The heart of music
The Rega Naia turntable represents a culmination of years of dedicated development, initially manifested in the creation of the ‘Naiad’ test bed turntable. The Naia embodies the pinnacle of this development, seamlessly integrating the best of Rega’s technology and advancements into a production-ready model without any compromises.
Packed with groundbreaking features, materials, and technology, the Naia is a testament to Rega’s long-standing commitment to innovation in the field of vinyl playback. Developed over many years, the Naia is designed to reach new heights in vinyl replay, showcasing Rega’s expertise and dedication to enhancing your vinyl listening experience.
- Graphene impregnated Carbon Fibre skeletal plinth with Tancast 8 foam core
- ZTA Zirconium toughened alumina (ceramic) central bearing
- RB titanium tonearm : One piece titanium vertical bearing and Titanium vertical spindle assembly
- Tungsten balance weight shaft and weight
- Ceramic top and bottom braces
- Reference advanced fully adjustable power supply
- Resonance controlled ceramic platter with improved flywheel effect and complex profile
- Low mass skeletal aluminium feet
- Triple Reference drive belts for improved stability and drive characteristics.
- Rega Aphelion 2 MC factory fitted (optional)
- Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects
The Naia elevates Rega’s pioneering low mass high rigidity plinth technology by incorporating a Graphene impregnated carbon fibre skeletal plinth with Tancast 8 foam core. This ultra-rigid structure of the Naia is further strengthened using two ceramic aluminium oxide braces, the same material used in the creation of the redesigned, resonance-controlled ceramic platter. This platter not only has an improved flywheel effect but also features a complex profile, enhancing the overall performance and stability of the turntable.
RB Titanium Tonearm
The RB Titanium tonearm represents the most advanced and accurate production tonearm released by Rega. Its entire structure is designed to minimize mechanical joints while utilizing the stiffest materials in all critical areas. The RB Titanium achieves near frictionless movement both horizontally and vertically, and boasts no measurable free play in its bearing assemblies.
This tonearm features a new one-piece titanium vertical bearing and titanium vertical spindle assembly. Accompanying the RB Titanium, the recommended Rega Aphelion 2 MC cartridge will be mounted on a unique, hand-polished aluminium single piece arm tube, designed to keep the mass as low as possible. The design of the RB Titanium is further enhanced with a Tungsten balance weight shaft and balance weight, ensuring optimal performance and precision.
Graphene Impregnated Carbon Fibre Plinth
Rega has innovatively utilised materials commonly found in the aerospace industry to achieve the optimal balance between low mass and extreme rigidity in their turntable designs. They have pioneered the use of graphene impregnated carbon combined with a Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core, materials known for their superior properties.
The ultra-lightweight random structure of the Tancast 8 foam core plays a significant role in reducing vibration transmission. Simultaneously, the stiffness of the outer skin ensures that no microscopic movement of the plinth occurs during playback. The incorporation of graphene into the carbon fibre not only enhances the strength but also significantly boosts the stiffness. This results in the creation of the stiffest production plinth that Rega has ever produced.
Aluminium Hub and ZTA Hub Bearing Assembly
The Naia turntable incorporates a custom aluminum sub-platter, featuring a spindle and central bearing crafted from ZTA (zirconium toughened alumina). Originally developed for use in large-scale machinery in the paper industry, ZTA is known for its exceptional resistance to abrasion, making it an ideal material for constructing a central bearing assembly.
The manufacturing process of this ZTA component is exceptionally complex, similar to that of other oxide ceramics. It begins as a powder preparation followed by spray drying. The piece is then formed using an isostatic press, which applies even pressure in all directions to ensure consistent density. The piece undergoes turning in its ‘green state’ (before firing), followed by firing at 1600 °C for three days. Subsequent steps include grinding the bottom flange and bore, and then final honing to match the spindle diameter. The spindle and bearing are kept as a set to guarantee a perfect fit.
ZTA’s superiority in resisting abrasive wear and its exceptional hardness are key qualities. With both the spindle and bearing made from this identical material, the risk of wear is significantly reduced due to their matching hardness. The spindle operates on an ultra-thin layer of fully synthetic oil, further minimizing wear. This complex engineering process results in the hardest, most accurate, and longest-lasting bearing assembly that Rega has ever produced for their turntables.
Reference Power Supply
The NAIA reference power supply is designed to provide the ultimate in motor control stability, offering convenient electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control, and user-adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment. This ensures total accuracy and control throughout the lifespan of the motor.
Encased in the latest custom-designed case by Rega, the reference PSU is specifically dedicated to operating the 24v low noise motor with maximum quietness and precision. The control and speed of the motor are achieved through the use of a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) generator, built upon a high stability crystal. This technology precisely divides the accurate square wave from the crystal into the exact frequency needed to rotate the platter at the chosen speed.
Additionally, the DSP core is capable of generating a near-perfect sinusoidal waveform to efficiently power the motor. To ensure optimal performance, factory-set vibration removal and fine speed adjustments are applied to the power supply, fine-tuning each motor.
EBLT Drive Belts
Over the past three years, Rega has dedicated substantial research and development, in collaboration with chemists, to create a bespoke new rubber compound specifically for drive belts. This collaboration and development involved the use of a specialised curing system. The result is a drive belt that offers superior consistency of modulus, a measure that represents the degree to which a substance maintains a particular property, notably elasticity, which is crucial for the performance of drive belts in turntables.
These new belts are produced using state-of-the-art, highly accurate tools designed by Rega. The inspiration for these tools came from working with a manufacturer known for producing high-tech Formula 1 engine parts. This collaboration has led to the production of ‘perfectly round’ and ‘dimensionally accurate’ belts, critical for perfect speed stability.
DB Technology (Double Brace Technology)
“Mass absorbs energy – lost energy equals lost music”! Rega’s super lightweight plinth, combined with a ceramic top and bottom brace, is mounted specifically where increased rigidity is required between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing. This forms a structurally sound, “stressed beam,” assembly.
Rega’s rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonances, which would add unnatural distortions to the music. Additionally, heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy, such as motor or bearing noise, directly into the rotating record. The tonearm and cartridge must be able to accurately read directly from the platter. Rega’s unique double brace solution ensures that as much detail is retrieved as possible.
The use of braces, instead of a complete skin, allows for increased thickness in these key areas while further reducing the weight of the plinth. This approach directly addresses the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.
