If you've spent any time researching turntables in the £1,000 to £2,500 bracket, chances are you've come across the Rega Planar 6. For many vinyl enthusiasts, it's long been one of the sweet spots in the Rega range, offering a significant step up in performance without venturing into truly high-end territory.

Recently, however, Rega introduced the Planar 6 RS (Rega Special), a model that takes the familiar Planar 6 formula and adds a number of carefully selected upgrades borrowed from higher up the range.

So what exactly are the differences between the two? More importantly, is the RS worth the extra investment? Let's take a closer look…

A brief history

Founded in 1973 by Tony Relph and Roy Gandy, the Rega name comes from the founders' surnames. Their first product was the Planet turntable, followed shortly afterwards by the Planar 2 and Planar 3. These quickly became industry classics and helped establish the company's international reputation.

During the 1980s, Rega expanded beyond turntables into tonearms, cartridges, amplifiers and loudspeakers, evolving into the full hi-fi manufacturer we know today.

Now employee-owned, Rega continues to design and manufacture its products in England. The company exports to more than fifty countries worldwide and has built its reputation on an engineering-led approach that prioritises lightweight, rigid designs, simplicity and exceptional value for money.

The Planar 6

The standard Rega Planar 6 was officially launched in 2017 and represented a substantial leap forward from the outgoing RP6.

At its heart was Rega's ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core plinth, sandwiched between high-pressure laminate skins. Combined with the external Neo PSU speed controller, the Planar 6 delivered significantly improved accuracy, stability and performance.

I've always had a particular soft spot for the Planar 6. It captures everything that makes Rega turntables so enjoyable to listen to. It's fast, engaging, rhythmic and effortlessly musical. Even today, it remains one of the strongest performers at its price point and continues to represent excellent value for money.

A few years later, Rega introduced the hugely successful Planar 3 RS. This special edition model sat neatly between the standard Planar 3 and Planar 6, offering a collection of carefully chosen upgrades that delivered performance well beyond what the price difference might suggest.

It quickly became one of Rega's best-selling turntables, largely because the cost of adding those upgrades individually would have been considerably higher. Put simply, customers recognised a bargain when they saw one.

Following the success of the Planar 3 RS, it was perhaps inevitable that Rega would apply the same thinking to the Planar 6.

Meet the Planar 6 RS

Finished in a stunning brushed aluminium effect, the Planar 6 RS takes the already impressive Planar 6 platform and incorporates several technologies and components derived from the higher-end Planar 8.

The result is not a completely different turntable, but rather a more refined and capable version of an already excellent design.

Key changes

RB 880 tonearm

Although visually very similar to the RB330 fitted to the standard Planar 6, the RB880 is a significantly more sophisticated tonearm.

Featuring tighter bearing tolerances, improved bearing assemblies and more precise construction throughout, the RB880 allows the cartridge to extract more information from the groove whilst maintaining exceptional tracking ability.

In my view, this is arguably the single biggest contributor to the RS's improved performance.

Nd9 cartridge

The Planar 6 RS comes factory-fitted with Rega's flagship Nd9 moving magnet cartridge.

Hand-built and featuring a boron rod cantilever alongside a Fine Line stylus profile, the Nd9 is capable of retrieving remarkable amounts of detail whilst remaining wonderfully musical and engaging.

Its neodymium magnet system is both exceptionally powerful and extremely lightweight, helping to improve accuracy and responsiveness.

Quite simply, the Nd9 is one of the finest moving magnet cartridges currently available.

Twin Belt Drive

Borrowed directly from the Planar 8, the RS adopts Rega's CNC-machined twin pulley system and twin drive belts.

The benefit is improved speed consistency, greater rotational stability and more precise pitch accuracy, particularly noticeable on sustained piano notes and complex musical passages.

Twin pulley and belt arrangement. Aluminium skin

Enhanced Plinth Construction

Whilst retaining the lightweight Tancast foam core construction that makes the Planar 6 so successful, the RS adds a rigid brushed aluminium laminate skin to the plinth.

This construction was first seen on the highly successful Planar 3 RS and helps further increase rigidity whilst maintaining the low-mass design philosophy that Rega is famous for.

Sound Quality Comparison

For this comparison, I used a system consisting of a Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier and ProAc D20R loudspeakers. The standard Planar 6 was fitted with Rega's Nd7 moving magnet cartridge, allowing for a fair comparison between the two decks.

Using a selection of my regular reference LPs, it quickly became apparent that the differences were far from subtle.

The Planar 6 RS doesn't fundamentally alter the familiar Rega character. The sense of timing, energy and musical engagement remains very much intact. What it does is build upon those strengths.

The first thing I noticed was an increase in overall resolution. Small details that were previously sitting further back in the mix became easier to hear, yet never sounded forced or analytical.

Bass notes carried greater weight and definition, making rhythms feel more grounded and authoritative. The stereo image was noticeably more stable, with instruments occupying more clearly defined positions within the soundstage.

Perhaps most impressive was the reduction in perceived noise floor. The RS presents music against a quieter background, allowing subtle details and dynamic shifts to emerge more naturally.

The result is a turntable that feels more refined, more accomplished and ultimately more convincing, whilst never losing the sense of fun that makes Rega products so enjoyable to listen to.

Which should you choose?

There's no question that both versions are excellent turntables.

The standard Planar 6 remains one of the best turntables available at its price and continues to offer outstanding performance and value.

However, the Planar 6 RS is arguably the more compelling package. The RB880 tonearm, Nd9 cartridge, twin belt drive system and upgraded plinth construction would cost significantly more to replicate later as individual upgrades.

For that reason alone, the RS represents exceptional value.

In many ways, it also fills an interesting gap in the Rega range. If you've always admired the performance of the Planar 8 but prefer the practicality and everyday convenience of a full-sized plinth and fitted dust cover, the Planar 6 RS could be exactly what you're looking for.

Final Thoughts

The beauty of the Rega range is that there are no bad choices. Whether you choose the standard Planar 6 or the new Planar 6 RS, you're investing in a turntable that has been designed with a clear engineering philosophy and built to provide years of musical enjoyment.

That said, after spending time with both, I can certainly see why the RS has generated so much interest. It takes everything I already love about the Planar 6 and pushes it further. More detail, more refinement, greater stability and an even more convincing musical performance.

Of course, the best way to decide is to hear them for yourself.

If you're considering a new turntable, upgrading your existing deck or simply curious about what the latest Rega models can do, we'd be delighted to arrange a demonstration here at Audio T Swindon. Bring along a few of your favourite records, spend some time listening, and discover which model is right for you.

Thanks for reading, and we look forward to welcoming you in-store soon.

Jon and Andy - Audio T Swindon

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to contact us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…