The Rega Planar 3 is an excellent choice for vinyl enthusiasts who are getting serious with their hobby and want a high-quality turntable that will provide them with plenty of value and sonic performance without breaking the bank. There is no doubt the award-winning Rega Planar 3 is one of the top turntables to go for in this price range and will require an equally remarkable amplifier to pair with it.
The need of having a matching amplifier is not just to drive your passive loudspeakers but to also function as a phono preamplifier for your Rega Planar 3 turntable. Without a phono stage, the sound quality will drop drastically and you wouldn’t be able to enjoy listening to your vinyl. The chosen amplifier will also need to be able to complement the Planar 3 turntable’s sonic characteristics. Getting a separate amplifier may take up more space and cost more than getting a pair of active speakers with built-in phono preamps but this gives you the opportunity to fine-tune the sound quality to your liking by combining various HiFi separates into one sound system.
This is an entertaining turntable to listen to and it is so easy to just sit back and enjoy listening to the music being played in front of you. The Rega Planar 3 alacrity performance is packed with insights and the musical details are been produced clearly to us. There is a touch of warmth in its sonic character and it does sound more neutral than other turntables within the same price range. For listeners who want a laid-back and relaxing music listening session, you probably might need to look elsewhere as the Rega Planar 3 is very capable of delivering an enthusiastic music presentation for almost all music genres. You can try to pair the Planar 3 turntable with either a smoother or slightly darker-sounding amplifier to tone down the energy a little.
We are not saying the Rega Planar 3 simply goes all over the place though, it is well-organized and nicely balanced, able to present to us a cohesive and engaging music delivery of our favorite records. It certainly deserves to partner with amplifiers with the same level of quality. Finding the right amplifier for the job will also depend on your requirements. The amplifier will need to be able to cater to your overall sound system needs and this is why we need to go through a list of the potential requirements which you should consider. We will also be sharing with you a list of the best amplifiers which you can choose to match with the Rega Planar 3 turntable later on.
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Your Amplifier Requirements
The type of speakers you are using will influence the type of amplifier you should get, for instance, if you are using active speakers then you will need a preamp with a built-in phono stage. If you are using passive speakers then you will need amplifiers to drive them. This is where you will decide if you want to go for an integrated amplifier or HiFi separates. Going for an integrated amplifier can be a more affordable option and saves you a lot of space but may not perform as well as a dedicated phono stage, power amp, etc., since it needs to execute various jobs and functions simultaneously. Choosing the HiFi separates route allows you to fine-tune the sound quality to your liking as you can mix and match different audio components with their own unique sound signatures.
It is usually more expensive to go with HiFi separate so you might want to work on your budget first and set a comfortable amount that you are willing to spend. If you already have a fully functional sound system and just need a way to bridge your Rega Planar 3 then a dedicated phono stage will be more than enough. You should also find out if you have enough space on your HiFi rack, desktop, etc., and for listeners who have very limited space, you should aim for compact size amplifiers. This is usually where integrated amplifiers with a built-in phono stage will shine as it is just one audio component on its own and typically has a smaller footprint than HiFi separates.
Other than just looking out for amplifiers with a phono preamp section, you might want to use this opportunity to see what other features you might need such as a built-in DAC, Home Theater Bypass, Subwoofer output, and others. This is why you should take your time to consider these listed amplifier requirements and should add more of your own to the list. A more thorough list will give you a clearer picture of what type of amplifier you should get for your Rega Planar 3 turntable and for your sound system. When you are ready, you can check out the list of the best matching amplifiers to go for below.
Best Amplifiers to match with Rega Planar 3
The Rega Elex-R is one of the best amplifiers to match with your Rega Planar 3. It has high power outputs and a high-quality moving magnet phono stage. The Rega Elex-R is incredibly agile and can deliver an articulate musical performance that is similar to the sonic characteristics of the Planar 3 turntable. It is a musical integrated amplifier able to bring the emotion and energy out of the music, giving you an entertaining music listening experience. This will be a great combination for listeners who wants an energetic music performance whenever they listen to their favorite vinyl records.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Elex-R Amplifier
The Peachtree Audio Nova150 will be one of the best amplifiers to pair with the Rega Planar 3. This is an ideal choice for listeners who wants a powerful integrated amplifier that is sanely priced and has a moving magnet phono stage. Other than the MM phono input, there are other notable features such as a built-in SABRE32 Reference DAC, Home Theater Bypass, and more. These features help to provide even more value to you, not to mention, the Peachtree Audio Nova150 uses ICEPower amplification to output 150/250 Watts per channel into 8/4 Ohms, enough to efficiently drive most loudspeakers.
More Info at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova150 Integrated Amplifier(Gloss Ebony Mocha)
If you just need a dedicated phono stage then the Cambridge Audio Duo will be an excellent match with your Rega Planar 3 turntable. This Cambridge phono stage supports both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. The award-winning Cambridge Audio Duo has exceptional sonic performance suitable for vinyl analog sources. Its dynamic range and agility are able to keep pace with the alacrity musical performance of the Rega Planar 3, providing us with an engaging music presentation. There is warmth in the smooth music delivery and it is pleasing to our ears as well.
The Rega Fono MM MK3 is another amazing phono stage to go for and since it is made by the same company, the sound signature should match really well with the Rega Planar 3 turntable. The very modest price tag of the Fono MM MK3 makes it even more attractive and will be suitable for listeners who have limited budgets. Rega Fono MM MK3 has a higher level of clarity when compared to its predecessors and is still able to present to us an engaging music delivery. Its boldness will fit nicely with the Rega Planar 3 energy, giving us an energetic performance on a wide and spacious soundstage.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Fono MM MK III Phono Pre-Amp – Black
For listeners who need an integrated amplifier that is built like a swiss army knife with a modest price tag, the PS Audio Sprout100 will be an exemplary choice for you. It comes with a plethora of features and has high power outputs up to 100 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms. The most important feature will be the PS Audio Sprout100 phono preamplifier which is a high-quality RIAA phono-stage that will match really well with the Rega Planar 3. The overall sound reproduction of the Sprout100 is clean sounding and the Planar 3 helps to add a bit of warmth as well as enthusiasm into the music delivery.
More Info at Amazon – PS Audio Sprout100 Complete HiFi Amp (Real Walnut)
The Moon 110LP v2 is one of the best phono preamplifiers to match with the Rega Planar 3 turntable. This is a modestly priced award-winning phono stage with incredible stereo imaging on an expansive soundstage. It has amazing musicality, bringing more refinement onto the table while still being able to punch above its weight. With the enthusiasm of the Planar 3, there wouldn’t be too dull of a moment in your music listening session. The Moon 110LP v2 presents the music details and subtle nuances fluidly without emphasis, this helps to provide a rich music presentation with a slightly more laid-back delivery.
More Details at Amazon – Simaudio Moon 110LP V2
To Sum It Up
The amplifiers and phono preamps listed here are all worthy of your time to consider having them to match with your Rega Planar 3 turntable. We will suggest you shortlist them based on your requirements followed by your budget. From there, arrange an audition with the shortlisted amplifiers and see which one you like to hear the most. You might need a few more rounds of amplifier auditions before you can finally pick a winner so please enjoy this process. Do feel free to use this list as a reference to look for other amplifier models/brands which you think will match well with the Rega Planar 3.
