Naia is the ultimate Rega turntable but does it live up to the hype?

Review of the £9,999 Rega Naia reference turntable by The Ear.
For a more in depth analysis and extra images see our review at the-ear.net/review-hardware/r...

[@greggb681]

Finally, a video that actually goes into depth about the Naia!

[@rixvspinner]

Great detailed review of all aspects of the Naia. That ceramic bearing is a step in of itself, nice turn table. I know the early 1980 Regas well, boy have they evolved over the years.

[@MarkWalshe-bo1wh]

I'm frightened. The Rega Planar 2 is all you'll ever need. This level of focus is completely insane.

[@secretsquirel5306]

Hello Jason and thanks for providing a very comprehensive review of the Rega Nia. Given the number of turntables you've reviewed and saying that it's the best one you've heard is high praise indeed. I've not heard a rega for a while and the last I did was probably an RP8 with an early version of the Apheta. To me it sound too bright in the upper-mid-band and other people at the dem made the same comment. This was some years ago and I suspect this was down to the cartridge which maybe rega have sorted-out. I've always liked their turntables but the lack VTA adjustment means it's a bit restrictive versus cartridge choice unless you resort to shims which is very fiddly

[@TheEarOnline]

I agree, the original Apheta was very bright, especially if used without the Rega Io phono stage which compensated for this. The Aphelion 2 is a very even handed, refined moving coil that sounds significantly better than the Aphetas past and present.

[@hawkmoon369]

Hi great review i will be buying the planar 10 but not sure weather to go for the apheta 3 or aphelion 2 so what would you recommend the phono will be the aura and rest of my system is nap 300dr 252 supercap and focal sopra 2

[@jasonkennedy5238]

The Aphelion 2 is the best cartridge you can buy for the P10 and significantly relaxed and revealing than the Apheta 3.

[@Unpreeeedictable]

For the naysayers out there, a friend much prefers his Naia over the Kuzma Stabi R/4Point he sold me.

[@markcarrington8565]

I’m a Rega fan and a three times Rega owner and I’ve no doubt that this is an extremely fine turntable. However, I think it’s a stretch to say it’s the absolute best unless you’ve had the opportunity to hear other high end designs. Incidentally, the purpose of the rigid connection between main bearing and arm is to ensure that any vibration present in the closed loop system is present throughout. This ensures that the relative movement between the cartridge and the record surface is eliminated or at least minimised. It’s the same principle adopted by Linn, although their light weight sub-chassis is, of course, suspended. People who don’t take the time to understand this design philosophy will always gravitate to the blunt instrument school of turntable design. If it’s massive, it must be good.

[@andymouse]

Lol.

[@hawkmoon369]

Thanks very much for reply..

[@sidvicious3129]

Never say never, I have no doubt that the Rega Naia is outstanding, but there is always and I mean always something better out there if you are willing to pay for it.

[@nathanevans6277]

This is a deck that I would very much like to hear. I found the P10 to be extremely detailed and transparent throughout the audio band but is a bit tonally thin, lacking body. Still one of the best decks, probably only bested but similarly priced Origin Live. The Townshend Seismic Sink used by Jason and seen under the deck in this video is absolutely essential as the Rega has no isolation from ground borne vibration.

[@ChatGPT1111]

What prevents pressure changes in ambient air from the speakers transferring energy directly to the arm, platter and plinthe? Answer: Nothing.

[@Unpreeeedictable]

@@ChatGPT1111That’s why my turntable is in a separate room. Few people understand your point, but that doesn’t make it any less valid.

[@r423sdex]

How about if the timing on the recording is out. Or the hole is off-centre.

[@davidspendlove5900]

Timing ?

[@tl9756]

Even hobbled by that silly Townshend Seismic Platform you still find the Naia to be among the very best, that says a lot.

[@davidspendlove5900]

Yeah why in earth would you put that platform under a Rega.

[@nathanevans6277]

​@@davidspendlove5900because the Rega doesn't have any suspension or isolation from external ground borne vibration. I'd say that with this deck the Townshend Seismic Sink is pretty much obligatory. I was about to post about the necessity of the Sink when I saw your comment.

[@andymouse]

Do Rega say you have to have one to meet their stated performance figures ?@@nathanevans6277

[@ChatGPT1111]

The point is moot when there is no equivalent protection from the air surrounding those sensitive mechanisms protecting them from sonically induced pressure differentials from the speakers.

[@davidspendlove5900]

@@ChatGPT1111 You cannot eliminate vibration but you can control it.High mass sprung decks are inherently flawed.Light and rigid is always the way to go , this applies to supports as well.Light mass will not store so much energy and it will quickly dissipate unlike high mass that will slowly release energy and affect the sound.Rega decks are my turntable of choice and yes I have owned high mass sprung turntables.Supports are important though.

[@robertgough5804]

Yes but in any subjective test should you not compare with similarly priced sondek, sme, nottingham audio, kuzma, vpi etc. or at least one or two?

[@jasonkennedy5238]

I have reviewed most of those and own an SME Model 20/3 so this review is based on past experience. Which is that the alternatives have a sound of their own which is combined with that of the vinyl, the Naia has less in the way of a sonic signature and therefore is truer to the recording

[@robertgough5804]

How do you know there is not so much of a sonic signature. You cannot evidence your statement objectively

[@davidspendlove5900]

@@robertgough5804There is always a sonic signature but the current regas are the most uncoloured decks I have heard.

[@davidspendlove5900]

@@robertgough5804The Sondek is coloured by comparison but some like coloured sound.

[@mookie2637]

Your question is confused. You start with "subjective" and end with asking to "evidence your statement objectively." Like Jason, I am also an ex-SME20/3 owner, and got exceptionally fine results with it. I'm now a Rega P10 owner. Rega's engineering principles make a lot of sense to me, as compared to what has been the prevailing ethos to date - suspended, high mass designs. Also worth pointing out that A/B testing turntables isn't straightforward. You need the same cartridge, for starters.

[@frankhugh2052]

What do you have it sat on?

[@jasonkennedy5238]

A Townshend Seismic Platform

[@kjk1422]

For 1/2 the $, the Gold Note Mediterraneo is my recommendation.. And buy a solid phono stage, too.

[@user-xv4hh2ck9v]

hOW MANY POLES HAS THE MOTOR GOT???

[@johnnystrachan9454]

Well tempered Amadeus all the way for me ❤❤❤ its a giant killer

[@Ainftcommunity]

Very few people talk about the actual user experience. For example - there is no cover - the records will collect dust. How to avoid this?

[@jasonkennedy5238]

Unlike the majority of high end turntables a dust cover is supplied. Ease of use is very good but the mat sometimes sticks to very new records.

[@davidspendlove5900]

There is a supplied dust cover for when the turntable is not in use.

[@davidbenson4845]

Dust cover is fine. Not an issue.

[@bhupendraparekh6225]

At these prices I'd hunt down a Simon Yorke,

[@johnnystrachan9454]

I agree 100% would smoke it , well tempered Amadeus for me , this thing is astonishing ❤❤❤❤❤

[@garth56]

Nice little turntable...It's okay not high end just okay!!

[@peterking2794]

£10K sounds very high end to me!

[@davidspendlove5900]

Not high end ?

[@user-xv4hh2ck9v]

iTS 10 GRAND....LOL

[@richardcrowther4050]

I bet your kids have no trouble getting to sleep.

[@andrewc2491]

...as boring as engineers are.

[@andymouse]

Lol !

[@Robbo-eh3wb]

Expressionless. And I’m not talking about the turntable.

[@ChatGPT1111]

Yet it still plays the same 99p/99c round flat pieces of pressed plastic that the cheapest turntables play. Yet another way humans fool themselves into false beliefs.

[@brotherbrian5625]

😁.....10,000$ Styrofoam Turntable how do people get so rich that they can't simply enjoy music. The reproduction will never be perfect with this type of analog technology and it's ok. But it's Styrofoam 😊

[@recordmanjohn]

The engineering principles at play here are lost on some people, that is to be expected. Maybe go listen to one?

[@andrewc2491]

Ah. the Grand Wizard of Engineering has spoken!@@recordmanjohn

[@chatrs1025]

They deserve to get rich and customers get extraordinary products in return. Hopefully later the technology get tranferred to more affordable ones.

[@davidspendlove5900]

You simply have no grasp of the engineering principles here.

[@brotherbrian5625]

@@davidspendlove5900 I get it

[@andrewc2491]

And after all that...someone will still still put a Styx record on and nullify all painstakingly astonishing engineering at once by virtue of its' application and purpose.

[@recordmanjohn]

Yes, shame people for their musical taste. What a grand wizard of musical taste over here!

[@stephanea5364]

what do you recommand? I'd really like to know

[@andrewc2491]

If you're asking #me...I honestly (if I had that kind of disposable income) probably get THAT one!@@stephanea5364

[@andrewc2491]

@@recordmanjohn No, recordmanjohn--I'm a professional studio musician, as was my mother and father. I'm a musical EXPERT, and generationally, I may add. However, I #AM shaming Styx for creating such...drivol, not the poor musically uneducated folks that don't know any better. And you are-I assume--whatever you are--and for that, I'll take your word that you are well versed in your applications. Tell you what--you stay in your lane, and Ill stay in mine. P.S.: It's also VERY risky--but also VERY commendable and respectable--to risk an adverse reaction to issuing forth an opinion on...anything at all. Because politically correct people are nothing more than a set of bar codes to anyone with an actual soul. You are flatlined. Numb. Without interest as such. Just...pffffft. Not worthy of any attention WHATEVER.

[@andymouse]

The Space Ritual by Hawkwind.@@stephanea5364

[@guyb7005]

hats off to engineering but I have to say, nerds need a better way to spend their fortune than on gizmos that spin vinyl discs. You can feed a family for a year or two or buy a decent little (used) car for that price!

[@67Pepper]

No-one is asking YOU to buy it. Nice troll.

[@mikechivy]

Clearly you don’t have a fortune or you wouldn’t be telling people how to spend their money. Maybe make more?

[@guyb7005]

to all the naysayers: my comment is to make people reflect if spending a fortune on 0.001% possible better sound for a component that may last 10 yrs before serious maintenance fees is really adding value to your life and that of others. Welcome to the consumer + self fetish world we live in. I'm guilty of this too!

[@67Pepper]

@@guyb7005 Now you throw out more nonsence about 10yr. maintenance in your 2nd rant. Where is the data on that? I have gear older than 10 years that still performs perfectly well. Buy crap and expect it to fail. I don't buy crap.

[@davidspendlove5900]

@@guyb7005I know people with 30 year old Rega turntables still going strong.30 years of enjoyment makes them very cheap indeed.

[@peDERETIĆ]

Greetings Jason from Hrvatska Croatia Zagreb,my best audio rewiewer👍

[@mediascapes2011]

dry as a toast

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@mediascapes2011 AHAHAH!!!

[@RUfromthe40s]

NO,it´s garbage ,or crap ,that would sound better than a turntable it as bearings ,well in the 50´s that i know of they had them already

[@paulrogers7067]

What the hell are you talking about. Rega rules. End of story.

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@paulrogers7067 if you´re not interested in sound quality Rega it´s the best for sure,happy christmas

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@paulrogers7067end of story?well you know your capabilities if you like low -fi a thing of the 40´s but i also heard recording from the 40´s from the monk and others well known musicians,it a matter of not having better recorded works ,they were coloured in the U.S. of A. at the time they were not humans but working beasts so the less known circus atractions as they called them were not recording in good studios

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@paulrogers7067 yes ,in your head it rules, it sems you never saw a turntable

[@stephanea5364]

what's the TT you like?@@RUfromthe40s