![]() ![]() The included counterweight works great for the Rega Elys 2 cartridge but it was just barely heavy enough to work with my Sumiko Blackbird cartridge. What’s different is that the new armtubes are stiffer with a weight distribution that promotes a lighter headshell assembly while breaking up standing waves better. The RB303 arms are die cast and hand assembled like their predecessors. The new model is dubbed the RB303 and it has been optimized through CADD/CAM design processes. This table comes with Rega’s newest incarnation of their wildly popular RB300 series of tonearms. Besides the TT PSU reviewed here, upgrade options include colored mats, improved drive belts and a turntable wall bracket. The table rests on three feet that are not adjustable. The platter is a solid piece of glass with a frosted edge and a felt mat of 100% natural wool. The motor is still mounted directly to the plinth, driving the belt through its metal pulley. The RP3 uses a high quality 24 V motor similar to the one found in its predecessor, the P3-24. Also available are white and a dark grey as well as special edition colors on a limited basis. My review unit has the “Titanium” finish. So Rega offers the RP3 with a number of different finishes that look better than the old design. What this means is that the plinth is lighter than ever and it doesn’t need a phenolic skin like the old P3’s. Holes are drilled in the DBT brace just like structural parts from a spaceship. ![]() The top brace can be seen in the close up below. One is on top of the plinth and the other is on the bottom, hence the name “Double Brace Technology” or “DBT” for short. So they developed a bracing system that does just that through the use of two 2 mm-thick phenolic resin braces. During development of the RP3, Rega’s R&D team found that the system could be stiffened specifically between the tonearm and the spindle. The prior model had a rigid phenolic resin coating to stiffen the plinth. The underlying board has channels cut out to breakup standing waves. The RP3’s plinth has a textured external finish which hides the particle board underneath. The thought behind this approach is that the system dissipates energy and reduces sympathetic vibrations – it will vibrate as well, but for a shorter duration and with less amplitude. So Rega chose a different path in making their plinths very light but rigid. ![]() Rega believes that heavy turntables are resistant to the onset of vibration but they will vibrate and when they do they tend to store energy in their mass as opposed to dissipating the energy. The RP3 advances Rega’s turntable philosophy of a lightweight plinth design. Will this new model be able to sustain the momentum Rega has going for them? I can’t wait to find out! The 3 series of Rega turntables is probably one of the best-selling turntable lines in the history of the world. Also reviewed here are the Elys 2 cartridge and the TT PSU speed box. It comes with the RB303 tonearm which is an update to Rega’s venerable RB300 arm. MSRP: TTPSU External Power Supply/Speed Box: $395 USD.Motor: 24 V Low Noise, Low Vibration, Hand-tuned. ![]()
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