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Age matters here because “Rega FONO” could mean an older MM generation rather than the current Fono MM Mk5, so the exact version is worth confirming. Even so, GBP £105 is a strong deal against the comparable market: it sits below the GBP £118 25th-percentile figure and well under the GBP £148 median. If it is a working Fono MM with its correct power supply, this looks like bargain territory rather than merely a fair price.
The Fono is well regarded for a quiet, punchy, musically engaging presentation, with particularly good timing and dynamics for a straightforward MM phono stage. It is an excellent partner for moving-magnet cartridges and Rega turntables, though it is not suitable for moving-coil cartridges. At this price, the main checks are simply the precise generation, included 24V supply, and clean operation; assuming those are in order, this is a very worthwhile buy.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Rega Research, founded in 1973 in Essex, England, by Roy Gandy and Tony Relph, emerged from Gandy's lifelong passion for vinyl playback. A Ford engineer and music enthusiast, Gandy built his first turntable, the Planet, in his spare time, blending the founders' surnames to create the Rega name. From humble beginnings in a derelict mill, the company quickly gained traction with early models like the Planar 2 and Planar 3, establishing its heritage as a British hi-fi pioneer dedicated to precision engineering and hand-assembly.
Rega specializes in turntables and tonearms, its cornerstone products, but has expanded into a full ecosystem including cartridges, integrated amplifiers like the Elicit and Brio, phono stages such as the Fono, and speakers like the Ela series. While early efforts included loudspeakers and electronics from the 1980s onward, the brand prioritizes vinyl-centric components over headphones, DACs, or cables, all designed in-house for musical fidelity using specialist materials and tight tolerances.
Rega holds a revered position in the high-end hi-fi market as a niche boutique icon, prized by audiophiles for affordable, lifetime-quality performance that emphasizes music over gimmicks. Globally exported to over 50 countries from its Essex facility employing more than 150, it remains a symbol of British ingenuity, with turntables like the Planar series securing enduring loyalty among vinyl revivalists.
See all Rega listings on RADAR.
