Rega Planar 10 & Rega Osiris & Rega Aura

Planar 10 turntable and P10 PSU.

For the Planar 10, Rega has used the most advanced materials and engineering solutions built around a supremely lightweight plinth to ensure the greatest level of performance.

Like its sibling, the Planar 8, the Planar 10 was inspired by the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad.  Rega decided early on that instead of an evolution of the previous RP10, the new Planar 10 was to be developed and engineered to encapsulate the essence of the Naiad at a more affordable price. The Planar 10 narrows the gap between itself and the Naiad even further by using more exotic materials, carefully selected to reduce mass and improve rigidity throughout the design. New innovations in hub bearing, sub-platter, motor and drive belt design have led to even greater accuracy in turntable speed which directly improves sound performance.

The Planar 10 features the new RB3000 tonearm fitted with an improved, low mass, precision bias housing. They have pioneered a completely new low mass, central hub bearing assembly with improved mechanical integrity. For the first time on a Rega production turntable, a ceramic top brace delivers ultimate rigidity and accuracy whilst creating the perfect platform between tonearm and central bearing. Finally, this entirely new player is controlled by Rega's most advanced electronic power supply housed in a brand-new, full metal custom case designed to match the latest range of Rega electronics.

Rega Osiris Amplifier 

Rega's Osiris flagship amplifier is the embodiment of everything the company stand for. A 'no compromise', extremely high performing unit built with the finest materials and assembled with a culmination of 32 years of vigorous research and experience in developing superior hifi products. The Osiris is a dual-mono amplifier within a customised Rega-specific CNC machined aluminium case. Designed to be the perfect combination of a 'minimalist' high gain power amp and 'passive pre-amplifier' circuit topology. The Osiris also comprises a passive volume control and a single stage of power amplification between the input and the speakers. Ideally matched with the company's Isis CD player. 

Rega's range of hifi amplifiers and CD players are designed and engineered around their different turntable, phonostage and loudspeaker models to form a complete family, staying true to the Rega sound signature and quality of build. Rega components will work with systems and separates from other bands, but perform at their best when accompanied by other Rega products.

Rega Aura MC Stage

The reference Aura MC stage is the culmination of decades of electronic design development. We have created the ultimate, fully adjustable, three-stage, all symmetrical pre-amplifier designed purely to extract the very best performance from your moving coil cartridge and vinyl playback system. Built into a completely re-designed custom case, the Aura is dedicated to moving coil cartridges and stays clear of any compromises. We have avoided including any superfluous functions as they obstruct the signal path and degrade the sound quality. The Aura phono pre-amp incorporates remarkable and innovative design ideas. If you are a vinyl connoisseur, then the Aura MC is an absolute must for demonstration.

Introduction and Design Innovation

The Rega Aura is a three-stage, all symmetrical pre-amplifier. The first stage is a symmetrical, complementary class A amplifier, using parallel connected Linear Systems ultra-low noise FET (Field Effect Transistor) transistors configured as a symmetrical compound pair input stage. The use of FET transistors ensures there is no bias current flowing in the cartridge coil so as not to upset the delicate magnetic geometry of the cartridge. The input circuit configuration also alleviates the use of any coupling components between the cartridge output and the input stage FET transistors, which would degrade the sound. The complementary ultra-low noise FET transistors are carefully graded and matched for optimum performance. This stage drives the passive high-frequency part of the RIAA equalisation stage.

The second stage is asymmetrical, class A, differential amplifier with a common base driver stage; this is also used as the active amplifier in the low-frequency part of the RIAA equalisation stage. The third stage inverts the signal to provide a balanced output along with the output of the second stage; the third stage uses the same circuit topology as used in the second stage. The power supply is asymmetrical, discrete tracking power supply using fast diodes and a low noise voltage reference. Each stage has its own localised power supply and LED referenced current generators. To maximise headroom, the Aura has a power supply voltage, which is 60% higher than normally found in such a pre-amplifier. Very high quality, polypropylene capacitors have been used in the signal path. 1% tolerance polypropylene capacitors are used in the RIAA EQ stages and audio grade capacitors are used in the rest of the circuit. Gain, Mute and Mono switching is implemented using high-quality relays.

Gain

Please note: mute or turn the volume control to a minimum when changing the gain setting. The gain setting switch selects the voltage gain of the phono amplifier. Gain I selects 69.5 dB (switch out) and Gain II selects 63.5 dB (switch in); this will provide an input sensitivity of 67 μV and 131 μV respectively for an output level of 200 mV unbalanced and 400 mV balanced. The balanced output is effectively 6 dB higher than the unbalanced output. It is advisable to start with the lower gain setting II and if necessary, increase the gain level to me if more level is required for lower output cartridges. Because the balanced output is effectively 6 dB higher, it could be advisable to select gain II setting when using the balanced output; this will also depend greatly on the sensitivity of the connected amplifier.

Capacitance

There are five different input capacitance settings of 1000 pF, 2000 pF, 3200 pF, 4300 pF & 5700 pF. Select the required capacitance to match to that specified by the manufacturer in the cartridge specifications. It is permissible to try different loading conditions as sometimes changing the capacitance gives a different sonic performance more suited to your personal taste; this also applies if there is no loading capacitance specified by the manufacturer. To match some ‘legacy’ pre-amplifiers, select 5700 pF. The 1000 pF setting is optimised for the Rega range of MC cartridges.

Load Settings

There are five different input load settings of 50 Ω, 100 Ω, 150 Ω, 300 Ω & 400 Ω. Select the required load to match to that specified by the manufacturer in the cartridge specifications. It is permissible to try different loading conditions as sometimes changing the load gives a different sonic performance more suited to your personal taste. To match some ‘legacy’ pre-amplifiers, select 400 Ω. The 100 Ω setting is optimised for the Rega range of MC cartridges.

Mute

Allows you to mute the signal when changing the gain setting, in-between tracks or when changing records.

Mono

This function allows you to play mono recordings via a stereo cartridge

Who is Rega?

Rega is a specialist hifi manufacturer based in Essex, UK and is renowned for developing and constructing some of the most highly regarded turntables (as well as cartridges and tonearms), electronics and loudspeakers available on the hifi market today. Rega was founded in 1973, and have honed their craft over many years of being a leading brand in every category they put a product to.