Available with or without prefitted cartridge—you choose (additional costs apply)
The Planar 8 was inspired by the ultimate Rega turntable, the 'Naiad'. Rega decided early on in the piece that instead of an evolution of the previous RP8, the new Planar 8 was to be developed and engineered to encapsulate the essence of 'Naiad' at an affordable price. Rega's aim was to deliver a level of performance far beyond what has been achieved at this price point before.
Welcome to an Engineering Master Class
Every aspect of the Planar 8 is engineered to extract as much detail from the vinyl surface as possible. Rega engineers have used the most advanced materials and engineering solutions built around a supremely lightweight plinth to ensure the greatest level of performance.
The Planar 8 is supplied with the new RB880 tonearm and Neo PSU as standard, which offer electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control, and user-adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment to ensure total accuracy and control over the motor. The outer frame of the previous model has now been removed, and a new stylish, removable, single-piece dustcover has been introduced, further reducing the overall mass of the turntable.
Product Features
Ultra Lightweight Plinth
The Planar 8 is the second Rega turntable constructed using their latest ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core (a material developed for the aerospace industry). This material is sandwiched between two layers of HPL (high-pressure laminate).
HPL is exceptionally thin and extremely rigid. This new construction makes the new Planar 8 skeletal plinth 30% lighter than the original RP8 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model.
Double Brace Technology
A super lightweight plinth combined with a phenolic resin double brace mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) forms a structurally sound “stressed beam” assembly. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonances, which will add unnatural distortions to the music.
Equally, heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy, such as motor or bearing noise, directly into the rotating record. The use of braces instead of the complete skin allows double-thickness phenolic resin in these key areas while providing further weight reduction to the plinth, which directly addresses the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.
RB880 tonearm
For the new RB880 Rega, we have introduced an improved vertical bearing assembly constructed using an aluminium and stainless steel low-mass assembly with vastly improved stability and rigidity.
This tonearm is using our advanced preloaded zero tolerance bearing assembly adjusted to less than 1000th of a mm; this gives friction-free movement and zero levels of unwanted play. This subtle but effective new structure is only visible via small windows at the rear of the new bias housing assembly (see image below).
A thinner stainless steel balance weight is used, allowing greater adjustability and compatibility. Finally, the RB880 is terminated with a redesigned, low capacitance phono cable terminated with high-quality, locking phono plugs to ensure the best possible connection.
EBLT Drive Belts
For three years, Rega has been researching and developing with chemists the use of a bespoke new rubber compound for drive belts. Using a specialised curing system, the new drive belt offers superior consistency of modulus (a constant representing the degree to which a substance has a particular property, especially elasticity).
These new belts are manufactured on Rega-designed, state-of-the-art, super-accurate tools that produce 'perfectly round' and 'dimensionally accurate' belts, critical for perfect speed stability.
Hub Bearing Assembly
The Planar 8 uses a new low-mass central bearing assembly. A single piece machined aluminium sub-platter and hardened tool steel spindle run inside a custom brass housing which is cleverly mounted within the chassis. This new mounting is designed to eradicate unwanted potential energy being transferred or stored in the plinth.
Super Flywheel Effect Triple Layer Glass Platter
The Planar 8 uses a three-piece laminated glass platter, which is the result of collaboration with a British glass engineering company. This brand new platter is constructed from two different high-quality Pilkington glasses.
As a general rule, the only part of a turntable that requires extra mass is the turntable platter in order to achieve constant rotational speed. However, a heavier platter creates more problems for the main bearing design, so again, an ideal compromise creates the best solution.
Practically, this means keeping as much of the mass on the outside rim of the glass platter to create a more flywheel effect while keeping the inside of the platter as light as possible without sacrificing stiffness.
24v Low Noise Motor Assembly
The Planar 8 uses Rega's latest generation, 24v, synchronous, low vibration motor technology. Uniquely mounted using the highest level of coupling while retaining higher vibration isolation than any previous model.
This new motor mounting technique (mounted from the bottom) has been taken directly from the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad. This unique mounting method removes all stress on the motor body. The reduced vibration and more rigid mounting deliver superior drive from the new EBLT drive belts. Each motor is hand tuned to match its own custom Neo power supply before fitting to the turntable to optimise the anti-vibration circuit.
Neo PSU
The Neo PSU offers a smooth power supply, an advanced anti-vibration circuit, and fine electronic speed adjustment. It uses the RP10 DSP (digital signal processing) generator built upon a high stability crystal.
The DSP generator will divide the accurate signal from the crystal to the exact frequency required to turn the platter at the selected speed. The DSP generator will also produce a near-perfect sinusoidal waveform to drive the motor.
This, along with an efficient drive amplifier, generates a 24V, AC-balanced signal of less than 0.15% distortion, which is completely unaffected by any changes in the mains/line voltage and conditions. This then drives the turntable's anti-vibration circuit, which is situated beneath the turntable.
About Rega
Rega has been designing and manufacturing turntables since 1973. They have won more awards than any other turntable manufacturer in history for their accuracy in reproducing music. The RB330 handmade precision tonearm ensures exceptional tracking of the grooves and therefore optimal music information retrieval. Rega actually handpicks the tonearm bearings.
Technical Specifications
TONEARM Hand-assembled precision RB880 tonearm
MOTOR 24 V low noise motor assembly
PLATTER Super flywheel effect triple layer glass platter
PLINTH Tancast 8 foam core plinth
NEO PSU Custom matched
BELT DRIVE Reference EBLT drive belt fitted as standard
