What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best turntable up to £300–£600, Awards 2010. An exceptionally musical deck for the money, and it’ll last, too
Pros
- +
Excellent all-round sound
- +
very involving listen
- +
fine build
- +
ease of set-up
- +
upgrade potential good
Cons
- -
Like all turntables, needs care in positioning
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
The Rega P3 turntable has been going for more years than some of us care to admit we can remember. Bar a change in arm a couple of decades ago, the deck doesn't seem to have changed much. However, though the P3-24 looks just like the old one, the plinth, arm and motor have all been changed in an attempt to improve performance.
Rega can supply the P3-24 without a cartridge for £100 less than the price we've quoted, but most will be sold with the Elys 2 moving-magnet cartridge pre-fitted to our review sample. This is simple kit and, if you buy it with the cartridge, there's little set-up apart from finding a rigid surface for it to sit on, and adjusting the arm.
Build quality is excellent for the money: the main bearing tolerances are impressive and the RB301 tonearm – a development of the class-dominating RB300 – feels thoroughly engineered.
Shout about the super sound
Up and running, this deck is a sonic superstar. It latches onto the musical message with a skill that evades most class rivals. Listen to Mary J Blige's No More Drama, or Orff's Carmina Burana, and you'll find the Rega's timing and dynamics are class-leading, as is the overall level of transparency. Spend more on a turntable and you'll get greater insight into a recording, particularly at the frequency extremes, but at this price it's a strong contender for top spot.
Should you wish to upgrade, Rega also makes an outboard power supply for £150. It's something we hope to try out soon.
Provided you site this Rega with some sympathy and partner it with a decent system, we think you'll love it. It's a real pleasure to use and an absolute joy to hear.
Click here to watch our video review of the Rega P3-24/Elys 2.
