Rega Planar 6 RS Turntable
Hear the room around the musicians, the texture of a singer's voice and the full weight of the band.
What should you hear beyond the standard P6?
It isn't just a change in the amount of bass or treble. You want to hear the small changes in a singer's voice, the way an instrument fades into the room and the individual players staying clear when the music gets loud.
A better arm and drive system, with more to hear from the groove
We chose the Rega Planar 6 RS for the extra detail and expression it is designed to bring out of a record. The RB880 arm comes from the P8, and the RS adds twin Reference EBLT belts and an aluminium skin over its foam-core plinth. With a good recording, listen for the body of an acoustic guitar as well as the pluck of the string, and the sound of the room around the singer.
The standard P6 already includes a matched Neo supply and a dual-layer glass platter. The RS changes the arm, drive and plinth construction, as well as the cartridge choices; it is not simply a standard P6 with a different cartridge.
Nd9 is Rega's top moving-magnet cartridge, with a fine-line nude diamond and a light, rigid boron cantilever. It is the option we would compare first if you want finer vocal and instrumental detail while keeping a capable MM phono stage. A phono stage is not included in the Nd9 package.
The MC bundle uses the original low-output Ania, not Ania Pro, and includes a separate Fono MC stage. Listen to that complete combination against Nd9 through a good MM stage; the MC label alone doesn't tell you which will sound better in your system.
Nd9 needs an MM phono input or separate MM stage. With Ania, connect the turntable to the Fono MC and its output to an amplifier's line input, not another phono input. The Neo supplied with both packages powers the motor and controls speed; it does not provide phono amplification.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Hear the space behind the singer
With a well-recorded live album, listen for the distance between the singer and the players behind them, and for the sound of the venue. The RB880 uses the more rigid bearing assembly found on the P8, with closely matched bearings that let the arm move freely. The arm and braced plinth are designed to reduce unwanted movement and vibration that can obscure the quieter sound of the room in the recording.
Keep the weight and shape of a bass note
Listen to the bass player's run of notes, not just the amount of bass in the room. You want the pitch, weight and end of each note to stay clear, with the kick drum distinct alongside it. The twin Reference EBLT belts, machined sub-platter and dual-layer glass platter work with the matched motor and Neo to keep the record turning steadily. That speed control also matters on held piano and guitar notes, where wavering pitch is easier to notice.
Hear the small changes in a voice
On a familiar vocal record, listen to how the singer's voice changes as they sing softly, then put more force into it. Nd9's fine-line nude diamond and boron cantilever are designed to follow small groove movements accurately with a light, rigid assembly. The point is more of the tone and expression of the voice, not simply a brighter sound.
What the Nd9 package reviews found
What Hi-Fi? compared the RS/Nd9 with the standard P6/Nd7 and heard more precise instrument placement and more impact as the music changed from quiet to loud. With Nirvana's MTV Unplugged, it found more of the recording room and more expression in Kurt Cobain's voice. The cartridges differed too, so the comparison shows what changed between the full packages, not the arm alone.
Ed Selley at hi-fi+ heard the Nd9 package spread instruments across a wider space while keeping a clear centre. He also heard the drive and physical weight of bass in electronic music, without losing the quieter details.
The Audio Two Verdict
The RS makes sense when your amplifier, speakers and phono stage are already good enough to show small changes in a voice, the space around the players and the impact of the band. With a capable MM stage, we would start with Nd9 rather than assume an MC cartridge must be the next step. If you also need a phono stage, compare the Ania/Fono MC bundle as a complete alternative. If the P8 is within reach, compare RS/Nd9 with P8/Nd9 to hear what the deck changes while the arm and cartridge stay the same. Keep each turntable on its own matched Neo supply during that comparison.
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Voices and instruments are easier to place | RB880 tonearm with a rigid, precision-matched bearing assembly |
| Quieter recorded ambience is less obscured by the deck's vibration | Aluminium-skinned Tancast 8 plinth, double bracing and hand-tuned motor |
| Sustained notes hold their pitch and bass lines remain distinct | Matched motor and Neo Mk2, twin Reference EBLT belts and dual-layer glass platter |
| Finer texture in voices and acoustic instruments | Nd9 MM option with a fine-line nude diamond and boron cantilever |
Technical Highlights
- Tonearm and connection: Hand-assembled RB880 with stainless-steel balance weight, low-capacitance phono cable and RCA plugs.
- Construction: Tancast 8 foam-core plinth with HPL skins, brushed aluminium outer skin and matching edging, plus double bracing.
- Platter and sub-platter: 16 mm dual-layer Opti-White float-glass platter over a machined aluminium sub-platter.
- Motor and drive: Hand-tuned 24 V AC motor, CNC twin pulley and two Reference EBLT drive belts.
- Speeds and operation: Included custom-matched Neo Mk2, electronic 33⅓/45 rpm selection and 0.01 rpm speed adjustment; manual arm operation.
- Cartridge packages: Nd9 MM: 5–6 mV output and 1.75 g tracking force. Ania MC: 0.35 mV output, 1.75–2.0 g tracking range and 100 Ω recommended load, with Fono MC included in the MC package.
- Finish, cover and size: Brushed metallic finish with hinged smoked cover; deck measures 447 mm W × 117 mm H × 360 mm D with the lid closed, 5.4 kg. Separate Neo measures 180 mm W × 50 mm H × 150 mm D.
For setup, give the deck a rigid, level support away from the speakers and leave clearance above the hinged lid. Allow room for the Neo, and the Fono MC if you choose that package; keep the Neo as far from the cartridge as its cable allows to reduce the chance of hum.
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. That said, a system at this level is worth a conversation before you commit: we can make sure it's the right fit for your room, your source, and how you actually listen. Reach out and we'll help you get it right.