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REGA Planar 8 ND Series
Manual turntable with ultra-light TANCast 8 + HPL skeleton socket and Double Brace technology.
Equipped with Rega ND7 or ND9 cartridge.
RB880 arm with zero-tolerance bearings and low-capacitance wiring for maximum precision and detail
Triple-layer laminated glass platter with “super flywheel” effect for stable speed and low rumble
24 V very low vibration motor, EBLT belts and external Neo PSU source with electronic shifting and fine speed adjustment
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REGA Planar 8. Manual turntable with arm RB330
The Planar 8 was inspired by Rega's best turntable, the 'Naiad'. From the outset we decided that, rather than an evolution of the previous RP8, the new Planar 8 should be developed and designed to encapsulate the essence of the 'Naiad' at an affordable price. Our aim was to deliver a level of performance far beyond what has previously been achieved at this price point.
Every aspect of the Planar 8 is designed to extract as much detail as possible from the vinyl surface. We have used the most advanced materials and engineering solutions built around an extremely lightweight plinth to ensure the highest level of performance. The Planar 8 is supplied with the new RB880 arm and Neo PSU as standard, which offers electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control and user adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment to ensure total precision and control over the motor. The outer frame of the previous model has now been removed and a new stylish, removable, one-piece dust cover has been introduced, further reducing the overall mass of the turntable.
"If you are looking for maximum musical intensity for your pound, dollar or euro, you will be hard pressed to find a better turntable anywhere near this price. I'm a Rega RP10 user myself, but I've heard new things about it. Newly arrived at almost half the price, it really is a triumph of analogue audio engineering."(Jason Kennedy, ear.net editor, October 2018)
Ultra-lightweight plinth
The planar 8 is the second turntable Rega built using our latest ultra-lightweight TANcast 8 polyurethane foam core (a material developed for the aerospace industry). This material is sandwiched between two layers of HPL (high pressure laminate). HPL is exceptionally thin and extremely rigid. This new construction makes the new Planar 8 skeletal base 30% lighter than the original RP8 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model.
DB Technology (Double Brace Technology) "Mass absorbs energy - energy lost equals music lost"!
A super-lightweight plinth combined with a phenolic resin double brace mounted specifically where greater rigidity is required (between the arm support and main hub bearing) forms a structurally sound "tension beam" assembly. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonances that will add unnatural distortions to the music. Likewise, a heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy, such as motor or bearing noise, directly into the rotating register. The use of bracing instead of the full skin allows for double thickness phenolic resins in these key areas, while providing a further weight reduction to the pedestal that directly addresses the problem of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.
RB880 Arm
For the new RB880, we have introduced an improved vertical bearing assembly constructed from a low mass aluminium and stainless steel assembly with greatly improved stability and rigidity. This gun uses our advanced zero tolerance pre-loaded bearing assembly set to less than 1000mm, providing friction free movement and zero levels of unwanted backlash. This subtle but effective new structure is only visible through small windows at the rear of the new bias housing assembly (see image below). A thinner stainless steel counterweight is used, allowing for greater adjustability and compatibility. Finally, the RB880 is terminated with a redesigned low-capacitance phono cable terminated with high-quality locking phono plugs to ensure the best possible connection.
Central bearing system
The Planar 8 uses a new low-mass central bearing assembly. A one-piece machined aluminium subplate and hardened tool steel spindle run inside a custom brass housing that is cleverly mounted inside the chassis. This new assembly is designed to eradicate unwanted potential energy being transferred or stored in the plinth.
Triple-layer glass disc with super flywheel effect
The Planar 8 uses a three-piece laminated glass plate that is the result of collaboration with a British glass engineering company. This new dish is constructed from two high quality Pilkington glasses. As a general rule, the only part of a turntable that requires extra mass is the turntable to achieve a constant rotational speed. However, a heavier platter creates more problems for the main bearing design, so again, an ideal compromise creates the best solution. In practice, this means keeping most of the mass on the outer edge of the glass platter to create more flywheel effect, but keeping the inside of the platter as light as possible without sacrificing rigidity.
Low noise 24v motor mount
The Planar 8 uses Rega's latest generation, 24v, synchronous low vibration motor technology. Uniquely mounted with the highest level of coupling, while retaining greater vibration isolation than any previous model. This new motor mounting technique (mounted from the bottom) is taken directly from Rega's turntable, the Naiad. This unique mounting method eliminates all stress on the engine body. The reduced vibration and stiffer mounting provide a superior drive from the new EBLT drive belts. Each motor is hand-tuned to match its own custom Neo power supply before being installed on the turntable to optimise the anti-vibration circuit.
EBLT drive belts
For three years, Rega has been researching and developing the use of a new custom rubber compound for drive belts with chemists. Using a specialised curing system, the new drive belt offers superior modulus consistency (a constant representing the degree to which a substance has a particular property, especially elasticity). These new belts are manufactured on Rega-designed supercars. Precise tooling produces "perfectly round" and "dimensionally accurate" belts, essential for perfect speed stability.
Neo PSU
The Neo PSU offers a smooth power supply, advanced anti-vibration circuitry and fine electronic speed adjustment. It uses the RP10 DSP (digital signal processing) generator built on a high stability crystal. The DSP generator will split the precise signal from the crystal at the exact frequency required to rotate the platter at the selected speed. The DSP generator will also produce a near perfect sine waveform to drive the motor. This, together with an efficient excitation amplifier, generates a balanced 24V AC signal with a distortion of less than 0.15%, which is unaffected by any changes in voltage and mains/line conditions. This then drives the turntable's anti-vibration circuitry, which is located underneath the turntable.
Technical specifications:
Turntable dimensions (W x D x H): 420 x 315 x 125 mm (with lid closed).
Weight: 4.2 kg
Neo dimensions (W x D x H): 180 x 155 x 50 mm (W x D x H): 180 x 155 x 50 mm (with lid closed)
Weight: 0.6 kg
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