Rega Naia or P10?

[JaideepGiridhar]

I have a decent offer on a Naia - it'll stretch my budget, but is mostly doable - as well as on a P10. The Naia costs two times as much as the P10. I listen to new pressings (mostly Blue Note, Acoustic Sounds, Verve, ECM). The rest of my chain is PS Audio Stellar-PS Audio BHK pre-Line Magnetic 805-Sourcepoint 10. I use a Hana Umami Blue cart. Is it worth getting the Naia or is the P10 good enough? This is going to be my last TT upgrade.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I have a decent offer on a Naia - it'll stretch my budget, but is mostly doable - as well as on a P10. The Naia costs two times as much as the P10. I listen to new pressings (mostly Blue Note, Acoustic Sounds, Verve, ECM). The rest of my chain is PS Audio Stellar-PS Audio BHK pre-Line Magnetic 805-Sourcepoint 10. I use a Hana Umami Blue cart. Is it worth getting the Naia or is the P10 good enough? This is going to be my last TT upgrade.

Hi

You have a great setup there it seems. From Cart to tonearm to phono stage the chain looks very balanced, with no obvious bottle necks. If it was me, I would go for the P10, and save some moolah for future upgrades.

In my opinion ( could be flawed ), beyond a certain point, the cart, tonearm, tonearm cable and phono stage make more of a difference than the TT itself. The P10 is a great enough deck to reveal future upgrades in my opinion.

So, I would probably settle for the P10 for now. And when it starts itching a few years down the line. Then add a second different deck like a direct drive, with a different combination of arm and cart for a different sonic profile.

 

[square_wave]

From what I have understood from conversations with some veteran turntable users while considering rega tables, I can confidently say that if you get the Naia, you will need to do substantial upgrades to your current phono stage. Hana Umami Blue cart is great ! Phono stage needs to go up by couple of steps.
If you buy the P10, the phono box 2 is still a bottle neck to some extent. The 20X2 itself is a good match though. Maybe a phonostage one step higher will suffice.

 

[JaideepGiridhar]

From what I have understood from conversations with some veteran turntable users while considering rega tables, I can confidently say that if you get the Naia, you will need to do substantial upgrades to your current phono stage. Hana Umami Blue cart is great ! Phono stage needs to go up by couple of steps.
If you buy the P10, the phono box 2 is still a bottle neck to some extent. The 20X2 itself is a good match though. Maybe a phonostage one step higher will suffice.

I forgot to update my signature - I no longer have the Phono Box. I now use a PS Audio Stellar.

 

[square_wave]

I forgot to update my signature - I no longer have the Phono Box. I now use a PS Audio Stellar.

That changes the conversation. That makes Naia the better option for a long term solution. I just checked on the compliance of the Umami. Apparently, Hana Umami Blue’s compliance sits right in the sweet spot for Rega arms. So mechanically this pairing should track beautifully.

 

[reignofchaos]

Rega will need spacers under the tonearm for normal cartridges as their arms lack VTA. Also their tonearm wiring is horrible and better get it rewired from a pro.

After clearaudio performance DC, you need something a lot more serious than Rega. I had a Concept and I moved to a Feickert. What's your budget?

 

[square_wave]

Spacers are a normal thing nowadays. It is essentially a call between "solid arm bases that provides max rigidity" vs "providing adjustment that can lead to microscopic movement". However, I agree...one has to decide what turntable philosophy works for oneself. Best is to explore if one is in the market with Naia kinda money. My neighbourhood is filled with dealers that sell SME, Vertere, Rega, VPI, Clearaudio, Linn and many others. People prefer one over the other based on what works for their ears. Naia and P10 are highly respected by many who can afford very expensive alternatives. But one should explore. Analogue is like that.

 

[JaideepGiridhar]

Rega will need spacers under the tonearm for normal cartridges as their arms lack VTA. Also their tonearm wiring is horrible and better get it rewired from a pro.

After clearaudio performance DC, you need something a lot more serious than Rega. I had a Concept and I moved to a Feickert. What's your budget?th

The Naia deal includes a buy-back of the Clearaudio. Not sure I’ll get that kind of a transaction elsewhere. Budget ~ 8 lakh

 

[reignofchaos]

That is a very healthy budget. Have you heard the Naia in your system?

 

[JaideepGiridhar]

That is a very healthy budget. Have you heard the Naia in your system?

I haven’t. The Clearaudio is my only frame of reference.

 

[reignofchaos]

I haven’t. The Clearaudio is my only frame of reference.

I highly suggest you listen to a rega in your system before jumping in.

I personally do not subscribe to Roy Gandy's school of thought. However your case may be different. Still it is best to audition some rega to know their traits.