Rega Planar 8 With Apheta 3 cartridge. Radically Innovative Design. State of the Art Vinyl Playback. .

CONTINUING THE EVOLUTION OF REVOLUTION

Every aspect of the Planar 8 is engineered to extract as much detail from the vinyl surface as possible. Rega have used the most advanced materials and engineering solutions built around a supremely lightweight plinth to ensure the greatest level of performance.

The Planar 8 is supplied with the new RB880 tonearm and 24V Neo PSU as standard which offers electronic speed change for both 33.3 and 45 RPM, advanced anti-vibration control and user adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment to ensure total accuracy and control over the motor. The outer frame of the previous model has now been removed and a new stylish, removable, single piece dustcover has been introduced further reducing the overall mass of the turntable.

The Planar 8 is the second Rega turntable constructed using an 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 plinth 30% lighter than the original RP8 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model. This super lightweight plinth has been combined with a phenolic resin double brace mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) and forms a structurally sound “stressed beam” assembly. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonances which will add unnatural distortions to the music.

Planar 8 is fitted with the new RB880 that features an improved vertical bearing assembly constructed using an aluminium and stainless-steel, low mass assembly with vastly improved stability and rigidity. This tonearm is using Rega’s advanced preloaded zero tolerance bearing assembly adjusted to less than 1000th of a mm, this gives friction free movement and zero levels of unwanted play. RB880 is then terminated with a re-designed, low capacitance phono cable terminated with high quality, locking phono plugs to ensure the best possible connection

THE ‘TABLE AT THE CORE

Planar 8 also features a new low mass central bearing assembly, latest generation 24v, synchronous, low vibration motor technology and a super flywheel effect platter design. This three piece laminated glass platter is the result of collaboration with a British glass engineering company. This brand new platter is constructed from two different high quality Pilkington glasses. .

Linking all these mechanical entities together is another innovation – EBLT Drive Belts!

For three years Rega has been researching and developing with chemists the use of a bespoke new rubber compound for drive belts. Using a specialised curing system, the new drive belt offers superior consistency of modulus (a constant representing the degree to which a substance has a particular property, especially elasticity). These new belts are manufactured on Rega designed, state of the art, super-accurate tools which produce ‘perfectly round’ and ‘dimensionally accurate’ belts, critical for perfect speed stability.

Planar 8 is also available on its own or as a complete package with an Ania  Moving Coil cartridge at an advantageous price over purchasing separately. Contact Audio Art Cable for details.