Rega Planar 8 Turntable with Neo PSU Power Supply - Black - Ania Cartridge

A Skeletal Turntable, Paired with the Ania Cartridge

The Rega Planar 8 draws directly on Rega's ultra-high-end Naiad project, translating that no-compromise engineering into a production turntable, and this version ships with Rega's Ania moving-coil cartridge factory-mounted on its RB880 tonearm.

A triple-layer float-glass platter and Neo MK2 power supply, included as standard equipment, round out the design. The Neo MK2 provides push-button electronic 33⅓/45 rpm switching, fine speed adjustment, and an anti-vibration motor circuit.

The Ania's low-output moving-coil design needs a compatible high-gain MC phono stage rather than a standard MM input — Rega recommends a 100-ohm input load and roughly 1,000pF of capacitance to get the most from it.

Where the Ania Cartridge Earns Its Keep

A Hand-Wound Generator, Inspired by Rega's Best

The Ania borrows its hand-wound micro-coil design from Rega's higher-end Apheta and Aphelion cartridges, wound onto an iron cross and driven by a genuinely high-strength neodymium magnet housed inside a rigid PPS body.

Rega's three-point mounting system sets overhang automatically once it's fitted, and a clear rigid cover protects the cartridge's fine internal wiring during handling, shipping, and its actual installation onto the tonearm itself.

An RB880 Tonearm, With Nearly Zero Play

The RB880 uses preloaded, zero-tolerance bearings adjusted to less than one-thousandth of a millimeter, giving it nearly friction-free movement with essentially no unwanted play at all anywhere in the finished assembly.

A low-capacitance phono cable terminates in locking RCA plugs rather than standard friction-fit ones, for a noticeably more secure connection to whatever phono preamp you eventually decide to pair it with over the long term.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Jason Kennedy, editor of the-ear.net, called the Planar 8 "a triumph of analogue audio engineering," adding that for the money, "you will be very hard pressed to find a better turntable at anywhere near this price."

Who Is the Rega Planar 8 Best For?

• You want moving-coil detail on Rega's flagship-adjacent chassis: the Ania arrives factory-mounted and aligned on the RB880, built around the same hand-wound generator design as Rega's higher-end cartridges
• You want a genuinely acclaimed turntable: the-ear.net's editor called the Planar 8 "a triumph of analogue audio engineering"
• You already have (or plan to add) a high-gain MC phono stage: the Ania's low-output moving-coil design needs one, since it can't run from a standard MM-only phono input
• You want Rega's current-generation Ania tier instead: the Ania has since been followed by the Ania Pro, a refined version of the same cartridge concept, if you'd prefer the newer pairing
• You want a moving-magnet cartridge instead: the Ania is a moving-coil design, so if you'd rather avoid a dedicated MC phono stage, the Nd7 or Nd9 version is the better starting point

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The attached RCA cable needs a phono preamp that matches your cartridge's type and output. Never connect the Planar 8 straight into a standard line-level input.

The Ania arrives already mounted and aligned. Balance the tonearm and set tracking force to Rega's specification during setup, then place the turntable on a firm, level surface.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a Rega Planar 8:

• Phono preamplifiers — needs high-gain MC support to match this cartridge's low output
• Integrated amplifiers — look for one with a built-in MC-capable phono stage to skip a separate box
• Audio racks — a firm, level, vibration-free shelf a turntable like this actually needs
• Record cleaning machines — a clean groove matters even more once resolution stops being the limiting factor

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ania cartridge already installed?

Yes. Rega mounts and aligns it at the factory. You still balance the tonearm and set tracking force to Rega's specification during setup.

Does the Planar 8 have a built-in phono preamp?

It doesn't. The Ania's low-output moving-coil design needs a separate high-gain MC phono preamp, or an amplifier with one built in.

Can I use a standard MM phono input instead?

Not with the Ania installed. Its low-output moving-coil design needs a compatible high-gain MC phono stage rather than a standard MM-only input.

How does the Ania compare to the Ania Pro?

Both use the same hand-wound generator concept. The Ania Pro is the newer, refined version of the same idea, and is Rega's current recommendation at this tier.

Does the Neo MK2 power supply come standard?

Yes. It ships as standard equipment on every Planar 8, regardless of which cartridge is fitted.

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Learn More

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