Rega’s flagship RP10 turntable is launched!

Just like the Rega RP8, the RP10 has a skeletal plinth.

 

By Lam Seng Fatt

 

Finally, Rega’s flagship turntable – the RP10 – has been launched.

 

As expected, it is a skeletal design and appears to be a souped-up RP8 with a ceramic platter similar to the one found in the P9 instead of the glass platter used in the RP8. The tonearm has also been upgraded.

 

Rega’s website states: “The RP10 represents probably the biggest step forward in the evolution of Roy Gandy’s turntable design philosophies. Low mass, high rigidity plinths combined with electronically controlled low vibration motors, high flywheel effect platters and lower mass higher stability tonearms. The RP10 will also be available with its perfect partner, the Apheta moving coil cartridge, factory fitted as a package option.”

 

Just like the revoutionary RP8, the RP10 has a cut-out skeletal plinth within a conventional rectangular plinth. The turntable can be used with the rectangular plinth removed or with it attached. According to some reviews I have read of the RP8, it sounds a little better with the rectangular plinth removed. But if you want to use the dust cover, the rectangular plinth has to be attached.

 

Rega”s RP10 features a skeletal plinth design with polyolefin foam core for light mass and rigidity.

 

The main differences between the RP8 and the RP10 are the power supply, the tone arm and ceramic platter.

 

RP10 Custom power supply

 

This is a new advanced anti vibration and speed control circuit meant for running the 24v low noise motor used in the RP10. The speed and control of the motor is achieved by using a new digital signal processin) generator built upon a high stability crystal. The device will divide the accurate square wave from the crystal to the exact frequency required to turn the platter at the selected speed. The DSP core will also generate a near perfect sinusoidal waveform to power the motor. Factory set vibration and speed adjustments are then made to the power supply to tune the motor for optimal performance, the Rega website states.

 

RB2000 Tonearm

 

The RB2000 tonearm uses improved bearings with each one being hand selected to be an interference fit with the paired spindle matching both the inside and outside diameters. This is a Rega developed method of increasing the amount of detail retrieved from the record surface, designed specifically to maximise performance of the tonearm and cartridge.

 

The entire tonearm structure, which features a new low mass, precision engineered, vertical bearing assembly, is designed to have the minimum of mechanical joints whilst using the stiffest materials in all critical areas. The tolerance of the RB2000 tonearm is so tight that no adhesive is used. The tonearm tube is hand polished and has been redesigned to redistribute mass to reduce stresses and resonances.

 

Super flywheel effect ceramic platter

 

The RP10 uses a custom ceramic flywheel effect platter produced from ceramic oxide powder which is compressed, fired and diamond cut to ensure perfect accuracy and flatness across the surface. The new platter features a modified construction over the previous P9 version with improved coupling to the sub platter, states the Rega website.

 

24V Low noise motor

 

The motor is a high specification, 24V twin phase synchronous unit. Just like the RP8 and P9, two belts are used.

 

Magnesium and Phenolic – Dual bracing

 

Just like the RP8, the RP10 has a super lightweight plinth combined with a double brace – using magnesium on the top and phenolic on the bottom – mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) to form a structurally sound “stressed beam” assembly. Different materials have different natural resonances. By using two different materials together they decrease the natural frequency of each other by self damping, according to Rega”s website.

 

 

Rega is distributed in Malaysia by Asia Sound.

 

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