Rega Planar 78 – Turntable 78 rpm

Rega Planar 78 – a special player for shellac records

The Rega Planar 78 is a special model designed specifically for playing old 78 rpm records, also known as shellac records. Unlike modern vinyl players, the Planar 78 spins at only one speed and is tailored to reproduce this historical format with the best possible quality.

The Planar 78 is structurally based on Rega's popular Planar 2 turntable, but it has been optimized exclusively for 78 rpm records. Its lightweight and rigid plinth minimizes resonances, the thick glass platter ensures stable rotational movement, and the precisely manufactured RB220 tonearm makes playing records as smooth and accurate as possible. This makes it an excellent tool for both collectors and enthusiasts who want to listen to recordings from the early to mid-20th century in their original glory.

The Rega Planar 78 offers exceptionally quiet, detailed, and musical reproduction that does justice to historical shellac records. It is a specialized product that is not for everyone, but if your collection includes old 78 rpm records, this player is one of the best options on the market.

What is a shellac record?

Shellac records were mainly produced between 1900 and 1950, before being replaced by vinyl. They were made from a mixture of shellac resin and fillers like stone powder. The record is thicker and heavier than vinyl, and significantly more fragile. Playback time is usually only 3–5 minutes per side, but this was sufficient for the music and recording technology of the era. Shellac records are a significant part of music history, and the Planar 78 provides a high-quality means of listening to them today.

Note! The Planar 78 is intended only for listening to 78 rpm shellac records. It does not support 33⅓ or 45 rpm vinyl records. The player is supplied without a cartridge.