Rega Planar 1 Plus Turntable. Matt Black Finish with Rega Carbon Cartridge and built in Phono Stage/Phono Pre-Amp. 2021 Version.

Product Information

So it’s no surprise to find that Audio-Technica hasn’t changed its winning formula for this new LP5x model. Why would it? Through the Rega, Fitzgerald’s vocal delivery was fractured. This from the smoothest vocal delivery in the business. Her voice sounded worried. It was as if something truly horrible was going to happen after the session and she was fretting about it during her performance. She sounded positively tense. The Rega Planar 1 Plus is a belt driven unsuspended turntable. Given this is what Rega is known for, this should not be terribly surprising. The design itself - as the name suggests - is also closely related to the Planar 1 which has been on the market for a little while and represents the entry point to Rega turntable ownership. As such, this is standard design practise from the company and closely related to an existing model. Why then, are we devoting a review to it?

The built-in phono stage is a lifesaver for both analogue newcomers and those strapped for space as it reduces the need for extra components. Moreover, the Planar 1 Plus achieves a balance between enticing the vinyl-curious and satisfying the audiophiles. Once primed for action, the Planar 2 delivers punchy basslines, room-filling scale impressive attention to detail and rhythmic subtlety. There's no built-in phono stage, so it needs to hook up to a stereo amplifier that has one, or you can always buy a separate one. If that's within your budget, you'll find that the Planar 2 delivers a clear step-in performance from the Planar 1 – and at a very competitive price. Audio-Technica’s original AT-LP5turntable was a winner. Launched in 2016, its combination of solid engineering, useful features and fine sound was enough to make it one of our go-to recommendations for anyone wanting a sensibly priced, fuss-free record player with the added bonus of a USB output. In an era where digital formats seem to rule the music world, Rega stands firm in its commitment to keeping the vinyl legacy alive with its excellent lineup of turntables. The Rega Planar 1 Plus is a sterling example of this dedication. Marrying simplicity with innovation, the Planar 1 Plus Turntable delivers pure, captivating sound straight from your beloved vinyl records. Let's dive deep into its features and benefits. A Turntable for Every Music Enthusiast: Rega Planar 1 Plus The biggest visual change though is the platter. Instead of the distinctive (and very pretty) glass platter in use on the Planar 2 and upward, the Planar 1 and Plus use one made of phenolic resin. One aspect that is retained from the rest of the Planar range is the manner by which the belt acts on the platter. Instead of looping around the outer edge of the main plater, it does instead act on a sub platter under the main one. This has some positive implications for setup as we shall cover.

24 V Synchronous Motor

Here at What Hi-Fi?we review hundreds of products every year, from TVs to speakers, headphones to hi-fi systems. So how do we come to our review verdicts and why can you trust them? Allow us to explain. Actually, the cymbals offered a perfect metaphor for the Plus’ problem so they deserve further exploration. While concentrating, you could hear supreme quality from the cymbals. The cymbals sounded sublime. Large, expansive, dynamically stretched and reaching upwards, forever upwards. You could really hear the larger nature of these big pieces of metal. The sheer scaling detail from the Rega was stupendous. The problem was the blanket of noise that covered all of this beauty, it turned the cymbals into something foreign. ‘Pretend cymbals’, if you will. And this is the thing with the Plus, you could hear the quality behind the noise. The noise was like a fence, you wanted to peer over the top of it to get to the great sound quality behind. You could hear the Planar 1 trying, even at this point, to be the best. And it was actually heartbreaking. Speaking as a dedicated audiophile, it was actually upsetting to hear what Rega has done to this beautiful turntable. Despite newer record players with integrated Bluetooth streaming entering the market (even hi-res wireless options like the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2) this Sony continues to deliver the best combination of performance for a Bluetooth model, and for a very affordable price, too. The source of your hi-fi system, be it a streamer, CD player or record player is a crucial component; as the saying goes, 'rubbish in, rubbish out'.

The synchronous motor, with its low noise and vibration, plays a key role in enhancing the turntable's sound quality. Its combination of high torque and low vibration maintains speed consistency, ensuring that your records sound as good as they possibly can. Taken as a whole? From the Plus, as I say above, the song sounded like the record label had added a touch of compression to the recording. The reason for these negatives? Again, easy. Point the finger directly at the built-in phono amplifier. Frankly, the much cheaper Rega RP1/Cambridge combination left the Plus in its sonic wake. There are, no doubt, practical reasons why Rega has done this. Let me suggest a few. To add customer value by bundling the two together (we’ll get to that point in a moment), to decrease the amount of cables that you need to worry about (although removing two cables from the set-up is a relatively minor headache saver), to reduce the footprint of the two separate products for those users where space is of a premium (although the Fono is a pretty small item, as it is), to cater to the technophobe by simplifying the installation process and maybe to enter the ‘bundling’ fad that the industry has fallen prey to of late. Recent hi-fi show attendances has revealed to me that, along with active/powered speakers, the latest industry ‘craze’ is to bundle previously disparate items together into a single chassis. I reviewed the Elipson music centre recently, for example, which adds network audio to radio and a CD player and more.Perhaps the most convenient feature is the built-in MM Phono stage (based on the Rega Fono Mini). This means you can connect the turntable directly to any amplifier or system with standard phono inputs, reducing the need for additional components and simplifying your setup. Rega's Planar 1 Plus brings the excitement and warmth of vinyl to the 21st century without the hurdles often associated with turntable setups. This award-winning turntable shines bright, offering seamless integration for those entering the world of analogue sound and terrific performance upgrades for seasoned aficionados. Key Features So, what’s the Plus good for? Firstly, Rega fans (and there’s plenty out there) will buy this turntable no-matter what. Users who do not trust plastic Chinese productions will buy the Plus. Users who like the quality finish and all-in-one nature of the Plus will buy it. It will appeal to image-conscious technophobes too. Mixing convenience with quality is something that we’ve seen across many categories. It’s hard but not impossible and items as diverse as LG’s WebOS to ATC’s formidable HTS speakers are fine examples of equipment that is easy to live with but makes no significant demands of their owner. The Rega Planar 1 Plus has to be added to this happy group of products. Put simply, setting up a record player does not get more straightforward or hassle free than this. Everything that Rega knows about the business of straightforward vinyl replay is in this turntable. This Debut Pro turntable is terrific at digging deep into the production and revealing layers of instrumental textures that most at this level ignore. It sounds incredibly precise and crisp. Its presentation is a little on the lean side, but the upside of such a balance is agility.It produces a stable and controlled sound too, one that retains its composure even when the music becomes dense and demanding. Stereo imaging and a spacious soundstage prove admirable and we are impressed with the sonic authority on offer.