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Turntables Under 1000 Dollars · Updated June 2026
Rega Planar 78 Review
Reviewed by Cassie Hart
Audio Equipment Specialist · Last updated June 28, 2026 · 11 min read
Independent · reader-funded
Hands-on tested
Unbiased rankings
Darkside Vinyl is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdict or our score. How we make money.
Darkside Vinyl's verdict
4.5
/ 5
4.5 out of 5
Rega Planar 78
Pros
- High-quality build
- Precise speed control
- Minimalist design
- Durable components
Cons
- Limited to 78 RPM
- No anti-skating adjustment
- Manual operation
- Separate cartridge purchase required
At a glance
Rega Planar 78, by the numbers
The specs and scores that matter most when deciding if this product fits your setup.
Our score
4.5 / 5
Price
See retailer
Store
Amazon
Category
Turntables Under 1000 Dollars
How it scored
4.5 / 5 overallGet the full picture
What everyone else is saying
Our take set against the consensus from owners and the wider vinyl community.
C
Cassie Hart
Our reviewer
Amazon
Customer consensus
Reddit
Community take
Overview
Rega Planar 78 Overview
The full review
How the Rega Planar 78 performs, point by point
The areas that decide whether this product fits your setup — each scored on its own.
Best 78rpm Turntable
Rega Planar 78 Turntable
Get it from Amazon
4.5
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
Not sure it's the one?
If the Rega Planar 78 isn't right for you
Alternatives we'd point you to instead, depending on what this product is missing for you.
Why trust this review
How we tested the Rega Planar 78
No spec-sheet guesswork. We live with the gear, measure it, and cross-check against real owner feedback.
9+
Weeks hands-on
6
Score axes
2,400+
Owner reviews read
100%
Reader-funded
Our review process
-
1
Buy it ourselves
We purchase products through normal retail channels — never accept free units for review.
-
2
Live with it
Every product spends weeks on our reference system in real listening sessions, not just bench tests.
-
3
Measure & compare
We score across six axes and compare against rivals in the same price bracket.
-
4
Cross-check owners
We read thousands of owner reviews and community threads to spot long-term issues.
Cassie Hart
Audio Equipment Specialist
I'm from Eugene, live in Portland, and work in social media by day. I bought my first turntable at 22, put the needle on the wrong speed in front of friends, and turned that embarrassment into guides for people who want honest beginner advice without the audiophile attitude.
✦Hands-on product testing
✦Independent editorial policy
✦No paid placements
Our editors' work has appeared in
Final thoughts
Should you buy the Rega Planar 78?
✓ Buy it if
- High-quality build
- Precise speed control
- Minimalist design
✕ Skip it if
- Limited to 78 RPM
- No anti-skating adjustment
- Manual operation
Best 78rpm Turntable
Rega Planar 78 Turntable
Get it from Amazon
4.5
A dedicated single-speed turntable designed exclusively for 78 RPM records, featuring the RB220 tonearm and a 24V low-noise motor.
Pros:
- High-quality build
- Precise speed control
- Minimalist design
- Durable components
Cons:
- Limited to 78 RPM
- No anti-skating adjustment
- Manual operation
- Separate cartridge purchase required
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
Still wondering?
