Rega Planar 8 Turntable

Rega Planar 8 Turntable

Ultra-light skeletal Tancast 8 plinth, RB880 tonearm and Neo PSU MK2 included as standard

The Rega Planar 8 is engineered to extract as much detail from the vinyl surface as possible. Instead of relying on a heavy plinth, Rega focuses on ultra-low mass and high rigidity to reduce energy storage and unwanted resonance. The Planar 8 is built around a skeletal Tancast 8 foam core plinth sandwiched between HPL skins, then reinforced with a phenolic resin double brace between the tonearm mount and the main hub bearing. The result is a turntable that sounds faster, cleaner and more stable, because the cartridge hears more groove and less turntable.

The Planar 8 is supplied with the RB880 precision tonearm and a Neo PSU as standard, offering electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control and user adjustable fine speed adjustment. Rega also hand-tune each motor to match its own Neo supply before fitting, optimising the anti-vibration circuit for that specific motor and deck.

Engineering highlights that matter in real listening

Ultra-light skeletal plinth with double brace technology
The Tancast 8 foam core structure keeps mass extremely low, while the HPL skins and phenolic resin double brace increase rigidity exactly where it matters most, between the tonearm base and the main bearing. This “stressed beam” approach reduces resonance that can blur timing, dynamics and image focus.

Super flywheel effect triple layer glass platter
The Planar 8 uses an 18 mm triple layer float glass platter designed to concentrate mass at the outer rim for flywheel stability while keeping the inner area lighter to reduce bearing stress. This supports stable pitch and cleaner low level detail.

Low mass hub bearing assembly
A single piece machined aluminium sub platter and hardened tool steel spindle run inside a custom brass housing, mounted to minimise unwanted energy transfer into the plinth and keep background noise low.

24 V low noise motor with Naiad-derived mounting
Rega’s 24 V synchronous motor is mounted from the bottom using a technique taken from the Naiad project. The goal is higher coupling with improved vibration isolation, removing stress on the motor body and improving drive consistency.

Reference EBLT belt as standard
The Reference EBLT belt is manufactured for high dimensional accuracy and consistency, supporting speed stability and reducing small variations that can soften timing or pitch.

Neo PSU MK2 included and motor matched
The Neo PSU provides electronic 33⅓ and 45 RPM switching, advanced anti-vibration motor control and fine speed trimming in 0.01 RPM steps. Rega’s crystal-based DSP generator produces a near perfect sinusoidal waveform and a balanced 24 V AC motor drive signal, improving rotational stability and reducing the influence of mains conditions.

Finish and dust cover

• Matt Polaris Grey: supplied with custom designed smoked dust cover and smoked triple layer glass platter
• Matt White: supplied with clear dust cover and clear triple layer glass platter

The dust cover is a removable single piece design to keep mass low while protecting the deck when not in use.

Cartridge options

The Planar 8 is available as a platform, or as a factory fitted and aligned package. Factory fitting removes setup variables and ensures correct alignment from day one.

Rega Nd7 moving magnet, factory fitted option
Nd7 is a high performance moving magnet cartridge developed over 10 years, using ultra-high powered neodymium magnet technology, a fine line nude diamond stylus profile and a low inductance generator design. It delivers strong detail retrieval and excellent tracking while keeping MM simplicity.

• Output: 5 to 6 mV
• Stylus: Fine line nude diamond profile
• Mounting: Rega 3 point fixing
• Tracking pressure: 1.75 g

Rega Nd9 moving magnet, factory fitted option
Nd9 is Rega’s highest performing moving magnet cartridge, adding a boron rod cantilever with a fine line nude diamond stylus profile for maximum tracking accuracy and transient speed. It is available as a factory fitted Planar 8 option.

• Output: 5 to 6 mV
• Stylus: Fine line nude diamond profile
• Cantilever: Boron
• Mounting: Rega 3 point fixing (Rega tonearms)
• Tracking pressure: 1.75 g

Rega Ania Pro moving coil, factory fitted option
Ania Pro is a low output moving coil design for listeners chasing greater texture and low level nuance. It uses a Vital profile nude diamond stylus, hand wound micro coil and a highly rigid PPS body with Rega three point mounting. Requires an MC phono stage.

• Output: 350 μV
• Recommended load: 100 Ω
• Tracking pressure: 1.75 to 2.00 g

Rega Apheta 3 moving coil, factory fitted option
Apheta 3 is the premium MC option, designed for maximum resolution and speed. Rega note it uses neither a tie wire nor a foam damper, and it is specified for 100 Ω loading. Requires an MC phono stage.

• Output: 350 μV
• Recommended load: 100 Ω
• Tracking pressure: 1.9 to 2.0 g

System matching and setup notes

• Phono stage: Nd7 and Nd9 are moving magnet and suit MM inputs. Ania Pro and Apheta 3 are low output moving coil and require an MC phono stage.
• Hum avoidance: Position the Neo PSU to the left and as far from the cartridge pickup as the cable allows, and keep the PS1 power supply away from the turntable and phono stage.
• Speed trimming: Fine speed adjustment is available via the rear panel of the Neo PSU in 0.01 RPM steps.

Detailed technical specifications

Turntable and chassis

Tonearm specifications, RB880

Power supply specifications, Neo PSU MK2

Cartridge specifications, factory fitted options