntable is for, and things you can do to take the experience even further.
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[@mikechivy]

I have a p10 with an Apheta 3. I play it everyday. I used to have a p3 that collected dust. So although it’s like 4x the price, I use it 20x as much. Incredible turntable. Maybe one day I’ll be dumb enough to pay 5k for a cartridge and get the Aphelion 2

[@Dreamonoids]

That’s a great example of what a difference the sound between them is.

[@pavelkohout351]

Be aware...Aphelion 2 is so revealing and ultimate..you may have problem with your record collection. I mean top class records will sound absolutely fantastic but some records (average ) can sounds dull :-)))

[@mikechivy]

@@pavelkohout351 my collection is completely M/NM. I also ultrasonic clean every record I own. If it’s not pristine it doesn’t see the table. I’m ready for the Aphelion when I can afford it lol.

[@pavelkohout351]

@@mikechivy I meant quality of recordings....not condition of the records 🙂

[@mikechivy]

@@pavelkohout351 ahhh yes yes. The Apheta 3 is quite revealing, so I can’t imagine the Aphelion. I try and stick with a lot of remasters by Kevin Gray, Bernie Grundman, Chris Bellman due to their fantastic mastering. They usually nail the bass. Have you listened to both? I can’t imagine the aphelion would make anything I have sound worse. However I do have beryllium tweeters, so I would worry about being overly sharp. At this point I can’t even afford it, but interesting to think about. At this point for 5 grand, I’d upgrade my amp first anyways. I feel that makes more sense in the long run.

[@leonidvolovik5203]

Hi, kids put the dust cover on the tonearm, so now the stylus hops and just wouldn't play properly. You think tonearm needs to be replaced now?

[@Dreamonoids]

It could be the weight isn’t balanced, or it could be the cartridge wires are bent out of position. Point is, best thing to do is bring it into your nearest rega dealer to get this sorted out. Hope is not lost.

[@zajunc69]

I’ve ordered rb3000 to my rega p8. I hope it will be close enough to p10 after this mod. I’m not convinced to ceramic plater (both in visual and sonic terms) but I might be wrong

[@paulvickerman4838]

zajunc69, How did the upgrade go? I'm thinking of purchasing an RB3000 for my Planar 6. Cheers, P-

[@zajunc69]

@@paulvickerman4838 I'm still waiting, I was told it will take up to 5 weeks to arrive

[@Dreamonoids]

Using both tables for a significant amount of time I have to give the nod easily to the P10. Hopefully your upgrade gets you to where you want to be, but the synergy of the P10 as a whole is what really makes all the minor details shine.

[@zajunc69]

⁠@@paulvickerman4838it was a long wait but finally tonearm has arrived. I had Ortofon cadenza black and was dissapointed because it sounded bit too muddy and flat on p8. However with new tonearm it came alive, dynamic range matched apheta3 with p8 but cadenza added body to mid and upper bass and is slightly darker in tonality. Overall very pleased with result.

[@zajunc69]

Ps I was on audio video show in Poland and heard rega naia with aphelion 2. On such shows acoustic adaptation is horroble but I can tell its extremely dynamic, bass tight and crisp clear. Probably too clear and tight for many speakers but for BBC style speakers its probably endgame. I have gamut RS7 which is very lively and detailed itself so i think it would be too much

[@davidgerald285]

I have a rega p10/apheta 3, a good turntable, I've been enjoying my vinyl, but I'm looking to upgrade to a Vpi prime signature with a Hana ML.

[@will2181]

How does the Vpi Prime Signature, compare to the P10 in your opinion?

[@jc51373]

@@will2181 Tone arms from VPI aren't nearly as good as the Rega.

[@pavelkohout351]

@@will2181 VPI are fantastic turntables but P10 is more forward, revealing....It's matter of taste...VPI sounds to me little bit slower with less impact and detail. P10 has punch resolution, listen and decide. I have complete Rega gear so there is synergy between.

[@Dreamonoids]

Good points.

[@jc51373]

Rega tone arm is better than than the vpi tone arms

[@iraeich]

What do you think of the Origin Livee Sovereign?

[@Dreamonoids]

Looks cool, but a very different philosophy in terms of the tables we recommend. Never heard it, but I bet it’s great.

[@ptg01]

I had a P10 w/ Apheta3 and absolutely LOVED it.... but I was so disappointed with the cartridge dying within the first 30 days.... I don't get it.... Worse, the dealer questioned my integrity when I told them about the Apheta3 issue. Frustrating experience.....

[@Dreamonoids]

Sorry to hear that. Hope this is got resolved one way or another for you. Never heard of that issue, must be a faulty cart.

[@user-jj7uy1ns5f]

How much better is this than the RP10 I’m interested to know your thoughts? Thanks in advance

[@Dreamonoids]

Well if you already own an RP10 I’d just relax and enjoy, but if you’re just trying to find the best of the best then I’d say the Planar 10 skeletal plinth is 30% lighter than the original RP10 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model. Less mass means superior sound. This is all based on Rega’s core principal found in their book, “A Vibration Measuring Machine.” Rega puts extensive time into their R&D, and they only release new models when they have vastly outperformed their predecessor. That being said the RP10 is formidable to almost any turntable, just slightly dated now.

[@user-jj7uy1ns5f]

@@Dreamonoids thanks for your detailed reply, I’m 68 so as for aesthetics I’m not bothered just the typical audiophile always interested in opinions,

[@davidspendlove5900]

Had one but liked the 8 better.

[@joeylopezphd]

What cartridge did you use?

[@davidspendlove5900]

@@joeylopezphd Hi , I used a Dynavector 20X2 but I thought it was better with my spare , a Denon 103 ! I know this just should not work in the fairly lightweight RB3000.

[@Dreamonoids]

Never heard that one. Maybe your cart wasn’t a good pairing. The Planar 10 with an Aphelion 2 is superb.

[@pedrocols]

I am just trying to wrap my head around how much these turntables cost. I am definitely very clueless.

[@jimbrock1441]

Engineering plus materials plus marketing and shipping. Allow for some profit and you have the price. I have one and think it is worth every penny. Have you heard one?

[@pedrocols]

@@jimbrock1441 I've heard a 50k turntable at a show and it was very underwhelming to say the least. No way a needle dragging on a vinyl surface will sound better than well recorded uncompressed digital.

[@Dreamonoids]

50k is a bit too steep. But you’d be surprised what a Rega P10 or Linn LP12 can do. Digital also depends on the players. The Resolution Audio DAC we use is about 10k making it almost the same price as the Rega P10. A bad DAC can make uncompressed music sound…well bad.

[@will2181]

I use a weight with my Rega P8. I’ve been using one since day 1 of owning it, my P8 is 2 years old now. it’s just fine. But I will say, I was mindful of the bearing. I didn’t go out and buy the biggest weight I could find. The weight I’m using weighs in at 240 grams. You figure most vinyl nowadays is 180grams. So it really isn’t adding to much more in my book.

[@Dreamonoids]

Not something we would do, but it’s your turntable, and you can enjoy it however you want. 👌🏽

[@will2181]

@@Dreamonoids if I too were a Rega dealer, I’d probably share the same viewpoint as yours lol

[@sc0or]

Rega sells with a salesperson. They keep in secret technical specs because they won't impress. And the only selling power are design and tales.

[@Dreamonoids]

As a Rega salesperson I am offended. Who told you about the “secret” specs kept in Black Beards pirate ship?

[@sc0or]

@@Dreamonoids ) Can you find some on their web site, sir? Neither one local store has them.

[@Dreamonoids]

@@sc0or email us, and we can get you one.

[@sc0or]

@@Dreamonoids WOW! You are the best. I would be interested in P3 and P6 specs. I'm going to email you soon. Thank you, sir!

[@frankhugh2052]

It just looks so fragile to live with

[@Dreamonoids]

It’s well built. Sturdier than it looks.

[@johnbrown6189]

Well it's mechanically engineered. Ok then. I'll pay 10k for that.

[@nigelsmith2044]

Fit same cartridge to a P1 and P10, say rega carbon, use same ancilary equipment, conduct a blind listening test, same piece of music switched between ...doubt if listeners would make out £1000s pounds worth of difference in sound quality!!

[@Dreamonoids]

Someone’s very angry at Rega. Anyone who’s heard these tables would disagree. Go for a walk.

[@joeylopezphd]

Have done it before and it’s a huge difference. That said, everyone can vote with their hard earned money.