Rega Planar 8 Turntable
Hear the whole band spread out in front of you, with the singer and individual instruments easy to place.
Give the instruments room when the music gets busy
On a busy recording, the instruments can start to bunch up around the singer. You can hear the music getting louder, but it becomes harder to follow what each player is doing. The next step should give those instruments more room without losing the pace of the song.
A different deck and arm, not just another cartridge
We chose the Rega Planar 8 because it gives you a clearer sense of where the musicians are and what each one is playing. Compared with the standard P6, the changes include the RB880 arm, a different main bearing assembly and a triple-layer platter, all built around a smaller skeletal plinth.
You can order it with Nd7, Nd9, Ania Pro or Apheta 3, or without a cartridge if you already have one you want to use. The Nd7 and Nd9 are moving-magnet options; Ania Pro and Apheta 3 are low-output moving coil. We would check your amplifier or phono stage before recommending a package, because the two cartridge types need different phono settings.
The Neo supply powers the motor and changes the speed. It is not a phono stage, so you still need the right phono input on your amplifier or a separate phono stage before a line input.
The plinth is smaller than the P6's, but the separate Neo still needs its own space. The cover lifts off rather than opening on hinges, so give it a safe place to sit while you play a record. Use a rigid, level support away from your speakers, and keep the Neo as far from the cartridge as its lead allows.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Hear where the players are
Listen to the singer in the centre, then to the guitar or cymbals to either side. Those positions should stay clear as the rest of the band comes in. The RB880 arm uses a more rigid bearing assembly than the RB330 on the P6, so the cartridge can follow the groove with less unwanted movement at the bearings.
Keep the bass moving, not just make it bigger
The triple-layer platter puts more of its weight towards the outer edge to help keep the record turning steadily. Rega keeps the rest of the deck light and rigid rather than making the whole base heavy. With a bass guitar, listen for the pitch of each note and how it stops, not just the amount of bass in the room.
Get more detail without choosing by cartridge type
The Nd7 is the starting cartridge package, with a fine-line stylus and an MM output. The Nd9 keeps that MM connection but uses a light, stiff boron cantilever, the small rod that carries the stylus, to pass along finer movements from the groove. Ania Pro is the starting MC option, with a Vital-profile stylus. The Apheta 3 moves to a fine-line stylus and a single-piece aluminium body; we would listen for the extra detail it brings to voices and acoustic instruments.
What the P8's reviews tell us
What Hi-Fi? tested the P8 with the earlier Apheta 2 cartridge and praised its handling of changes from quiet to loud, clear instrument placement and bass that stayed easy to follow. It also found the music kept its drive when the arrangement became complicated.
At Analog Planet, Michael Fremer tested this P8 design with the original Ania and several other cartridges. He heard the sound of the room in the recording and found that the deck let him hear differences between cartridges and phono stages, rather than making them all sound alike.
The Audio Two Verdict
We would start with the P8/Nd9 if you already have a good MM phono stage and want to keep it. With a suitable MC stage, we would compare Ania Pro and Apheta 3, listening for how much more of the voice and instruments the Apheta 3 brings through. We would also sort out the turntable's support and power-supply position before judging any of those cartridges. If you're comparing the P8 with the P6, use the Nd7 or Ania Pro on both where possible so you can hear what the deck and arm change.
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Voices and instruments stay easier to place | RB880 arm with a rigid, closely matched bearing assembly |
| Bass notes remain easy to follow | Triple-layer glass platter with more of its mass concentrated towards the outer edge |
| Sustained notes keep a steady pitch | Custom-matched Neo Mk2, 24 V motor and Reference EBLT drive belts |
| Finer groove detail while keeping an MM phono stage | Optional Nd9 cartridge with a boron cantilever and fine-line diamond |
| Change between 33⅓ and 45 rpm without removing the platter | Electronic speed selection through the included Neo supply |
Technical Highlights
- Drive and speeds: Belt drive with manual arm operation; 24 V motor, custom-matched Neo Mk2 supply and Reference EBLT belts, with electronic 33⅓/45 rpm selection.
- Tonearm: Rega RB880 with low-capacitance phono cable and locking RCA plugs.
- Construction and platter: Skeletal Tancast 8 foam-core/HPL plinth with double bracing; machined aluminium sub-platter and 18 mm triple-layer glass platter.
- MM cartridge options: Nd7 or Nd9, each with 5–6 mV nominal output and 1.75 g tracking force; no-cartridge option also available.
- MC cartridge options: Ania Pro or Apheta 3, each with 0.35 mV nominal output and 100 Ω recommended loading; tracking ranges are 1.75–2.0 g for Ania Pro and 1.9–2.0 g for Apheta 3.
- Finishes and cover: Matt Polaris Grey with smoked cover, or Matt White with clear cover; single-piece lift-off cover rather than a hinged lid.
- Size and weight: Deck with cover fitted: 420 mm W × 125 mm H × 315 mm D, 4.2 kg; separate Neo: 180 mm W × 50 mm H × 155 mm D, 0.6 kg.
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.