Rega Tonearm RB880

Rega RB880 Tonearm

Reference grade Rega tonearm with stainless steel bearing assembly parts, hand matched bearings and low capacitance cable

The Rega RB880 is the tonearm Rega built to match the performance ambitions of the Planar 8. It is designed using modern 3D CAD and CAM, then engineered around a new aluminium vertical bearing housing plus a redesigned sleeve and vertical bearing shaft manufactured from stainless steel for higher mounting stability and overall rigidity. The aim is simple and uncompromising, keep the cartridge stable, allow near frictionless movement, and avoid adding resonance or mechanical noise to the signal.

The RB880 is built for listeners who care about timing, image stability and low level detail. Rega achieve this with high precision hand matched bearing assemblies, a completely redesigned arm tube with multiple varying tapers to control resonance, and a Rega designed low capacitance phono lead terminated with high specification plugs to keep the signal path as clean as possible.

Why the RB880 sounds more stable

Rega’s tonearm philosophy is based on achieving near frictionless movement horizontally and vertically while removing measurable free play in the bearing assemblies. This matters because groove information is microscopic. When the bearings are stable, the stylus can track more accurately, reducing smearing, improving separation and keeping pitch and dynamics more consistent across the side.

Key engineering features

New aluminium vertical bearing housing
A redesigned vertical bearing housing increases stiffness at the most critical point of the tonearm, supporting more stable cartridge behaviour and cleaner tracking.

Redesigned stainless steel sleeve and vertical bearing shaft
Rega manufacture the redesigned sleeve and vertical bearing shaft from stainless steel to improve mounting stability and overall rigidity.

Hand matched bearing assemblies
High precision, hand matched bearing assemblies provide extreme stability with almost friction free movement. This is designed to retrieve more information from the groove and reduce random bearing movement that can mask low level detail.

Advanced Rega arm tube with intelligent mass distribution
The RB880 uses the latest Rega arm tube, redesigned to redistribute mass and reduce stresses and resonances. CAD design is used to blend multiple varying tapers to increase stiffness and rigidity through the structure.

Low capacitance phono cable with high specification plugs
A bespoke Rega designed low capacitance phono cable is fitted, using an advanced plug assembly intended to minimise joints and improve connectivity for a cleaner signal path.

Integrated arm clip and improved spring housing
Everyday usability is improved with an integrated arm clip and a refined spring housing for consistent tracking force adjustment.

Compatibility and fitting notes

• Mounting system: Rega three point mounting
• Direct replacement: Replaces any Rega tonearm using the three point mount with no modification
• Other turntables: For non Rega decks or older Rega single point mounts, use the supplied template before drilling
• Critical geometry: Spindle centre to arm hole centre must be 222 mm
• Arm hole size: Arm mounting pillar requires 25 mm diameter hole
• Clearance checks: Confirm lid clearance and underside clearance in all directions before drilling, and ensure at least 250 mm clearance from arm hole centre to the inside front of the turntable

Setup notes for best tracking

• Start point: With cartridge fitted and stylus guard removed, set tracking force dial and bias slider to 0
• Balance: Adjust the balance weight until the stylus floats about 1 mm above the record
• Tracking force: Rotate the tracking force dial to your cartridge manufacturer’s recommendation. If unsure, use the upper end of the recommended range
• Bias: Set the bias slider to the same figure as tracking force. This is not critical, and 1.5 to 2.0 will normally suit most moving magnet cartridges

Technical specifications