Rega Planar 10 Replacement Needle
Belt drive · Manual · 33 and 45 rpm · Needs a phono preamp
Covers the Planar 10 without a cartridge, Planar 10 with Apheta 3 and Planar 10 with Aphelion 2.
Which cartridge does yours have?
If you have the Planar 10 with Apheta 3
Replacement needle
No listed needle
Rega does not list a replacement needle for the Apheta 3 cartridge on the Planar 10.
If you have the Planar 10 with Aphelion 2
Replacement needle
No listed needle
Rega does not list a replacement needle for the Aphelion 2 cartridge on the Planar 10.
If you have the Planar 10 without a cartridge
Replacement needle
No cartridge fitted
The Planar 10 is also sold without a cartridge, so then the needle depends on the cartridge you fitted.
What to do instead on the Planar 10
Rega does not publish a rebuild scheme for the Apheta 3 or Aphelion 2, so ask a Rega dealer what they can do when it wears out.
The other choice is a new cartridge.
Every cartridge with no replacement needle, and what its maker offers
The Planar 10 takes cartridges with a standard half-inch mount. We have not found a cartridge weight range for its tonearm, so check the weight of a new cartridge with Rega before you buy.
Do you need a phono preamp?
A phono preamp boosts the very quiet signal from the cartridge.
The Planar 10 has none built in, so it needs an amplifier or speakers with a phono input, or a separate phono preamp.
Speakers that work with the Planar 10
Each of these has its own phono input, so the Planar 10 plugs in without a separate phono preamp.
C20 W
Also has an optical input, for a TV.
R-41PM
Has a subwoofer output, if you want more bass later.
MR1 Mk3
Bass drivers 85 mm across.
Spare parts for the Planar 10
Reference EBLT Upgrade Drive Belt
Key facts: Rega Planar 10
Same on every version that lists it
- DriveBelt drive
- OperationManual
- Speeds33 and 45 rpm
- Cartridge mountHalf-inch
- Removable headshellNo
- Tracking force2 g
- Built-in phono preampNo
- BluetoothNo
- USBNo
- Dust coverYes
- PlatterCeramic
- Power supplyExternal P10 PSU (supplied)
- Size (W × D × H)420 × 350 × 115 mm
- Weight4.7 kg
What differs between versions
| Fact | Planar 10 with Apheta 3 | Planar 10 with Aphelion 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Apheta 3 | Aphelion 2 |
Rega does not list the tracking force for the Planar 10 with Aphelion 2.
Versions of the Planar 10
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| Planar 10 without a cartridge | Current |
| Planar 10 with Apheta 3 | Current |
| Planar 10 with Aphelion 2 | Current |
We take these details from Rega's own website and check them carefully, but makers change parts and part numbers, and we may miss an update. Before you buy, check the part on Rega's official website. If you spot an error, please tell us.
Questions about the Planar 10
Does the Planar 10 need a separate phono preamp?
Yes. The Planar 10 has no phono preamp built in, so it needs one for its Apheta 3 cartridge, a moving coil type. Use an amplifier with a phono input, powered speakers with a phono input, or a separate phono preamp.
Can I fit a different cartridge to the Planar 10?
Yes. The Planar 10 has a standard half-inch mount, so you can swap the Apheta 3 cartridge for another of the same mount.
Can the Planar 10 play 78 rpm records?
No. The Planar 10 plays at 33 and 45 rpm only.
Do all versions of the Planar 10 take the same needle?
No. The Planar 10 with Apheta 3 has no listed needle. The Planar 10 with Aphelion 2 has no listed needle. The Planar 10 without a cartridge has no listed needle.
Which cartridge is on the Planar 10?
The Apheta 3, a moving coil cartridge with a standard half-inch mount.