Rega Naiad: A 30,000 Turntable from Rega

[hydra]

Rega Naiad – sneak peek at the 30,000 turntable | audiofi.net

REGA Researchs celebration of its 40th year continues in fabulous style on the heels of the RP40, heres a sneak peek at the venerable Brit hi-fi manufacturers flagship turntable, the Naiad.

To be available later this year, the Naiad represents the culmination of founder Roy Gandys turntable philosophy taken to the max. Were told its a no-expense spared project.

Even more special, the first 40 Naiad turntables off the factory will bear sequential numbers, from 1973 to 2012, representing each year of Regas existence they will also be signed by Mr Gandy.

However, its not as simple as first-come first-served beginning at precisely 9am GMT on July 1, a 48-hour draw will be held from placed orders. After that, its numbers as usual .. although at 30,000 a pop, were hard pressed to envision anyone but the wealthiest and most dedicated of Rega disciples queuing up for theirs.

Here are details of the Naiad, off the Rega literature:

The Naiad is a a unique design using the best of modern materials and manufacturing processes, with a plinth constructed from hand-crafted carbon-fibre to achieve the ultimate in lightweight high-rigidity structures, strengthened further with double ceramic braces.

Mass is again kept to a minimum by using a titanium skeletal vertical bearing housing for the tonearm assembly. Naiad will feature a world first in hub-bearing design with a spindle and bearing housing manufactured from Zirconia.You can expect the ultimate power supply housed in Regas reference range casework which will offer user-adjustable speed control with a digital display.

Each turntable will be supplied with a piece of music called Naiad, one of Roy Gandys favourite piano pieces, which will be recorded by Rega. This unique pressing will include a test tone that will work alongside the power supply to ensure perfect speed is achieved.

Rega assures us that the Naiad will be the the ultimate performance Rega turntable promising to deliver way beyond expectations.

At the price, were too speechless to react. Takers, anyone? Ah, but we suspect your dealer already knows who you are

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Turntables seems to be the area where designers and materials specifiers can really let their hair down, producing items that are as much works of sculpture as functional record players. How much of this translates into improved sound? Leaving aside looks, would any of our TT experts here pay 30,000 for this turntable, and if so, what would their reasons? Maybe this is unanswerable without listening first.

Following the links, the RP40 Anniversary Edition looks good (in the ordinary turntable way of looking good, which is quite good enough for many of us!) and is expensive within the bounds of reasonability

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

And if the Naiad seems like just another ordinary turntable to anyone, perhaps they need a Goldnote Bellagio Conquest.

 

[jls001]

And if the Naiad seems like just another ordinary turntable to anyone, perhaps they need a Goldnote Bellagio Conquest.

Check out their exotic CD spinner: Gold Note | Audio equipment mindmade and handmade in Florence, Tuscany, Italy

The fancy chassis is part of the sound tuning.

Member jai1611 uses the v1 of the Stibbert.

 

[jls001]

True high-end turntables:

Wizard High-End Audio Blog: Turntable

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

The Naiad, as shown there, actually looks quite minimalist and perfectly liveable with!

The Goldnote makes me want to photoshop some tiny people in, making it look 150-foot tall