Rega PL10 Turntable - Aphelion 2 Cartridge

The Rega Planar 10 with Aphelion 2 is a reference-level turntable package designed to reveal everything stored in a record groove. It combines Rega’s ultra-light skeletal plinth, ceramic platter, RB3000 tonearm, advanced PL10 power supply, and flagship Aphelion 2 moving coil cartridge. Available in Black or White, each package is assembled and carefully matched at the Rega factory.

Reference Performance Inspired by the Naiad

The Planar 10 was inspired by Rega’s Naiad reference turntable. Its skeletal design removes material that is not needed. This keeps the plinth very light and limits stored energy that could add unwanted sound to the music.

The plinth uses an aerospace-developed Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core placed between thin, rigid high-pressure laminate skins. Rega’s double-brace system includes a ceramic top brace that creates a firm connection between the tonearm and central bearing.

The Planar 10 was Rega’s first production turntable to use ceramic bracing. This light and rigid structure helps the cartridge recover fine musical information without unwanted vibration hiding the detail.

Factory-Fitted Aphelion 2 Moving Coil Cartridge

This version includes Rega’s reference Aphelion 2 moving coil cartridge. Rega installs and aligns the cartridge on the RB3000 tonearm at the factory, creating a precisely matched record-playing system.

The Aphelion 2 uses a Fine Line nude diamond stylus mounted at 90 degrees to a solid boron-rod cantilever. Boron is both light and very stiff, allowing the stylus to react quickly to even the smallest changes in the record groove. This helps reveal subtle detail, natural tone, and the space around voices and instruments.

A tiny iron micro-cross and hand-wound coil assembly is built directly onto the boron cantilever. The coil uses 0.018mm fine wire and works with a powerful miniaturized neodymium magnet. This ultra-low-mass generator is designed for fast response and accurate tracking.

The Aphelion 2 uses Rega’s undamped generator design. It has no conventional tie wire or foam damper. A unique rhomboid pivot controls the cantilever while allowing the generator to respond freely to the groove.

The cartridge body is machined from one piece of graded aluminum to extremely tight tolerances. Rega’s three-point mounting system provides a strong connection to the RB3000 tonearm and sets the cartridge overhang during factory installation.

The Aphelion 2 produces a low output of 350µV and tracks at 1.9 grams. It requires a quiet, high-gain moving coil phono preamp or an amplifier with a compatible MC phono input. Rega recommends a 100-ohm input load, 1,000pF capacitance, and a high-gain setting.

RB3000 Reference Tonearm

The Planar 10 includes Rega’s hand-built RB3000 tonearm. Its preloaded, zero-tolerance bearings are adjusted to less than one-thousandth of a millimeter. This provides nearly friction-free movement without unwanted play.

The one-piece aluminum arm tube is hand polished to keep its mass low. Rega designed the arm with very few mechanical joints and does not use adhesive in its construction. This creates a stiff path that allows the Aphelion 2 to track tiny groove movements accurately.

Diamond-Cut Ceramic Platter

The custom platter is made from ceramic oxide powder that is compressed, fired, and diamond cut for accurate shape and a flat playing surface. More mass is placed around the outside edge to create a flywheel effect for smooth rotation and stable speed.

A low-mass central bearing assembly uses a one-piece aluminum sub-platter, hardened tool-steel spindle, and custom brass housing. Twin Reference EBLT drive belts connect the platter to the hand-tuned 24-volt motor.

Custom-Matched PL10 Power Supply

Each Planar 10 motor is hand matched to its own PL10 outboard power supply. A crystal-controlled DSP generator creates an accurate signal for the motor while producing a near-perfect sine wave.

The PL10 power supply provides electronic switching between 33⅓ and 45 rpm. It also includes fine-speed adjustment and an advanced anti-vibration circuit to reduce motor noise and maintain accurate pitch.

Setting Up the Planar 10

The Aphelion 2 is installed and aligned at the Rega factory. Place the turntable on a firm, level surface, install the platter and drive belts, balance the tonearm, and set the tracking force to 1.9 grams.

Connect the turntable to a high-quality moving coil phono preamp. The Planar 10 does not have a built-in phono preamp, and the low-output Aphelion 2 should not be connected directly to a standard moving magnet input.

Is It Right for You?

Choose the Planar 10 with Aphelion 2 if you want one of Rega’s finest complete vinyl playback systems. It is designed for experienced listeners with a high-quality audio system and a quiet MC phono preamp capable of revealing the cartridge’s full performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aphelion 2 installed at the factory?

Yes. Rega installs and aligns the Aphelion 2 on the RB3000 tonearm.

What type of phono preamp is required?

The Aphelion 2 requires a quiet, high-gain moving coil phono preamp. Rega recommends a 100-ohm input load.

Can I use a moving magnet phono input?

No. The cartridge’s low 350µV output requires moving coil gain.

What is special about the Aphelion 2 cartridge?

It combines a Fine Line nude diamond stylus, boron-rod cantilever, ultra-low-mass hand-wound generator, powerful neodymium magnet, and one-piece aluminum body.

Can the Planar 10 play 45 rpm records?

Yes. The PL10 power supply provides electronic switching between 33⅓ and 45 rpm.

Does it include a dustcover?

Yes. The Black model includes a smoked dustcover, while the White model includes a clear dustcover.

Is the Planar 10 automatic?

No. It is a fully manual turntable.

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