Rega
Rega Planar 1
$595
Released 2016
Best Turntables · head-to-head
Rega Planar 1 vs U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) is cheaper at $399. Every spec and price links to its source.
U-Turn Audio
U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2)
$399Cheaper
Released 2023
Which is better: the Rega Planar 1 or U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2)?
The Rega Planar 1 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) is the cheaper at $399. Get the Rega Planar 1 for the stronger spec sheet, the U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) to spend less.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Rega Planar 1 | U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $595 | $399 |
| Brand | Rega | U-Turn Audio |
| Released | 2016 | 2023 |
| Drive type | belt | belt |
| Speeds | 33⅓ / 45 RPM | 33⅓ / 45 RPM |
| Cartridge included | Rega Carbon MM | Ortofon OM5E |
| Built in preamp | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Weight (lb) | 9.3 | 12.5 |
| Release | 2016 | 2023 |
Sources — Rega Planar 1: rega.co.uk (verified 2026-06-15). U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2): uturnaudio.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Rega Planar 1 and U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Cartridge included: Rega Planar 1 Rega Carbon MM vs U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) Ortofon OM5E
- Weight (lb): Rega Planar 1 9.3 vs U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2) 12.5
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Rega Planar 1
Two whitelisted hi-fi testers, What Hi-Fi and TechRadar, reviewed the Rega Planar 1 (aka PL1) hands-on, both rating it a class-leading entry-level deck with detailed, rhythmic, unified sound and easy setup. Both are qualitative listening tests with no lab measurements. The only recurring critique is that it can over-indulge warm or lush recordings. No RTINGS-style benchmarks exist. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Reveals fine detail without harshness; beyond entry-level resolution; Rhythmic, expressive, unified 'performance' presentation across genres; Carefully engineered build with easy plug-and-play setup.
Flagged: Can sound slightly less perky / overly warm on lush recordings; No modern features (no USB or wireless); pricey for 'entry level'.
U-Turn Orbit Plus (Gen 2)
No sourced tester review yet.