Rega Planar 3 50th anniversary

"The PSU is the motor that drives the platter to go round. It can be inside the plinth or a separate gizmo as you called it."

PSU stands for Power Supply Unit, it controls power to the electric motor which in case of Rega is mounted in the plinth driving the platter via belt. The purpose of PSU is for the motor to have accurate and stable RPM. The PSU can be external like Rega's or internal like some Technics' for example. There are plenty of turntables not having PSUs at all.

@knock1     

Well thanks for the tutorial. The NEO is not just a power supply but also includes the control board for speed. While it does look and seem as though the motor is under the plinth - rather than part of it as the plinth is only 1" thick - there is no way of telling. In truth, no TT mfg provides schematics or information that determines what or how much of the motor is where. If you find that information, or know where to find it, that would be helpful. But it is merely for the sake of understanding how something works, which has always been a curiosity of mine. It is why I visit this site. 

Per Rega site: 

The Neo MK2 PSU is an advanced turntable power supply providing user controllable fine speed adjustment, an advanced anti-vibration motor circuit and the convenience of electronic speed change.

Also stated on the Rega site is that the NEO "reduces motor noise", and such engineering (separate pieces) is far better than the wall wart I got with the Pro-Ject 9 TT that was twice the price. Some may see the extension of the motor in another piece of equipment as poor engineering (such as @mahler123). Howerver, like him, I had a motor failure (or a mystifying reason for a TT failure) as he did and that does not go away. Not angry about it anymore, but I won't forget it either. 

@lewm 

I think Rega sees VTA as a non-starter as do I. VTA adjustments on all my previous tables (if you can call it an adjustment) proved nothing. Per the in-depth analysis below provides, there is a contention of science being involved, but it ends up just being a myth. I get that it is controversial, but dropping the needle is just that..if the weight is correct..then the rest is somehow suggesting that not all records are the same, as if we all should be paying attention to the arc of each and every vinyl groove. Turns out, to VTA believers, that not all records are cut the same and perhaps adjustments should be made for every record played.

https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/vta_e.html

I am an older guy. Cantilever is not a term that I use often, and I do not retain as well as I once did, but for arguments sake it is also called the needle. Let's just stay with "put the needle on the record" as it sounds far better than a specific alternative. 

It is disturbing to me that a Pro-Ject 9 - or even the 10 for that matter Pro-Ject's flagship TT - comes with a wall wart. I get that there are after market power supplies. But for me, the Rega power supply is an engineering win and Pro-Ject seems to be lacking. Perhaps I am just venting, but Rega engineering solves a lot of problems inherent in Pro-Ject TT's, IMHO.

Is it possible for you simply to admit you made a few innocent but incorrect claims earlier on in this thread? I’m sure you’re a fine person regardless. I only corrected you so as to help others who may be newbies.

@lewm

I don't understand. Please explain?