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How to Set Up and Level a Rega Planar 6 RS Edition Turntable

By Freedom251 Team · · 10 min read

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Set the Planar 6 RS Edition on a rigid, genuinely level shelf or stand, then assemble it flat, remove the transport hub card, install the platter and mat, connect the supplied Neo MK2 power supply, and configure the tonearm for the cartridge actually fitted. The Nd9 version uses 1.75 g tracking force and matching bias; those figures must not be transferred to the Ania MC version.

What you need before starting

Allow a clear, stable workspace and keep the turntable horizontal throughout unpacking. Retain every piece of packaging in case the deck is transported later. You will need the Planar 6 RS Edition, its dual-layer float-glass platter, mat, two Reference EBLT drive belts, RB880 tonearm, Neo MK2 power supply, supplied PS1 AC adaptor and DIN lead, and the tonearm’s phono cables.

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  • A rigid shelf, rack or stand that can support the turntable without wobbling.
  • A small spirit level, used only as an optional check of the supporting furniture.
  • An appropriate phono stage: the Nd9 is moving-magnet (MM), while the Ania is moving-coil (MC).
  • A clean, well-lit surface so the stylus and platter are not damaged during assembly.

The closed-lid dimensions are 447 × 117 × 360 mm and the turntable weighs 5.4 kg. Leave room for the lid to open and for the power and phono cables to bend without being pulled.

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Identify the cartridge package first

Setup instructions differ according to the cartridge installed in your particular RS Edition. The standard package is factory fitted with Rega’s Nd9 moving-magnet cartridge. Rega also lists an Ania moving-coil option, and announced two additional packages on 10 July 2026: a P6 RS with Ania MC factory fitted, and a P6 RS with Ania MC plus a Fono MC phono stage.

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Package path Cartridge type Phono-stage requirement What this guide establishes
Nd9 Moving magnet (MM) MM-compatible input Rega’s manual specifies 1.75 g tracking force and matching bias.
Ania MC Moving coil (MC) MC-compatible input or suitable step-up arrangement Use the separate Ania instructions for tracking force, bias and electrical loading; the Nd9 value does not apply.
Ania MC plus Fono MC bundle Moving coil (MC) Included Fono MC stage, or another correctly configured MC stage Follow the Ania cartridge and Fono MC instructions.

Look at the cartridge body or your order documentation before adjusting the RB880 arm. If the cartridge has been replaced, do not assume the factory Nd9 settings remain correct. Rega recommends dealer fitting when replacing the factory-fitted cartridge.

Choose and level the supporting surface

Use a rigid, level support

The exact-model Planar 6 RS manual’s governing instruction is: “Place your turntable on a rigid level surface.” This refers to the shelf, rack or stand supporting the deck. The manual does not describe adjustable leveling feet or a built-in turntable-body leveling mechanism, so do not search for a hidden adjustment procedure.

Choose furniture that does not flex when you press its front edge, and keep it away from speakers that could transmit vibration. A wall-mounted shelf or heavy, well-braced rack can work if it is securely fixed and does not move when the platter turns.

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Check the shelf with a spirit level

  1. Put the empty shelf or stand in its final position and make it stable.
  2. Place a small spirit level on the shelf, first front-to-back and then left-to-right.
  3. If the bubble is off centre, correct the furniture or its supports. Shim or adjust the stand itself only if it remains rigid and safe; do not use soft, compressible material that lets the deck rock.
  4. Recheck the surface after placing the turntable and again after installing the platter. The spirit level is a practical setup aid, not a Rega-calibrated instrument or a guarantee of a measurable sound improvement.

Keep the deck flat while unpacking and assembling. If the support cannot be made level and stable, move the turntable to a better location rather than trying to compensate with improvised objects under the turntable chassis.

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Unpack and assemble the platter correctly

  1. Set the boxed turntable on a broad, secure surface. Keep it horizontal as you remove the protective materials.
  2. Confirm that both supplied drive belts are in place. They should sit correctly around the motor pulley and sub-platter; do not operate the deck if a belt is twisted or missing.
  3. Find the transport hub card beneath the sub-platter. Slide it toward the tonearm to remove it. This card protects the mechanism during shipping and must not remain installed during use.
  4. Carefully lower the glass platter onto the hub. Avoid dropping it or striking the tonearm.
  5. Fit the mat on top of the platter, keeping it flat and free of packing material.
  6. With the platter installed, repeat the front-to-back and side-to-side level check on the supporting surface. Do not run the motor with the transport card still underneath the sub-platter.

The RS Edition’s dual-layer float-glass platter and two Reference EBLT belts are supplied components, not optional tuning parts. Handle the glass by its edges and keep fingerprints, grit and loose packaging away from the belt path.

Connect the Neo MK2 power supply

Use only the supplied Rega PS1 AC adaptor. The manual specifically warns against substituting another adaptor.

  1. Place the Neo MK2 PSU where its controls are accessible, but as far from the turntable as the connecting cable allows. This arrangement reduces the risk of hum pickup at the cartridge.
  2. Connect the supplied DIN lead from the turntable to the DIN socket on the Neo MK2.
  3. Plug the PS1 adaptor into the Neo MK2 socket labelled 24 V AC.
  4. Connect the PS1 to mains power and switch on the mains outlet if it has a switch.
  5. Press the Neo MK2 front-panel power button to start the platter.

The illuminated Rega logo indicates speed: red is 33⅓ rpm and green is 45 rpm. Press the 33/45 button to change speed. Select 33⅓ rpm for most full-length records and 45 rpm when the record label specifies it.

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Connect the tonearm to a suitable phono stage

Run the external phono cables from the tonearm to the phono input of an amplifier, integrated amplifier or separate phono stage. The colour code is:

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  • Red: right channel.
  • Black: left channel.

Do not connect the tonearm leads to a line-level input unless an appropriate phono stage is already in the signal path. Choose the input type for the fitted cartridge: Nd9 requires an MM input, while Ania requires an MC-compatible input. An MM input used with an MC cartridge will normally produce very low output; an unsuitable gain or loading setting can also create noise or tonal imbalance.

Keep the Neo MK2 PSU physically separated from the turntable and route its power cable away from the phono leads where practical. If you hear hum, first increase that separation and check that every plug is fully seated before changing other settings.

Set up the RB880 arm with the Nd9 cartridge

These values apply only to the factory-fitted Nd9. Rega lists the Nd9 tracking pressure as 1.75 g and its nominal output voltage as 5–6 mV. The cartridge is factory fitted and aligned; Rega says not to adjust the alignment further.

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Balance the arm

  1. Remove the stylus guard carefully. Keep it available so you can protect the stylus during later handling.
  2. Set the tracking-force dial and bias slider to zero.
  3. Fit the counterweight to the rear of the tonearm.
  4. Support the headshell with one hand. Unlock or lift the arm from its rest only when you can control it safely.
  5. Move the counterweight until the arm floats horizontally, with the stylus approximately 1 mm above a record-height surface. Never let the unguarded stylus touch the platter, mat or shelf.
  6. Return the arm to its rest and secure it before making the numbered settings.

Apply tracking force and bias

  1. Set the tracking-force dial to 1.75 g.
  2. Move the bias slider to the same numerical value as the tracking force, using the centre of the slider as the reference described in the manual.
  3. Recheck that the arm is properly supported and that the stylus guard is removed only when you are ready to play a record.

Do not use 1.75 g as a universal Rega setting. It is the Nd9 value stated in the Planar 6 RS manual. If the cartridge is Ania MC or another replacement, obtain that cartridge’s specified tracking force and bias procedure instead. Because cartridge alignment is sensitive, Rega recommends an authorised dealer for replacement fitting.

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Set up an Ania MC version without guessing

The Ania package changes the electrical and mechanical setup because it is a moving-coil design. Confirm that your phono stage is configured for MC operation, then follow the Ania-specific manual for tracking force, bias, alignment and loading. The Planar 6 RS Nd9 instructions do not establish those Ania figures, so transferring 1.75 g or the Nd9 bias setting would be unsafe and inaccurate.

If your package includes the Fono MC stage, connect the turntable to that stage as directed in its documentation and connect the Fono MC’s output to a line-level amplifier input. If you use another phono stage, verify its MC gain and loading options before playing a record. When in doubt about a cartridge replacement or alignment, have a Rega dealer perform the installation rather than bending the cantilever while attempting an improvised adjustment.

First-play checks

Mechanical checks

  • The transport hub card has been removed.
  • The platter sits fully on the hub and the mat lies flat.
  • Both drive belts are present and correctly seated.
  • The turntable and shelf do not rock when touched lightly.
  • The stylus guard is removed only immediately before lowering the stylus onto a record.

Electrical and channel checks

  • The PS1 is connected to the Neo MK2 socket marked 24 V AC.
  • The DIN lead runs from the turntable to the Neo MK2.
  • The Neo logo colour matches the desired speed: red for 33⅓, green for 45.
  • Red phono lead goes to the right input and black to the left.
  • The phono stage mode matches the cartridge: MM for Nd9, MC for Ania.

Listen at low volume first

Start the amplifier at a low level. Confirm that music comes from the expected left and right channels and that there is no scraping, belt slippage or persistent hum. Stop immediately if the stylus mistracks, the platter hesitates, or the arm behaves unpredictably; protect the stylus and correct the mechanical or cartridge setup before continuing.

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Troubleshoot common setup problems

The deck rocks or the bubble will not centre

The likely issue is the supporting furniture, not a missing turntable adjustment. Remove the platter if necessary, stabilise or relocate the shelf, and repeat the two-direction spirit-level check. Do not wedge unstable material under the turntable body.

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The platter does not rotate

Switch off mains power, then verify that the transport hub card is removed, both belts are fitted, the DIN lead is connected, and the PS1 is plugged into the Neo MK2’s 24 V AC socket. Restore power and press the Neo MK2 front-panel button.

The speed indicator is wrong

Red indicates 33⅓ rpm and green indicates 45 rpm. Press the 33/45 button to select the required speed. Check the record label rather than relying on the colour alone.

There is hum

Move the Neo MK2 PSU farther from the turntable, keeping it within the reach of its cable. Separate power and phono leads where possible, confirm the channel plugs are fully inserted, and ensure the phono stage input type matches the cartridge.

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Sound is very quiet or distorted

Check MM-versus-MC compatibility first. An Ania MC needs an MC-capable phono stage; an Nd9 needs an MM input. For an Nd9, recheck the balance procedure, 1.75 g tracking force and matching bias. For Ania or any replacement cartridge, use its own specifications rather than borrowing Nd9 values.

One channel is missing

Power down the amplifier and reseat the phono plugs. Trace red to the right channel and black to the left from the tonearm through the phono stage. If the fault follows a cable or input when swapped only for diagnosis, reconnect the channels correctly before listening.

Transport and future cartridge work

Keep the original packaging. Before transporting the deck, protect the stylus, secure the tonearm as instructed for shipping, and reinstall the transport protection supplied for the model. Do not carry the turntable with the glass platter loose.

For a cartridge replacement, alignment or uncertain arm balance, Rega directs owners toward dealers and distributors. A dealer can fit the cartridge, set its tracking force and bias, and verify the phono-stage configuration without risking the cantilever.

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Planar 6 RS Edition setup facts at a glance

Item Value or instruction Qualification
Support Rigid, level surface Exact instruction in the Planar 6 RS User Manual, Version 1.
Turntable dimensions, lid closed 447 × 117 × 360 mm Rega product specification; not a leveling tolerance.
Turntable weight 5.4 kg Rega product specification.
Platter Dual-layer float glass RS Edition product specification.
Drive belts Two Reference EBLT belts Both should be confirmed in place during unpacking.
Tonearm RB880 RS Edition product specification.
Nd9 tracking force 1.75 g Nd9-specific value in the Planar 6 RS manual.
Nd9 nominal output 5–6 mV Nd9-specific manual specification.
Power adaptor Supplied PS1 AC adaptor only Connect it to the Neo MK2 socket marked 24 V AC.
Speed indication Red: 33⅓ rpm; green: 45 rpm Neo MK2 front-panel logo.

Final setup sequence

  1. Level and stabilise the shelf or stand.
  2. Keep the deck flat while unpacking and remove the transport hub card by sliding it toward the tonearm.
  3. Confirm both belts, seat the glass platter and fit the mat.
  4. Place the Neo MK2 away from the turntable, connect the DIN lead and supplied PS1 to 24 V AC.
  5. Connect red and black phono leads to the correct right and left inputs on a phono stage suited to the cartridge.
  6. For Nd9, balance the RB880, set 1.75 g tracking force and matching bias. For Ania MC, use the Ania-specific instructions instead.
  7. Select 33⅓ or 45 rpm with the Neo MK2, start at low amplifier volume, and check tracking, channels and hum.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Ania MCNd9 cartridgeNeo MK2RB880 tonearmRega Planar 6 RS Editionturntable levelingturntable setup

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