Rega Planar 10 / Apheta 3

After all the large and solid plinths we’ve seen in the preceding pages, this Rega presents a complete contrast, with its minimalist and dramatically-styled plinth — more a structure for the main bearing, tonearm and motor to attach to than anything resembling what we normally think of as a plinth.

Rega’s philosophy is entirely at odds with the thinking that high mass in a turntable will create rigidity, assist speed stability, lower and spread resonances. That is not the Rega way. Rigidity yes, but not through piling on weight. Mass absorbs energy, says Rega. Slowly-released energy adds coloration, and lost energy equals lost music.

For Rega it’s all about stiffness and bracing and lightness. It