Rega Planar 6 RS Edition
The Rega Planar 6 RS Edition is a higher-specification version of the Planar 6 turntable, aimed at buyers who want tonearm and cartridge engineering from the next-tier Planar 8 without leaving the familiar Planar 6 plinth, form factor and dustcover behind. It carries across the Tancast 8 foam core plinth, Neo MK2 power supply and 24V motor of the standard Planar 6, then adds a factory-fitted RB880 tonearm and Nd9 moving magnet cartridge, an upgraded CNC twin drive pulley and twin Reference EBLT belts. The result is a turntable built for someone who has already decided on Rega's mid-range platform and wants to start there with reference-level arm and cartridge matching already done, rather than buying a tonearm or cartridge separately and fitting it themselves.
Choosing the Planar 6 RS Edition for your system
What makes the Planar 6 RS Edition different from the standard Planar 6?
The Planar 6 RS Edition is distinguished by components drawn from the Planar 8, fitted to the Planar 6 platform. Rega has fitted the precision RB880 tonearm, normally specified on the Planar 8, with a custom stainless balance weight, and paired it as standard with the Nd9 moving magnet cartridge. Drive has also been upgraded over the standard Planar 6 with a CNC twin drive motor pulley and two Rega Reference EBLT drive belts, which work together to improve speed accuracy and reduce variation in platter rotation compared with a single-belt arrangement. These changes sit on the same Tancast 8 foam core plinth, Neo MK2 power supply and 24V motor used in the standard Planar 6, so the upgrade is concentrated in the parts of the signal chain that most directly affect tracking and playback accuracy.
Which amplifier and phono stage does it pair with?
The Planar 6 RS Edition outputs over RCA phono connectors and requires a separate phono stage or an amplifier with one built in, because the Nd9 is a moving magnet cartridge rather than a moving coil design. Rega's Fono MM phono stage is built for this cartridge type and offers compatibility with MM cartridges generally, so it works as a dedicated outboard option for amplifiers without phono input. Alternatively, Rega's Elex, Elicit and Aethos amplifiers each include an integrated MM phono stage, allowing the turntable to connect directly without an additional phono stage component. This means a buyer building a system around the Planar 6 RS Edition can choose between a simpler direct connection to one of these amplifiers or a separate phono stage paired with any other MM-compatible amplifier.
Does the cartridge and tonearm come pre-aligned?
The Planar 6 RS Edition arrives with its Nd9 cartridge factory fitted to the RB880 tonearm and already aligned, removing the cartridge mounting and alignment step that owners of separately purchased arm-and-cartridge combinations would otherwise need to carry out themselves. Power comes from the included Neo MK2 power supply, connected via a mini DIN cable and run from a Rega PS1 wall power supply, so setup is largely a matter of placement, levelling and connecting the power supply and phono leads rather than cartridge geometry work.
What turntable speed control does the Planar 6 RS Edition offer?
The Neo MK2 power supply drives the 24V synchronous motor with a speed control step size of 0.01RPM, giving fine-grained adjustment for matching playback speed precisely. This level of control complements the CNC twin drive pulley and twin EBLT belt arrangement described above: the pulley and belts establish consistent mechanical drive to the sub platter, while the Neo MK2 PSU allows that speed to be fine-tuned and held stable during use.
How does the plinth construction reduce resonance?
The Planar 6 RS Edition uses a Tancast 8 foam core plinth finished with an aluminium metal skin HP laminate and matching edging. This construction creates a plinth that is both rigid and lightweight, which Rega uses as the mounting platform for the RB880 tonearm and Nd9 cartridge described above. A rigid, low-mass plinth resists flexing and absorbs less unwanted vibration than a heavier or less stiff structure, which matters because any plinth movement can be transmitted into the tonearm and cartridge during playback. Double Brace Technology adds further structural stiffening to this assembly, supporting the same goal of keeping the mounting platform stable under the precision components fitted to it.
Is the Rega Planar 6 RS Edition built to last?
Rega covers the Planar 6 RS Edition with a Lifetime Limited Warranty against confirmed manufacturing defects, though this warranty does not extend to wear and tear or consumable parts, and unauthorised modifications or failure to follow the recommended setup guidelines may invalidate it. The turntable is supplied with a smoked dustcover as standard, protecting the platter, tonearm and cartridge assembly when not in use. At 5.4kg and with lid-closed dimensions of 447 x 117 x 360mm, it fits the footprint that owners of the standard Planar 6 will already be familiar with, simplifying placement on existing furniture or equipment racks.
Where does this turntable sit within the Rega range?
The Planar 6 RS Edition sits between the standard Planar 6 and the Planar 8 in Rega's turntable range. Buyers who want Planar 8-specification tonearm and cartridge matching, in the form of the RB880 and Nd9, but prefer to keep the classic Planar 6 form factor and dustcover, are the intended audience for this model rather than the standard Planar 6 or the Planar 8 itself. Someone planning to add a different cartridge later, or who is not committed to the Nd9 and RB880 combination, may be better served by the standard Planar 6, which leaves that choice open. A buyer who wants the Planar 8's own plinth and styling, rather than the Planar 6 platform with Planar 8 components fitted to it, should look at the Planar 8 directly. The Planar 6 RS Edition is available in metallic brushed aluminium.
