A brand new Rega turntable is at all times welcome information, however much more thrilling is the official affirmation of a high-end turntable we have been ready for almost all yr: the Rega Naia.
We had our first glimpse of the Naia earlier this yr on the Bristol Hello-Fi Present 2023, the place Rega had an early preview of the brand new reference turntable on show. We acquired a couple of thrilling key particulars then: a model new titanium tonearm, a skeletal plinth product of carbon fibre infused with graphene, and an early worth prediction of round £9k with out a cartridge, and £12k with one fitted. And it was due in Autumn.
Positive sufficient, it is now formally Autumn, and Rega has confirmed the ultimate particulars of the brand new reference Naia turntable, together with pricing and availability.
The Naia is a product-ready model of the conceptual Rega Naiad – which was solely actually meant as a no-cost R&D engineering train however proved so common they hand-made 50 restricted version fashions solely. Rega’s intention was to herald all the important thing learnings, developments and applied sciences from that conceptual Naiad (to not point out 50 years of the model’s personal engineering experience) into this new reference-level turntable, which the British model believes will “attain new ranges of vinyl replay”. And at a fraction of the price of that authentic £30,000 restricted Naiad, too.
Within the Naia, Rega employs its long-held low-mass high-rigidity precept and improves upon it additional. The skeletal plinth design makes use of the identical Tancast 8 foam core as we have seen earlier than within the Planar 8 and Planar 10 decks, but additionally makes use of carbon fibre infused with graphene for the primary time, to succeed in that stability of lightness and structural rigidity on the identical time.
This plinth is additional strengthened through the use of two ceramic aluminium oxide braces, a cloth that is additionally used within the redesigned resonance-controlled ceramic platter, which additionally sports activities an improved flywheel impact.
Not like the just lately launched Technics SL-1200GR2 direct drive turntable that makes use of in-house digital experience to enhance rotational stability, Rega’s Naia is a belt drive design and it appears to be like to chemistry slightly than computer systems for enhancements. The newly designed triple drive belt is product of a “bespoke new rubber compound” and may ship “good pace stability” and higher drive, claims Rega.
The Naia comes with one other new design: the RB Titanium tonearm that Rega claims is its “most superior and correct manufacturing tonearm” ever launched. It incorporates a single-piece aluminium arm tube, makes use of titanium within the vertical bearing and within the spindle meeting, and is designed to have minimal mechanical joints to realize “close to frictionless motion”.
Rega recommends utilizing the Naia with its personal Aphelion 2 transferring coil cartridge, which prices £3465 by itself.
Moreover, the central bearing is product of a ZTA zirconium-toughened alumina (aka ceramic, the exact same materials used within the Naiad), and the deck comes with a separate reference AC energy provide unit in addition to a glossy lid.
All this does not come low cost, in fact. The Rega Naia is yours for a cool £9,999 with out a cartridge; with the Aphelion 2 MC cartridge fitted, the whole Naia bundle prices a hefty £12,500. Not solely is that probably the most high-end turntable Rega has ever produced, but it surely additionally goes head-to-head in opposition to one other new high-end turntable simply introduced, the Musical Constancy M8xTT (£8249 with out cartridge).
We’re excited to listen to the Naia for ourselves as soon as we get the turntable into our listening rooms. Let’s hope it lives as much as its ambition.
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Rega Naiad to Naia: how a no-expense-spared R&D turntable grew to become a £12k actuality
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