Rega Planar 6/Ania £1400
FOR Superb timing and agility; smart finish; good build AGAINST Demands careful system matching Audition the new Rega Planar 6, and you might be forgiven for expecting a turntable experience not dissimilar to the company’s long line of Awardwinning turntables.
Except this new and improved deck marks a huge step up in performance from the last generation – and that former Award-winner was hardly shabby.
The previous RP6 came fitted with an Exact moving-magnet cartridge. This option is still available for £1200, but the company also offers a variant with its new Ania moving-coil cartridge. That’s what we have on test here.
Set-up is easy and the Ania tracks best at 1.75g. We’d recommend at least a day or two running-in time to get the Rega singing. It’s worth the wait, as this is the subtlest and most articulate Rega 6 yet.
Bewitching balancing act
What marks this new Rega Planar 6/Ania out from its rivals (and the older RP6/ Exact) is that it doesn’t go for immediacy to grab your attention. ‘Boldness’ isn’t at the forefront as much as an unnerving ability to juggle balance, subtlety and timing in an understated way.
It’s a frankly astonishing refined and mature sound. Some of that is down to the moving-coil cartridge’s inherent characteristics, but this Rega turntable more than justifies its higher pricing.
We spin Alice by Tom Waits, and are struck by how every part is given equal billing – the instruments aren’t overshadowed by Waits’ voice, nor do the deep bass notes overpower the piano. It’s a bewitching balancing act.
The growly depths and the raspy edges of Waits’ vocals are unearthed effortlessly. All the subtleties of his voice are laid bare on Alice, sounding more nuanced and emotive than just his usual deep, gruff persona.
The presentation of the muted trumpet in the song is light and nimble and it also sounds convincing – something that only the very best hi-fi can do. There’s a palpable sense of depth, solidity and texture to the bittersweet, meandering tune.
Locating the orchestra
Switch to a more recent track such as SBTRKT’S New Dorp New York, and the Planar 6 is transparent enough to show off the production differences. Where Tom Waits demonstrated textures and depth, here the track exemplifies just how precise, agile and rhythmically secure the Rega sounds.
Those deep, steady basslines have no hint of flab or boom to them. They’re pulled taut and are utterly punctual. The beat builds up gradually, but once it peaks, the Rega keeps that momentum steady – that underlying rhythm never sounds monotonous or inconsequential. You’ll find your foot tapping along to the beat without even noticing it.
There’s a huge amount of space conveyed when playing The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas. So precise is the arrangement that you can gauge almost exactly where each section of the orchestra is seated.
Once again the Rega shows off its maturity during the opening moments of the track. The swift, high notes are crisply delivered and shine just enough without sounding too sharp. The rhythmic ebb and flow is so effortlessly precise, and when it goes quiet, it really goes silent. Timing is spot-on, and the clarity with which every instrument is presented is wonderful to hear.
Fresh lick of paint
We like how the Rega Planar 6/Ania doesn’t shout about what it’s doing, it just does everything in a quietly understated manner. Apart from the finish, the Planar 6’s simple design looks pretty much identical to most of Rega’s turntables over the past few decades.