Rega

Origins of Rega

Rega Research, a British audio equipment manufacturer, was founded in 1973 by Roy Gandy and Tony Relph in Rochford, Essex, England. The company’s name is formed from the initials of its founders (RElph & GAndy).

Roy Gandy, who was passionate about record players from a young age, started building his own audio equipment while working at Ford to afford the records he loved. This DIY project eventually led to a partnership with Tony Relph, and they established Rega Research. Within a few months, Tony Relph left the company, leaving Roy Gandy to lead it.

By 1975, Rega launched its first turntable, the Rega Planar 2, which gained recognition and popularity. Two years later, the Rega Planar 3 was introduced, further cementing the company’s reputation among audiophiles. In the late 1980s, Rega expanded its product line to include cartridges and tonearms, moving away from importing these components from Japan. This expansion completed the company’s ecosystem of hi-fi audio products.

Today, Rega Research is known for its high-quality, affordable turntables and is sold in over 40 countries, producing around 2,000 turntables each month. The company maintains a custom-built factory in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where all its products, including turntables, cartridges, tonearms, amplifiers, and speakers, are assembled by hand.