The Planar 2 is one of the most successful turntables ever made by the reputable Rega and has undergone plenty of upgrades over the years with various iterations. Finally, after almost half a century, the legendary Rega Planar 2 has made its return with newer parts and an improvement in sonic performance. The turntable’s modest price tag also makes it really attractive. What it needs now will be a pair of matching speakers.
For such an extraordinary turntable, the Rega Planar 2 certainly deserves to match with speakers that have at least the same level of quality. In order to find the right pair of speakers, we must first learn more about the merits and sonic characteristics of the Planar 2 turntable. With enough data, we will then be able to list out the best speakers which you can aim for and pair them with your Rega Planar 2. This list of speakers will be shared with you later on so let us start.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Merits of Rega Planar 2
The Rega Planar 2 has sleek visual aesthetics and looks very modern with a premium feel to it. This is an elegant and stylish turntable that you will want to show off to your guests and will look exquisite as part of the house decor. Aesthetically matching this turntable with any modern loudspeakers will be rather easy. It is a pity the Rega Planar 2 has no built-in phono stage as this means we can’t connect active speakers without a built-in phono preamp directly to this turntable. Getting a separate phono stage such as the matching Rega Fono Mini A2D does has its own advantages as more than likely a dedicated phono stage will provide a better overall sonic performance thus giving us a higher sound quality.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Fono Mini A2D MM Phono Preamp
Since it is a new and improved Planar 2, it won’t be a surprise that the turntable comes with some changes. For instance, the feet are redesigned for better stability and also to reduce the transfer of vibrations. The new float glass of the Rega Planar 2 helps to improve the accuracy of the platter. Another notable improvement will be the RB220 precision tonearm where it will help to make the setup a lot easier while improving the sonic performance of course. The new 24V motor is amazing as well, it is low noise and has low vibration which helps with the music listening experience.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Planar 2 Turntable (Gloss Black)
Rega Planar 2 is an entertainer where it will engage its listeners with a lively music performance that will make you feel like dancing and simply want to enjoy listening to your music without being analytical. There is musicality and rhythmic precision in its presentation without being all over the place. The scale of the music delivered by the Rega Planar 2 is also what makes it sound impressive and fun to listen to. This Rega turntable bass performance is punchy and agile with taut delivery. Its bassline is well-textured and detailed too. The spacious soundstage coupled with amazing stereo imaging also helps to provide an engaging music reproduction.
The Rega Planar 2’s overall accuracy is astounding and very agile too, able to handle itself when faced with sophisticated music passages. The Rega sonic characteristics are evident in the Planar 2 turntable, it is surefooted, enthusiastic, and refine. Music pacing and timing are impeccable as well, it never once loses its cool or focus. No wonder the new Rega Planar 2 has garnered so many accolades in just a few short years and still remains one of the top turntables to get your hands on at this price range. It is also informative, capable of digging out music details and subtle nuances, producing them out clearly.
As mentioned earlier, the Rega Planar 2 does not have a built-in phono stage and this gives us a limited choice of active speakers to go for since they need to have a built-in phono preamplifier for us to connect them directly to the turntable. Unless you already have or going to get a dedicated phono stage, then we will have more active speaker choices to pick from. Passive speakers will be potential options as well especially if you are planning to get an integrated amplifier. You probably want to work out your budget first as this will greatly help you to determine what type of speakers to aim for. The available room space will also be a factor. We have prepared a list of the best speakers to pair with your Rega Planar 2, kindly take a look below.
Rega Planar 2 Specifications
- Tonearm: RB220
- Cartridge: Factory fitted carbon moving magnet cartridge
- Motor: 24V low noise motor
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 447mm x 117mm x 360mm | 17.6″ x 4.6″ x 14.2″
- Weight: 5.5kg (12.1lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Rega Planar 2
The Rega Kyte is one of the best speakers to pair up with your Rega Planar 2 turntable. This is a pair of passive bookshelf speakers made by the same company and we can expect similar sound signatures which will blend in together seamlessly. In just a short period of time, the Rega Kyte speakers have garnered rave reviews from discerning critics due to their remarkable sonic performances at an affordable price. It is an agile speaker and has incredible music handling, capable of providing an engaging music performance with the right balance of enthusiasm and refinement, a really suitable match for the Rega Planar 2.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Kyte Bookshelf Speakers
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is a multiple award-winning passive bookshelf speaker with exceptional sonic performance and a modest price tag. These Q Acoustics stand-mounters are definitely a worthy match for the Rega Planar 2 turntable. It is a musically refined speaker with just the right amount of energy and punch to not sound too laid-back. The music delivery is smooth and very detailed, the level of clarity is high as well. The Q Acoustics Concept 20’s overall sound reproduction is clear and composed with a hint of warmth. Its bass reproduction is rather impressive for a speaker of its size.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Compact Bookshelf Speaker (White)
The KEF Q350 is another pair of passive bookshelf speakers that will match well with the Rega Planar 2 without compromising accuracy. The soundstage which the stand-mounters can project is large and will fit nicely with the Planar 2 turntable. Their deep bass reproduction will help add weight and presence to the spacious soundstage. The KEF Q350s are able to produce plenty of music details, giving their listeners a rich music presentation with incredible clarity. The Rega Planar 2 turntable’s energetic sonic characteristic can help to add a bit more fun and enthusiasm to the overall sound reproduction.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q350 (Pair, Black)
The Q Acoustics 3050i will be an exceptional pair of floor-standing speakers to partner up with the Rega Planar 2 turntable. As long you have an amplifier that can effectively drive the 3050i, these floor-standers will be able to fill the room with music. They will produce a large and spacious soundstage with a nice level of stereo separation which will complement the Rega Planar 2. The Q Acoustics 3050i has excellent bass performance, it is tight and punchy, coupled with the Planar 2 low frequency handling prowess, you got yourself a powerful and bold low-end reproduction. Furthermore, these floor-standing speakers can deliver deep bass prominently.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3050i Floorstanding Speaker Pair (Graphite Grey)
For listeners who are looking for powered speakers, you probably should go with studio monitors such as the Yamaha HS8. These are powerful studio monitors and can deliver very deep bass frequencies of down to 38Hz with ample weight, thanks to their 8″ woofers being driven by the built-in amplifiers (75 Watts). The Yamaha HS8 has an astonishing level of clarity and can dig out an immense amount of music details including subtle ones, producing them out in spades. These active studio monitors are able to deliver a faithful music presentation of your favorite tunes with incredible accuracy and precision.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitor, Black
If you are planning to connect active speakers directly to your Rega Planar 2 turntable then perhaps you might want to take a look at the Klipsch R-51PM powered Bluetooth speakers. Other than a built-in power amplifier, the R-51PM has an integrated phono preamplifier as well. Enabling you to connect these active speakers directly to your Rega Planar 2 turntable. The Kanto YU6 will be another ideal choice especially if you are looking for a warm-sounding speaker with smooth music delivery. The YU6s are active speakers with a built-in phono preamp and their warmish sonic characteristic is well suited for the Rega Planar 2 turntable.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch R-51PM Bluetooth Speaker
More Details at Amazon – Kanto YU6 with Bluetooth and Phono Preamp
To Sum It Up
PreSonus is a reputable brand that makes modestly priced and high-quality studio monitors, it is worth your time to take a look. The speakers listed here are also worthy of your effort to hear them out and you should arrange an audition with a few of them. Take your time to listen to them and see which ones do you like to hear the most. Doing a side-by-side speaker comparison will be a good idea as it will be easier to tell the difference in sound quality.
