Rega Naia or P10?

[arj]

I'm going to listen to the Naiad tomorrow or the day after - Rega is an option both because of sound and the deal.

I'm completely open to looking at other TTs, but I don't see anything in my budget - the cheapest SME costs 13 lakh and the Garrard 27 lakh. I don't want a direct drive TT.

The prices I quoted above are from Revolver Club. I haven't checked out Garrard and SME at Audio Lounge, but they can't possibly be that much cheaper, right? I'm happy to make the trip into town if I get a good enough deal.

Play the music you listen to..while rega does rhythm , speed all very well. The test where people differ is in tone some like, some dont and others dont care. So all comments here are subjective.
I like the tone .

From what I read the Naia has a fabulous tonearm which may not be easily bested by others .

So do listen to music where there is an emphasis on tone like older bollywood, jazz vocals etc

 

[JaideepGiridhar]

Play the music you listen to..while rega does rhythm , speed all very well. The test where people differ is in tone some like, some dont and others dont care. So all comments here are subjective.
I like the tone .

From what I read the Naia has a fabulous tonearm which may not be easily bested by others .

So do listen to music where there is an emphasis on tone like older bollywood, jazz vocals etc

Yup. I’m taking my reference records. I’ll be back here with updates.

 

[essrand]

I'm going to listen to the Naiad tomorrow or the day after - Rega is an option both because of sound and the deal.

I'm completely open to looking at other TTs, but I don't see anything in my budget - the cheapest SME costs 13 lakh and the Garrard 27 lakh. I don't want a direct drive TT.

The prices I quoted above are from Revolver Club. I haven't checked out Garrard and SME at Audio Lounge, but they can't possibly be that much cheaper, right? I'm happy to make the trip into town if I get a good enough deal.

The SME 8 retails for 10K usd, quite close to your budget -- even under your budget -- if you can negotiate, they are usually amenable.

 

[square_wave]

The SME 8 retails for 10K usd, quite close to your budget -- even under your budget -- if you can negotiate, they are usually amenable.

SME prioritises micro-detail + control, Rega prioritises timing + energy flow. SME would be like a high end monitor system while Rega would be like a band in a room. Mechanical perfection vs Musical coherence. But I am sure there is an overlap. For some people that overlap is where the answer lies. A well-set-up SME is not boring. It can sound breathtakingly real as long as the rest of the system is not clinical. Sometimes that is the right combination. I have found the higher end VPI's to tread a middle path between these two.

 

[reignofchaos]

SME does sound a bit clinical everytime I have heard it. Also doesn't have the speed or energy of other decks. Quite akin to direct drives.

 

[square_wave]

SME does sound a bit clinical everytime I have heard it. Also doesn't have the speed or energy of other decks. Quite akin to direct drives.

They are a precision engineering company with a background in aerospace. But they are masters in what they do and command a lot of respect in the UK. However, since they are so precision focussed, the rest of the system needs to be designed around it. If you do that, it is extremely rewarding.
I have heard large classical pieces on SME at music hall SPL levels. The authority, scale, and precision is astonishing. If you then shift to a simple beetles song, a Rega will sound as if the players are performing for you while the SME will astonish you by painting a perfect picture of the song.