Planar 6
RS - Nd9 - Turntable - Rega

Turntables - Rega Research

Rega, based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has been building turntables for more than five decades according to a philosophy that is still uncompromising today: maximum rigidity with minimum weight. The Rega Planar 6 RS Edition is the most ambitious chapter in this history within the Planar 6 family to date - and it poses a question that doesn't really need an answer: What happens when you combine the tried and tested Planar 6 cabinet with the key components of the Planar 8?

The abbreviation "RS" stands for Rega Special - and this is by no means empty marketing. The RB880 tonearm, which is normally reserved for the considerably more expensive Planar 8, is fitted and adjusted here at the factory. In addition, Rega's currently highest-quality Nd9 moving magnet system with fine-line naked-needle diamond on boron cantilever, a CNC-milled double pulley with two Reference EBLT belts and the active Neo MK2 PSU as a matched power supply unit. Visually, the RS Edition has an elegant brushed aluminum finish - a turntable that offers much more than its outward appearance suggests.

At the heart of every Rega turntable is its cabinet - and this is where the RS Edition reveals its first significant feature. Rega uses the Tancast 8 foam core plinth, a high-density, phenolic resin-coated special foam with an exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio that heavy mass turntables of classic design simply cannot achieve. Instead of the usual HPL coating, the RS Edition has a brushed aluminum-metallic surface with matching edge finish - an impression that goes far beyond the price.

The rigidity of the cabinet is reinforced by Rega's Double Brace Technology: two braces connect the tonearm base to the main bearing and create a structural stressed-beam system that effectively suppresses resonances. Resonances are not dampened by mass, but kept away by consistent mechanical construction - the result is a blacker background and more precise imaging.

The RB880 is the most significant upgrade to the RS Edition. Developed with 3D CAD technology and almost four decades of tonearm experience, it uses an aluminium tube body with precisely optimized mass distribution - resonance points are reduced to a minimum through intelligent weight distribution. The vertical bearing housing is made of aluminium, while the bearing sleeve and bearing shaft are made of stainless steel - a combination of materials that maximizes stability and rigidity. The hand-selected bearing pairs guarantee virtually friction-free movement in both axes.

The RB880 comes with a custom-made stainless steel counterweight that is specially adapted to the included Nd9 system - the RS Edition is literally ready to play out of the box. If you want to switch to an MC system like Rega's Ania or Ania Pro in the future, the RB880 is ready for it.

The Nd9 is currently Rega's highest quality moving magnet system - a cartridge that is more reminiscent of MC systems in terms of manufacturing quality and technical design, but retains all the MM advantages: simple handling, easy stylus changing and compatibility with almost any MM phono stage. At its heart is a fine-line diamond in naked configuration on boron cantilever: the smaller track radius is only 3 micrometers in plan view - this miniaturized contact surface follows even the finest curves in the vinyl groove precisely, where wider stylus grindings simply fail.

Boron as a cantilever material has an extremely high rigidity combined with a very low mass - ideal for transmitting vibrations from the groove without discoloration of the sound. In combination with the generator geometry of the Nd9, which is designed for perfect channel symmetry, this results in a channel separation that is exceptional for an MM system.

The quiet 24-volt synchronous motor drives the platter via a CNC-machined double pulley with two parallel Reference EBLT belts. This dual belt drive distributes the drive force more evenly and reduces synchronization fluctuations by minimizing belt irregularities - audible as improved timing and a firmer rhythmic foundation. The 16 mm thick dual-layer float glass platter in Opti-White quality ensures homogeneous mass distribution and even rotation thanks to its particularly low iron content.

The Neo MK2 PSU is much more than just a power supply unit: it is an active motor system with infinitely variable fine speed control (step width 0.01 rpm), electronic switching between 33 and 45 rpm and advanced anti-vibration motor switching. Each motor is individually hand-tuned to its corresponding Neo MK2 PSU - reducing motor vibration to an absolute minimum.

The RS Edition is aimed at audiophile listeners who do not want to compromise on the tonearm or cartridge system, but appreciate the everyday usability of a compact turntable with a smoked dust cover - a deliberate concession that distinguishes the RS Edition from Rega's hoodless skeleton turntable class (Planar 8, Planar 10, Naia) and makes it suitable for real everyday use. As there is no internal phono stage, Rega's own Fono MM MK5 or an equivalent external MM preamplifier is recommended as a supplement. The Rega Elex MK4 with integrated MM phono input harmonizes particularly well as an amplifier.