Rega Planar 6

The Planar 6 sits at the upper end of Rega's turntable range, between the entry-level models and the flagship RP8 and RP10 references, from which it borrows several design choices. It is a belt-drive turntable with two speeds (33.3 and 45 rpm), supplied with an external Neo power supply and a hand-built straight RB330 tonearm. It can be offered bare or pre-fitted with a cartridge, either moving magnet (Nd5, Nd7) or moving coil (Ania Pro).

The plinth is the main departure from previous generations: an ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam, a material derived from aerospace applications, sandwiched between two very thin but very rigid HPL high-pressure laminate skins. The aim is an assembly that is both light and stiff, complemented by an aluminium Double Brace reinforcement linking the tonearm and bearing mounting areas. The finish pairs a matt Polaris grey with a gloss black polymer edge.

The mechanical section is built around a dual-layer float glass platter, a sub-platter machined from solid aluminium, a brass bearing and a hand-set 24 V synchronous motor, paired with a dedicated pulley and the premium drive belt supplied as standard. The Neo power supply handles electronic speed selection, motor vibration control and fine speed adjustment, doing away with any need to move the belt to switch between 33 and 45 rpm.

This model is aimed at listeners who already own a vinyl collection and want a stable analogue source, to be placed on a firm, isolated support, together with a phono preamplifier matched to the chosen cartridge. The RB330 tonearm's proprietary 3-point mounting, however, limits compatibility with cartridges whose standard spacing does not match this system: it is worth checking this point before planning a cartridge change.