It has been a great year for turntables. In fact, we have had more new models pass through our test rooms this year from a wider variety of brands than in the last few years combined, including AVID, Dual, JBL, Majority, Pro-Ject, Rega, Victrola and even newcomer Rekkord Audio. We've also heard a handful of high-end new releases from Linn, SME, Michell and Wilson Benesch. Indeed, we've been utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to vinyl playback this year.
But this year's best turntables category at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 sees the return of one of the industry's legends. The Rega Planar 3 was dethroned two years ago by the excellent Pro-Ject Debut Pro, but now that legendary model is back with a vengeance. The British brand actually didn't make any changes to the deck itself, instead simply offering a brand-new cartridge – the Nd3, a decade in the making – fitted as standard on the Planar 3. What's more, the price has been kept the same as the outgoing Planar 3/Elys 2 package – no mean feat in today's climate. This new cartridge combination has brought with it such a leap in performance in all areas – greater detail, refinement, precision and dynamics – that there was no doubt as to Rega winning the trophy once more in the £500-£1000 category.
