Rega Planar 8 Replacement Needle
Belt drive · Manual · 33 and 45 rpm
Covers the Planar 8 without a cartridge, Planar 8 with Nd7, Planar 8 with Nd9, Planar 8 with Ania Pro and Planar 8 with Apheta 3.
Which cartridge does yours have?
If you have the Planar 8 with Nd7
Replacement needle
Not replaceable on its own
The needle on the Nd7 cartridge of the Planar 8 cannot be replaced on its own.
If you have the Planar 8 with Nd9
Replacement needle
Not replaceable on its own
The needle on the Nd9 cartridge of the Planar 8 cannot be replaced on its own.
If you have the Planar 8 with Ania Pro
Replacement needle
No listed needle
Rega does not list a replacement needle for the Ania Pro cartridge on the Planar 8.
If you have the Planar 8 with Apheta 3
Replacement needle
No listed needle
Rega does not list a replacement needle for the Apheta 3 cartridge on the Planar 8.
If you have the Planar 8 without a cartridge
Replacement needle
No cartridge fitted
The Planar 8 is also sold without a cartridge, so then the needle depends on the cartridge you fitted.
What to do instead on the Planar 8
Rega does not sell a separate needle for the Nd7 or Nd9. When it wears out, take the cartridge to a Rega dealer: they swap it for a rebuilt one with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot pad, at a reduced trade-in price.
Rega does not publish a rebuild scheme for the Ania Pro or Apheta 3, 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 8 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.
We could not confirm whether the Planar 8 has a phono preamp built in. Check the back of your record player: if it has a PHONO/LINE switch, it has one.
Speakers that work with the Planar 8
Each of these has its own phono input, so the Planar 8 plugs in without a separate phono preamp.
If your record player has a PHONO/LINE switch, any powered speaker with a line input works.
R-41PM
Also has an optical input, for a TV.
MR1 Mk3
Has a subwoofer output, if you want more bass later.
Coda W
Bass drivers 130 mm across.
Spare parts for the Planar 8
Reference EBLT Upgrade Drive Belt
Key facts: Rega Planar 8
All versions
- DriveBelt drive
- OperationManual
- Speeds33 and 45 rpm
- Cartridge mountHalf-inch
- Removable headshellNo
- BluetoothNo
- USBNo
- Dust coverYes
- PlatterGlass
- Power supplyExternal Neo PSU MK2 (supplied)
- Size (W × D × H)420 × 315 × 125 mm
- Weight4.2 kg
What differs between versions
| Fact | Planar 8 with Nd7 | Planar 8 with Nd9 | Planar 8 with Ania Pro | Planar 8 with Apheta 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Nd7 | Nd9 | Ania Pro | Apheta 3 |
| Tracking force | 1.75 g | 1.75 g | 1.75 g | 2 g |
Versions of the Planar 8
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| Planar 8 without a cartridge | Current |
| Planar 8 with Nd7 | Current |
| Planar 8 with Nd9 | Current |
| Planar 8 with Ania Pro | Current |
| Planar 8 with Apheta 3 | 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 8
Can I fit a different cartridge to the Planar 8?
Yes. The Planar 8 has a standard half-inch mount, so you can swap the Nd7 cartridge for another of the same mount.
Can the Planar 8 play 78 rpm records?
No. The Planar 8 plays at 33 and 45 rpm only.
Do all versions of the Planar 8 take the same needle?
No. The Planar 8 with Nd7 has no listed needle. The Planar 8 with Nd9 has no listed needle. The Planar 8 with Ania Pro has no listed needle. The Planar 8 with Apheta 3 has no listed needle. The Planar 8 without a cartridge has no listed needle.
Which cartridge is on the Planar 8?
The Nd7, a moving magnet cartridge with a standard half-inch mount.