Rega Naia vs other similarly priced setups?

[Tuckers]

I'm seriously looking at the Rega Naia to be my return to vinyl setup. I listen to a lot of Vinyl on friends systems and shows. I have a lot of experience with high quality setups I've owned myself as well, both the vintage style (Shindo Garrard 301), and a very tweaked Well Tempered reference, I've also had on loans other fine tables including an SME 20/12. But its been too long since I had a Vinyl rig running.

I've been out listening to a number of contenders, and I've heard the Rega Naia along with others.

The Naia appeals to be for a few reasons, I like that its not huge, and unique, the light/stiff philosopy appeals to me. But thats not my main factor. I want something that is not super fiddly, I get way too obsessed with tweaking etc. Table, Arm, cartridge all in one. There is definitely a bit of the OCD with Vinyl I have experienced. I also want something that is superb at tacking and minimizes scrathes/pops and ticks (I know the cartridge is most of that). Most of my records are early pressings and used finds. I'm not big on re-issues, new records. I hear the Naia with the the Aphelion 2 is a superb tracker.

But for me what I love about good vinyl is the superior realism, natural warmth, tonality. I'd be hoping to get that with a great tube phonostage, and some tweaking with platter mats, and other tweaks I might appliy to the Naia. Is this even possible with a Rega? There's always lways talk of Rega's being sterile, cold sounding.

So this post is a gut check from the community here. The Naia is not discussed much. Is it not a true vinyl lovers table? Not a grown ups table? Mid-fi that gets press too good for its britches? Rega Planar 3 was my first serious table over 35 years ago, and heck I sold Linn turntables back in the day.

What else in the $15K USD (table, arm, cartridge) is a better choice that can really play music?? Convince me! I love used gear too.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

I'm seriously looking at the Rega Naia to be my return to vinyl setup. I listen to a lot of Vinyl on friends systems and shows. I have a lot of experience with high quality setups I've owned myself as well, both the vintage style (Shindo Garrard 301), and a very tweaked Well Tempered reference, I've also had on loans other fine tables including an SME 20/12. But its been too long since I had a Vinyl rig running.

I've been out listening to a number of contenders, and I've heard the Rega Naia along with others.

The Naia appeals to be for a few reasons, I like that its not huge, and unique, the light/stiff philosopy appeals to me. But thats not my main factor. I want something that is not super fiddly, I get way too obsessed with tweaking etc. Table, Arm, cartridge all in one. There is definitely a bit of the OCD with Vinyl I have experienced. I also want something that is superb at tacking and minimizes scrathes/pops and ticks (I know the cartridge is most of that). Most of my records are early pressings and used finds. I'm not big on re-issues, new records. I hear the Naia with the the Aphelion 2 is a superb tracker.

But for me what I love about good vinyl is the superior realism, natural warmth, tonality. I'd be hoping to get that with a great tube phonostage, and some tweaking with platter mats, and other tweaks I might appliy to the Naia. Is this even possible with a Rega? There's always lways talk of Rega's being sterile, cold sounding.

So this post is a gut check from the community here. The Naia is not discussed much. Is it not a true vinyl lovers table? Not a grown ups table? Mid-fi that gets press too good for its britches? Rega Planar 3 was my first serious table over 35 years ago, and heck I sold Linn turntables back in the day.

What else in the $15K USD (table, arm, cartridge) is a better choice that can really play music?? Convince me! I love used gear too.

Look at the Kuzma Stabi R TT fitted with a 4Point 9" or 11" or 14" and a cartridge of your choice or if that is too expensive (there are some on the second hand market in various colours if you search online whihc may just be above your budget) for a TT set-up then a Kuzma Stabi S with a Stogi arm or one of the 4Point arms will be very nice.

FYI; I had the Rega RP10 and P10 with the associated arm and Apheta 2 and 3 carts in the past (do a WBF search where I discuss my experiences with these Rega TT set-ups in some detail). After experience with these Rega TT set-ups and now Kuzma TT set-ups, I would never go back to Rega TT set-ups again.

If you want a DD TT set-up and one of the smallest TT footprints ever, and you have the budget I would go for the GrandPrix Audio Parabolica again with a Kuzma 4Point arm and cartridge of your choice although at RRP this is a lot more than your US$15k. You might be lucky and find a Parabolica on the second hand market although they don't come up very often so I guess the wait for one to come up will be way to long for you.

 

[Tuckers]

Look at the Kuzma Stabi R TT fitted with a 4Point 9" or 11" or 14" and a cartridge of your choice or if that is too expensive (there are some on the second hand market in various colours if you search online whihc may just be above your budget) for a TT set-up then a Kuzma Stabi S with a Stogi arm or one of the 4Point arms will be very nice.

FYI; I had the Rega RP10 and P10 with the associated arm and Apheta 2 and 3 carts in the past (do a WBF search where I discuss my experiences with these Rega TT set-ups in some detail). After experience with these Rega TT set-ups and now Kuzma TT set-ups, I would never go back to Rega TT set-ups again.

If you want a DD TT set-up and one of the smallest TT footprints ever, and you have the budget I would go for the GrandPrix Audio Parabolica again with a Kuzma 4Point arm and cartridge of your choice although at RRP this is a lot more than your US$15k. You might be lucky and find a Parabolica on the second hand market although they don't come up very often so I guess the wait for one to come up will be way to long for you.

Hey, thanks for mentioning the Grand Prix, I didn't know they made a "value" table.

One of my big reservations with the Naia is that I love tonal color and harmonics, and I am concerned that it may not have the goods. I would be happy to trade a bit of precision for more of that good stuff. From what I read about the Grand Prix, both models might be lean on this quality too.

This weekend a friend lent me some DVD-A recordings he made of some classic Verve and Blue Note original pressings. I captured them and moved them to Wav and Flac files. Recorded at 24/192 the front end was an SME 30 with SMEV arm, Koetsu Blue Lace cart, and Wavestream Kinietics tube phono. The vividness and tonality is off the charts for digital. In particular 'Know What I Mean' with Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderly, and 'Ben Meets Oscar' with Ben Webster and Oscar Peterson. That kind of vibe is what I am hoping to capture with my vinyl rig.

 

[gestalt]

Check out the TW Acustic Raven GT2 + Raven 10.5 arm.

 

[Tangram]

A couple of comments. First, a buddy of mine likes his Naia more than the Stabi R/4Point that he sold me. Second, I recently added a second turntable, a Technics SL-1300G, and I am gobsmacked by how much fun it is. Granted, I have it going through a SUT that cost practically double the turntable, and that goes into my tube phono. But, I’m running a pretty modest cartridge. And talk about not fussy! The new version of the Technics DD motor beats my Kuzma on PRaT. Honestly, it has been one of the most pleasantly surprising audio purchases of my life. You could go up to the SL-1200G and a ton of fun for 1/3 the Naia. If your are skeptical that these Technics tables aren’t up to audiophile standards, there are loads around that you can have a listen for yourself.

 

[hb22]

Holbo mk2 Airbearing turntable System.

 

[Tuckers]

Holbo mk2 Airbearing turntable System.

I looked pretty deep into a Holbo, looks great. It was my pick before I started to look at Naia. I've kind of cooled off Linear Trackers though.

 

[hb22]

I looked pretty deep into a Holbo, looks great. It was my pick before I started to look at Naia. I've kind of cooled off Linear Trackers though.

Maybe, someday you'll buy a good Linear Tracker?? but after that there will be no going back.....100%

 

[keithc]

FYI; I had the Rega RP10 and P10 with the associated arm and Apheta 2 and 3 carts in the past (do a WBF search where I discuss my experiences with these Rega TT set-ups in some detail). After experience with these Rega TT set-ups and now Kuzma TT set-ups, I would never go back to Rega TT set-ups again.

Wholly agree with Bonesy above. Went from P8/Apheta3 to a Kuzma and it was a huge improvement. The whole Rega plug n play approach does not make sense to me in the high-end audio realm.

 

[TooCool4]

If the Naia appeals to you and you want the no fuss setup, the Rega is the one to go for.

 

[Wolfsongaudio]

E.A.T. Forte S with JOB-5 MC cartridge is under 10K US. All in.

https://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/e.a.t-forte-s-turntable-wp000017.html

 

[chuck]

I am looking forward to checking out the new SME Model 8 at AXPONA. If only it was available in British Racing Green.

 

[djsina2]

$15k seems crazy for a Rega. I would look elsewhere and spend most of the money on table and arm.

 

[TooCool4]

$15k seems crazy for a Rega.

So, have you heard one?

 

[djsina2]

So, have you heard one?

I owned a Rega years ago. It sounded terrible and the build quality was so cheap. It was more like a toy. Yes that was a mid model and maybe this is their ultimate model but still. $17k with the cartridge! Crazy.

 

[TooCool4]

Okay djsina2, so you have owned a cheaper Rega before and did not like it. So, on that basis a Naia which you’ve never heard is not worth the money.

Going by your statement if I’ve owned a BMW M3, the BMW M8 can’t be worth the money even though I have never driven one. I don’t think any sensible person would listen to my opinion.

By the way Naia, is not Rega’s flagship. The flagship is the Naiad.

 

[djsina2]

I don’t think anyone responding has heard this Rega. See Bonesy’s and Keithc comments which are similar to mine. Sounds like you are set on the Rega and seeking reassurance. Go get it.

You’re right, it’s not the flagship. The Rega site calls it the “ultimate” turntable. I will edit my post.

 

[Zuman]

Michael Fremer's heard a turntable or two.
He says this about the Naia: "Rather than closing with the usual audiophile checklist, which this turntable checks off with ease, I'd rather close with this: I feel confident in writing that if you get to hear this turntable and cartridge combo in a proper setting at a store, or at a show, you'll easily hear how good it is and how much musical fun and rich detail it effortlessly delivers, while just sounding "right"."
And:
"Put it all together and you have a remarkably compact, lightweight, high performance package that at $16,999 is costly but not impossibly so and that can be taken out of the box, perfectly set up and playing records within ten minutes. If there's another turntable that combines all of these attributes at the NAIA's price I haven't seen or heard it—and I've seen and heard plenty!"
Here's the link: https://trackingangle.com/equipment/naia-turntable-in-rega-world-less-is-more-more-or-less
I spent a fair amount of time listening to the Naia at Capital Audiofest in 2023, and was impressed by the sense of locked-down control it delivered. It sounded fast and athletic. It certainly didn't sound warm or romantic, but I think there are other ways to add that in the playback chain if that's what you want. On the other hand, I think it's hard to remove that attribute later if the table adds it.

 

[Tuckers]

I've heard the Naia a couple of times, it sounded excellent. But it was in unfamiliar systems.

Michael Fremer's heard a turntable or two.

I have actually spoken with Michael about the Naia and it was his feedback that began to make me consider it more seriously. I asked him if it was a table he could live with based on sonics, and he said it was close, but he would probably want a different cart on it. And thats not surprising given his enourmous experience in that area.

 

[keithc]

I've heard the Naia a couple of times, it sounded excellent. But it was in unfamiliar systems.

I have actually spoken with Michael about the Naia and it was his feedback that began to make me consider it more seriously. I asked him if it was a table he could live with based on sonics, and he said it was close, but he would probably want a different cart on it. And thats not surprising given his enourmous experience in that area.

If you get it please do share your experience and some pictures, and congrats!
I hope to have the chance to hear it some day.