Rega Planar 6 RS Edition Turntable

The Planar 6 RS Edition takes the Planar 6 and raises it — substantially. Where the standard Planar 6 is built around the RB330 tonearm, the RS Edition installs the RB880 from the Planar 8: a precision arm with a zero-tolerance bearing assembly adjusted to less than 1/1000th of a millimetre. It also fits the Nd9, Rega's reference moving magnet cartridge with a boron cantilever and hand-wound generator coils. Both are components you would normally only find on a significantly more expensive turntable.

The result is a Planar 6 that performs well above its standard specification — a turntable whose platform has been engineered to a level that the Planar 8's components can fully exploit.

Where the Planar 6 RS Edition Sits in the Rega Range

The Planar 6 RS Edition sits above the Planar 3 RS Edition and below the Rega Naia in the Rega range.

The step up from the Planar 3 RS Edition is substantial: the Tancast 8 polyurethane foam plinth is a fundamentally different approach to resonance management; the dual-layer glass platter adds rotational mass and stability; and the Neo PSU is included as standard. The RB880 and Nd9 on the RS Edition take this significantly further again — the tonearm precision and cartridge resolution at this level begin to reveal what the Tancast 8 platform is genuinely capable of.

Above the Planar 6 RS Edition sits the Naia — Rega's statement turntable, built with the RB Titanium tonearm and graphene-impregnated carbon fibre construction. The RS Edition is for those who want the best of what the Planar 6 platform can do; the Naia is for those who have decided that nothing short of the flagship will do.

Sound and Performance

The Planar 6 platform made its name on the Tancast 8 plinth — a polyurethane foam core with HPL skins, derived from aerospace applications. It is extraordinarily light for its rigidity. Rega's longstanding principle is that a plinth should store as little energy as possible; the Tancast 8 takes this further than any conventional material can.

The RB880 tonearm builds on this foundation with bearing tolerances that approach the limits of manufacturing precision. The zero-tolerance bearing assembly — adjusted to less than 1/1000th of a millimetre — means the arm moves with minimal friction and maximal sensitivity to groove information. The improvement over the RB330 is audible in the way instruments are placed in space and in the retrieval of fine, low-level detail that lower-specification arms do not fully convey.

The Nd9 is the right cartridge for this arm. It uses 38-micron wire in a hand-wound generator for low inductance and low impedance — characteristics that improve high-frequency response and channel balance. A boron cantilever, stiffer and lighter than aluminium, tracks transients more accurately and returns information from the groove that softer cantilever materials lose. This puts the Nd9 in territory that challenges the lower end of the moving coil range in resolution, while remaining compatible with any standard MM phono stage.

Together, the RB880 and Nd9 produce a turntable of real composure. Timing is assured, the stereo image is stable, and low-level detail emerges from a quiet background. These are not incremental improvements — they are the kind of changes that make records genuinely revealing.

Build Quality and Design

The Planar 6 RS Edition is hand-assembled at Rega's Southend-on-Sea factory. The Tancast 8 plinth uses HPL skin construction in a special RS finish. The Neo PSU — an external unit connecting via Mini DIN — is included. The dual-layer float glass platter is precisely balanced, and the EBLT Reference drive belt is fitted as standard.

Stock is limited. The RS Edition is a special build and availability is not guaranteed — contact us to confirm current stock before ordering.

Lifetime limited warranty against manufacturing defects.

Connectivity and System Matching

The Planar 6 RS Edition outputs a standard stereo RCA signal. The Nd9 is a moving magnet cartridge, compatible with any standard MM phono input. A phono stage is not included.

At this level, the phono stage matters significantly. The Rega Fono MM MK5 will work, but the Planar 6 RS Edition deserves a better partner. The Rega AOS MC Phono Stage — though designed for MC cartridges — is worth considering for those who plan to upgrade to an MC cartridge in the future. Alternatively, a quality dedicated MM phono stage at this level will extract considerably more from the Nd9 than an entry-level option.

We are happy to advise on phono stage matching based on your amplification, budget, and longer-term plans.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The Planar 6 RS Edition is for the serious vinyl listener who wants the Planar 6 platform at its maximum specification, with a tonearm and cartridge drawn directly from the Planar 8. It suits those who have heard what the Planar 3 is capable of and want to understand what lies beyond, and those who are building a long-term analogue system in which the turntable will not be the limiting factor. It is not a casual purchase — it rewards careful system matching and a quality phono stage.

Buying from Martin's Hi-Fi

Martin's Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968, and the Rega range has been part of what we do for years. We are still family-run — Elizabeth Gould runs the business today — and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The Planar 6 RS Edition is available to hear in our Norwich showroom; call ahead and we will have it set up with a system that makes sense for your budget. When you get in touch, you will be speaking to Dave or Chris — both experienced hi-fi specialists who can talk you through whether the Planar 6 RS Edition or another model in the Rega range is the right fit for your room and your system.

Reach them at dave@martinshifi.co.uk, chris@martinshifi.co.uk, info@martinshifi.co.uk, call on 01603 627010, or WhatsApp Dave or Chris directly on 07554 687137 for a quick answer after your purchase. You can read more about who we are and how we work on our Why Martin's page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY, open six days a week.

Contact: info@martinshifi.co.uk | 01603 627010 | WhatsApp: 07554 687137 | 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY