Rega’s top drive belt, cryogenically frozen and barrelled for cross-sectional roundness — and the one place Rega does publish a wow and flutter figure. A drive belt is the least glamorous part of a turntable and one of the most consequential: the platter can only run as steadily as the belt turning it. The Reference EBLT is Rega’s best, described as the culmination of many years of research and advanced tooling trials, and the most accurate drive belt the company has produced. The manufacturing is genuinely unusual. Each belt is moulded from what Rega calls a secret blend, then cryogenically frozen, then barrelled — tumbled — to achieve perfect cross-sectional roundness, which Rega says is critical for accurate speed and stability. A belt that varies in thickness around its circumference feeds that variation straight into the platter. This is also the one place in Rega’s entire turntable catalogue where the company publishes a wow and flutter figure, and the ladder is clear: a standard polychloroprene belt measures 0.253% weighted peak, the mid-tier Advanced EBLT 0.162%, and this Reference EBLT 0.075%. Rega also claims 50% longer life than a polychloroprene belt. It is fitted as standard to the Planar 8 and Planar 10, fits all Rega turntables, and Rega specifically recommends it for the Planar 6 and for a Planar 3 running a Neo PSU. Sold singly. Features Rega’s top-tier custom-moulded drive belt Cryogenically frozen then barrelled for perfect cross-sectional roundness Weighted peak wow and flutter of 0.075%, against 0.162% for the Advanced EBLT and 0.253% for a standard polychloroprene belt Rega claims 50% longer lifespan than a polychloroprene belt Fitted as standard to the Planar 8 and Planar 10 Compatible with all Rega turntables Specifically recommended for the Planar 6, and for a Planar 3 with a Neo PSU Sold singly Specifications Type: Reference upgrade drive belt Manufacture: Moulded from a proprietary blend, cryogenically frozen, then barrelled to achieve perfect cross-sectional roundness — which Rega states is critical for accurate speed and stability Wow and Flutter, Weighted Peak: 0.075%. For comparison Rega publishes 0.162% for its Advanced EBLT and 0.253% for a standard polychloroprene belt. This is the only place Rega publishes a wow and flutter figure anywhere in its turntable range Lifespan: Rega claims 50% longer than a polychloroprene belt Fitted as Standard To: Planar 8 and Planar 10 Compatibility: All Rega turntables Specifically Recommended For: Planar 6, and Planar 3 when used with the Rega Neo PSU Quantity: Sold singly — one individual belt Range Position: Above Rega’s Advanced EBLT, which is the belt fitted as standard to the Planar 1, Planar 1 Plus, Planar 2, Planar 3 and Planar 6 Origin: Made in England. Rega Research Ltd, Southend-on-Sea, Essex Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty against confirmed manufacturing defects. It excludes wear and tear and parts considered consumable, and Rega states that unauthorised modification or failure to follow its guidelines may invalidate it. Note that a drive belt is a consumable and normal wear is not a warranty matter Note: Rega’s own pages disagree on Planar 6 fitment — the Reference EBLT product page says it is standard on the Planar 8 and Planar 10, while its accessories index adds the Planar 6, and the Advanced EBLT page says the Advanced belt is standard on the Planar 6. The consistent reading is that the Planar 6 ships with the Advanced belt and this is the upgrade for it, which matches Rega’s own line that it is highly recommended for the Planar 6
