These two decks are both titans in their field – and here’s where they clash. It was a hard fight, but we have a winner
Rega’s Planar 3 has been our go-to mid-market turntable recommendation for more years than we care to remember. It was first introduced way back in the late 1970s and since then has been carefully developed through numerous generations to remain the defining product in its market sector.
Compare the current deck to the original, and the two look remarkably similar with just the different tonearm attracting our attention. But take a more careful look and you will find that just about every aspect of the design has been improved over the years. It is certainly a slicker-looking product than before even if it remains the same in essence.
Pro-Ject’s Debut is a long-running model too, but not quite as long. It started life in the late ’90s as the company’s entry-level deck and has remained a firm budget recommendation of ours since then. The massive commercial success of the design encouraged Pro-Ject to expand the line-up in all directions with a huge array of finishes and options, but it’s fair to say that the Debut Pro is the most sonically ambitious version yet. The Pro moves the Debut well away from its budget roots and is the first of its family to pose a serious challenge to Rega’s Planar 3.
PRICE
Both of these contenders sit at a solid level above traditional budget offerings when it comes to performance and engineering. The Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 now costs a hefty-sounding £799. Price rises seem part and parcel of most things now, but up against the Pro-Ject, it does weaken the Rega’s long-established position of being arguably the best-value record player on the market.
Pro-Ject has been aggressive with the Debut Pro’s pricing. At £699, it undercuts the Planar 3 by a solid margin, but that only matters if it can compete in terms of build, ease of use and, most importantly, sound quality.
WINNER PRO-JECT DEBUT PRO
BUILD QUALITY
Both of these decks are superbly made for the money. The Rega is a well proven design and everything about it feels carefully engineered and built to last. The plinth is simple yet looks smart covered with its glossy acrylic laminate.
There are two standard finish options and they both look suitably classy. The last round of improvements on this product took in a pair of phenolic resin braces on the top and bottom surfaces of the plinth between the arm base and main bearing. These improve rigidity in that vital area, and so help performance.
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