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The correct phono preamp for a Rega Planar 6 RS Edition is determined by the cartridge fitted to your turntable, not by the turntable name alone. The Nd9 configuration uses a moving-magnet (MM) cartridge and needs an MM phono input. The Ania configuration uses a moving-coil (MC) cartridge and needs a compatible MC input. Rega lists the Fono MM MK5 for the MM route and offers the Fono MC with the Ania-equipped package.
Before buying an external box, inspect your amplifier or receiver. A compatible phono input can do the required job; an amplifier with only line-level inputs needs a separate phono stage between the turntable and amplifier.
The short decision
Use this sequence:
- Confirm whether your Planar 6 RS Edition has the factory Nd9 MM cartridge or the Ania MC cartridge.
- Check whether the amplifier or receiver already has a phono input that supports that cartridge type.
- If it does not, choose an external stage with the matching MM or MC input and the cartridge loading and gain requirements specified by its manufacturer.
For the factory Nd9, Rega lists a nominal output of 5–6 mV in the Planar 6 RS User Manual. That makes an MM stage the appropriate category; Rega describes the Fono MM MK5 as a dedicated MM stage. For the Ania, choose an MC stage; Rega’s Planar 6 RS Ania package includes the Fono MC.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThese are compatibility recommendations, not a claim that one stage universally sounds best. The published information does not provide a controlled comparison of phono stages with this turntable.
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Identify the cartridge before choosing the preamp
The Planar 6 RS Edition is sold with more than one cartridge path. Rega’s product information identifies the Nd9 and Ania options on the official product page: Rega Planar 6 RS Edition.
Nd9: moving magnet
The Nd9 is the MM option. Its nominal output is listed as 5–6 mV in the Planar 6 RS User Manual. Select an input explicitly labelled MM, moving magnet, or a stage whose specifications state compatibility with the Nd9’s requirements.
Do not select an MC-only input for the Nd9. An MC input is designed for a different cartridge signal range and electrical interface. If a product has separate MM and MC inputs, use the MM input unless you have replaced the Nd9 with an MC cartridge.
Ania: moving coil
The Ania is the MC option. Rega’s announcement of additional Planar 6 RS options describes an Ania MC and Fono MC bundle: Rega’s Planar 6 RS options announcement.
Use an MC input or an adjustable stage whose published specifications cover the Ania. The retrieved product information does not establish one universal gain or loading setting for every separately purchased stage, so verify those values in the stage maker’s documentation rather than assuming all MC cartridges are interchangeable.
How to verify what is fitted
Check the invoice, package description, cartridge body, or the documentation supplied with your deck. If the turntable was bought second-hand, ask the seller whether the cartridge has been changed. The Planar 6 RS name alone does not tell you which input to use.
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If the cartridge label is missing or unclear, do not guess from the sound or from the color of the cartridge. Confirm the exact cartridge model first; the MM-versus-MC choice controls the rest of the setup.
Check the amplifier or receiver first
A phono preamp may already be built into your amplifier. Look at the rear-panel labels and the manual for an input called Phono, Phono MM, Phono MC, or an explicitly specified MM/MC input.
When the built-in input is enough
If your amplifier’s phono input supports the installed cartridge, connect the turntable directly to that input. An Nd9-equipped deck needs a compatible MM input; an Ania-equipped deck needs a compatible MC input. There is no requirement to add a second external stage merely because the turntable is a Planar 6 RS.
When an external stage is required
If the amplifier has only inputs such as Line, Aux, CD, or Tape, those are line-level inputs and cannot normally accept the very low-level cartridge signal directly. Add a suitable external phono stage, then connect that stage’s line-level output to one of the amplifier’s line inputs.
Rega’s manual states: “The tonearm external phono leads must be connected to a suitable phono stage.” Follow that connection requirement even when the rest of the system uses modern line-level equipment.
Do not connect two phono stages in series
Use either the amplifier’s phono input or an external phono stage for the cartridge signal. If you connect an external stage to an amplifier’s phono input, the signal is processed twice and the system may overload or sound incorrectly equalized. Connect an external stage to a line-level input instead.
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MM and MC inputs: what the distinction means
A phono stage does two jobs: it raises the cartridge’s small electrical signal to a level an amplifier can use and applies the standardized equalization needed for records. MM and MC cartridges produce different signal characteristics, so their inputs are not automatically interchangeable.
| Planar 6 RS configuration | Cartridge type | What to look for | Named Rega path supported by the published information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory Nd9 | Moving magnet (MM) | MM input or dedicated MM stage; confirm the stage’s stated compatibility and loading | Fono MM MK5 |
| Factory Ania | Moving coil (MC) | MC input or adjustable stage whose specifications cover the Ania; check gain and loading requirements | Fono MC, included in Rega’s Ania package |
| Future cartridge replacement | Depends on the replacement | Choose from the replacement cartridge’s published requirements, not from the original deck package | Not stated; verify the chosen cartridge and stage together |
The table identifies the input category, not a promise of identical performance among products. A stage can be electrically compatible without being the only sensible choice for your system, so compare its documented specifications, connections, and practical fit.
Rega’s directly documented options
Fono MM MK5 for the Nd9
Rega describes the Fono MM MK5 as a dedicated moving-magnet phono stage. It is therefore the direct named option for a Planar 6 RS that retains its factory Nd9, provided the amplifier lacks a suitable MM input.
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Fono MC for the Ania
For the Ania-equipped version, Rega’s Planar 6 RS options announcement identifies a package pairing the Ania MC cartridge with the Fono MC. That makes the Fono MC the manufacturer’s documented route for this configuration.
If you buy a different MC stage, check its official specification for cartridge compatibility, gain range, input loading, and connection requirements. The fact that a stage accepts some MC cartridges does not by itself prove that it is correctly configured for the Ania.
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Other stages
MM/MC stages from other manufacturers may be valid alternatives, especially if you want one box that can support a future cartridge change. The supplied product information does not validate particular third-party models against either the Nd9 or Ania, so treat any alternative as a specification-checking exercise rather than an automatic recommendation.
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Rega’s phono-stage range page is a useful starting point for understanding the manufacturer’s MM and MC categories: Rega phono stages.
How to compare compatible preamps
1. Put cartridge compatibility first
Reject any product that does not explicitly support the cartridge type you have. For the Nd9, start with MM. For the Ania, start with MC. If a stage offers both, read the individual MM and MC specifications rather than treating “MM/MC” as a complete compatibility statement.
2. Check gain and loading documentation
For an adjustable stage, compare the available gain and input-loading choices with the cartridge maker’s requirements. This is especially important when selecting an MC stage. If the stage maker does not publish the relevant settings, ask for clarification before purchase instead of relying on a generic claim that the unit is “MC compatible.”
3. Decide whether flexibility is worth the extra controls
An MM-only stage is straightforward when you intend to keep the Nd9. An MM/MC stage can make a later cartridge change easier, but additional modes do not guarantee a better match. Choose flexibility only when you have a realistic use for it and the specifications cover the cartridge you will actually use.
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4. Confirm the signal path and connectors
The turntable’s external tonearm phono leads must reach the phono stage. The stage’s output then goes to a line-level input on the amplifier. Confirm that the stage provides the connectors your equipment accepts and that its output is intended for a line input, not another phono input.
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5. Check power, placement, and system practicality
Use the correct power supply for the stage’s region and model. Place the stage where its supplied cables can reach without strain and where it is not forced against other equipment. Keep the low-level tonearm leads away from unnecessary sources of electrical interference, and follow the manufacturer’s grounding instructions if a ground lead is provided.
6. Set a budget after compatibility is established
Price should distinguish among compatible options, not determine whether the input type is correct. A cheaper MM stage that matches the Nd9 is a more appropriate starting point than a more expensive MC-only unit. The published information does not provide a universal price-to-performance rule or a measured “best value” ranking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Connection and setup: a safe sequence
- Switch off the amplifier. Lower the volume and turn off the amplifier before moving signal cables.
- Identify the cartridge. Confirm Nd9/MM or Ania/MC, including any cartridge change made by a previous owner.
- Choose the active phono stage. Use the amplifier’s compatible phono input, or select an external MM or MC stage that meets the cartridge’s published requirements.
- Connect the tonearm leads. Plug the Planar 6 RS tonearm’s external phono leads into the stage’s phono input. Rega’s manual requires these leads to connect to a suitable phono stage.
- Connect the stage to the amplifier. Run the stage’s output to a line-level input such as Aux or Line. Do not use the amplifier’s Phono input for an already amplified phono-stage output.
- Connect power and grounding as specified. Use the supplied or manufacturer-approved power arrangement and attach any ground connection required by the equipment instructions.
- Select the correct input mode. Set an adjustable stage to MM for the Nd9 or MC for the Ania, then apply the documented gain and loading values for that cartridge.
- Test at low volume. Start playback quietly, verify that both channels work, and increase the level gradually.
Troubleshooting by symptom
No sound
- Confirm that the amplifier is set to the input receiving the stage output.
- Check that the tonearm leads are fully inserted into the phono-stage input.
- Check power to the external stage and verify that the amplifier is not muted.
- If using an external stage, make sure its output is connected to a line input rather than an incompatible socket.
Very quiet sound
- Check whether an Nd9 is connected to an MM input or an Ania to an MC input.
- Verify that an external stage is not being bypassed when the amplifier has only line-level inputs.
- Review the stage’s published gain setting and cartridge compatibility.
Loud hum or buzz
- Confirm the manufacturer’s grounding arrangement and make sure the relevant connections are secure.
- Separate low-level tonearm cables from power cables where practical.
- Test whether the noise changes when you select a different amplifier input; this can reveal that the external stage is connected to the wrong socket.
Distortion or an overloaded sound
- Check that an external stage is feeding a line input, not a second phono stage.
- Confirm the MM/MC mode. An Nd9 should not be run through an MC setting, and an Ania should not be assumed to work correctly on MM.
- Recheck gain and loading against the cartridge and stage documentation.
Only one channel plays
- Inspect both channel plugs at the turntable and phono-stage ends.
- Try another line input on the amplifier to rule out an input-selection problem.
- Stop and consult the equipment documentation if a connector feels loose or damaged; do not force it.
What changes if you replace the cartridge?
The phono-stage decision changes with the cartridge. Replacing the Nd9 with an MC cartridge means that the existing MM-only path may no longer be suitable. Replacing the Ania with an MM cartridge reverses the requirement. Recheck the cartridge type, output information, gain, and loading every time the cartridge changes.
An adjustable MM/MC stage can preserve options for a future change, but it is not a substitute for checking the new cartridge’s specifications. The original Planar 6 RS package and the replacement cartridge should be treated as separate compatibility decisions.
Evidence and limits of the recommendation
Rega’s official Planar 6 RS product information establishes the Nd9 MM and Ania MC configurations. The Planar 6 RS User Manual supplies the Nd9’s 5–6 mV nominal output figure and the requirement to connect the tonearm leads to a suitable phono stage. Rega identifies the Fono MM MK5 as an MM stage and documents the Ania/Fono MC package in its options announcement.
A current review also describes a review sample’s lack of a built-in phono stage, but that observation applies to that sample and should not be generalized to every amplifier in a reader’s system. Check your own amplifier’s manual and rear panel.
None of these sources establishes a universally best-sounding preamp, a third-party head-to-head winner, or a single setting that suits every MC cartridge. Make the purchase decision from the installed cartridge, the amplifier’s available input, and the published electrical requirements.
Quick Recap
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