Rega RP10 with Supercapped Superline
Posted by: Bodger on 15 July 2018
Hi all, I thought I’d add some observations on the above. I’ve been living with the RP10 for just over a month now. It replaced an RP8-Apheta bought new some years back. The 10 was ex-dem but I had the Aphelion fitted prior to shipping. All else remained the same, SC-SL and the same loading, 100R and 1nF.
As with all Regas I’ve had, and the main reason I but them, set up takes minutes. It really is TT 101. The actual unboxing took way longer than setting up. It sits on a dedicated Tiger Paw wall shelf, the SL directly below and now next to the rather beefy Rega PSU. These units are on the right, brawn stack of the two racks I use. Other details are in my profile.
I will say my room is bright. I’ve always had the nagging doubt that the previous Apheta had a bad rap for being bright too. I live in a rented property so am not inclined to room treatments that may or may not help in my own home. The other motive for the change was simply I always hankered after the RP10. I misguidedly bought the RP8 just few months before the release of the 10. Oops.
I did not really A-B the two decks. So as often, the comparisons are memory based but I’ve had 3-4 years of hearing the RP8 sound. The 10 from the off was different. I know of folks on other fora that prefer the 8 over the 10. This in other rooms and systems for sure. In my case, buying blind and taking the plunge left me without the luxury of choice.
I’d had some issues on receiving the RP8 in terms of build quality. The 10 feels more solid and better screwed together. Apart from aesthetics, the ceramic platter and shiny arm, it just feels right. The music replay just sounds more grown up, mature. I’m no hifi critic so the prose here might be lacking. I found from the box and with little or no hours on the cartridge, the presentation is richer, deeper and very honest. Drums, piano, bass, sound like they should. I happen to have drums, piano and bass downstairs. The best analogy I can come up with is that of walking round a furniture shop looking for the perfect sofa. You sit in them all. Maybe in the next store or even the third, you sit and go “Ah”. That’s the sensation. Goldilocks moment, just right.
I’ve not had the urge to fiddle with loadings from the off. Curiosity might get the better of me but that’s for another time. Right now, I am just enjoying the music and am quite convinced that is the end of the vinyl journey. It does sit so well in the all Naim system. Just wish the illuminated logo was green, not red.
Dave
Dave - happy listening 
RP10 with a SuperLine / SuperCapDR is a wonderful deck. I just love how it presents music. And indeed Aphelion is an improvement over Apheta.
Adam
Nice review. I'd love to have the RP10 / Aphelion at home for a dem.
If you have an Aria, I think the RP10 PSU would look great sitting next to it. Put it middle stack between Naim gear and it'll work. 
Of course the RP10/Aphelion probably needs a more sophisticated phonostage to make it sing to its potential.
Aric posted:Nice review. I'd love to have the RP10 / Aphelion at home for a dem.
If you have an Aria, I think the RP10 PSU would look great sitting next to it. Put it middle stack between Naim gear and it'll work.
Of course the RP10/Aphelion probably needs a more sophisticated phonostage to make it sing to its potential.
It does. I used an Aria for a long time - whilst a great phono-stage in its own right, an RP10 with an Aphelion ‘deserves’ a better one.
Aric posted:
Of course the RP10/Aphelion probably needs a more sophisticated phonostage to make it sing to its potential.
Rega have just the thing with the new Aura Reference..
Bodger, nice review and congratulations on the new purchase!