Question Rega Aya

[podknocker]

I booked a demo session next week to hear the Rega Aya speakers. I'd never heard of these until I saw them earlier. I really like the small size and although the concrete cabinets will look weird in daylight, they look fairly smart and compact. Does anyone have a pair and if so, what do you think?

 

[DougK1]

Make sure they don't hum or overheat

 

[Revolutions]

Make sure they don't hum or overheat

Too soon 🥲

 

[DougK1]

Too soon 🥲

Sorry Matt

 

[podknocker]

I did consider separate amp and streamer a while back and the Rega Elicit Mk5 was on my shortlist and then I read stuff about them getting hot and buzzing. Won't go down that route now. It is a poor show for this company to make so many unreliable and annoying amps.

 

[DougK1]

Rega do make some excellent kit but they seem to come with too many foibles. Seems to be a lottery as to whether you get a good un or not.

 

[Jasonovich]

I booked a demo session next week to hear the Rega Aya speakers. I'd never heard of these until I saw them earlier. I really like the small size and although the concrete cabinets will look weird in daylight, they look fairly smart and compact. Does anyone have a pair and if so, what do you think?

The Rega Aya's look mighty fine speakers, It'll be nice if they allow you to compare to other comparatively priced floor standing speakers, like the Focal's Vestia N2 ( if these are in stock , mind you these Focals are fairly large! ) below or anything else that catches your fancy.

Enjoy!

 

[davidf]

I hope those Focals sound better than the model they replaced.

 

[podknocker]

Those Focals are big, ugly and will be overbearing in my modest sized living room. They are very sensitive and will be an easy load, but there will be too much bass and although I will listen if I can, I can't see these sat in my living room. They are also outside my £1500 budget. I'm going for small floorstanders from now on with a front facing port I can close with foam bungs. The Rega Aya grilles are an £80 option and are worth £30 at most, so I might haggle and try to get them thrown in.

 

[Jasonovich]

I hope those Focals sound better than the model they replaced.

I trust your professional opinion David, you're much better placed than I
Yes, hopefully these are much better.

 

[Al ears]

I trust your professional opinion David, you're much better placed than I
Yes, hopefully these are much better.

Question is what did they replace? I thought this was a new range.
Name names David.

 

[Jasonovich]

Question is what did they replace? I thought this was a new range.
Name names David.

I think you're right AI, I shrug my shoulders, I can't see the predecessor for these speakers. Perhaps he was referring to a Focal model Vestia replaces?
Proves I Know Nuffink

 

[Din5]

I booked a demo session next week to hear the Rega Aya speakers. I'd never heard of these until I saw them earlier. I really like the small size and although the concrete cabinets will look weird in daylight, they look fairly smart and compact. Does anyone have a pair and if so, what do you think?

All will be revealed when you audition them ! my local hi-end HIFI dealership rates them well. Form your own opinion, if you like them go for them and discuss a discount !

 

[Gray]

The Rega Aya grilles are an £80 option and are worth £30 at most, so I might haggle and try to get them thrown in.

Sounds like you've already decided.
Wait till you hear them before thinking about haggling Pod.
I get that you like the look - and I also understand that looks are quite important.
But sound varies so much between speakers, so you've really got to like the sound they give.
And surely the advantage of front ports is that you've got more chance of not needing to bung them - I wouldn't want to buy speakers that relied on bungs to make them listenable.

Have you ruled out standmounters?

PS: I really don't like the way that some firms charge extra for grilles - even if some people never bother to fit them.

 

[davidf]

I trust your professional opinion David, you're much better placed than I
Yes, hopefully these are much better.

Chora range I think. The model everyone had reduced to about £1500-1800 about 2-3 years ago. It was the one everyone was buying because they were reduced. Sounded about £500 quids worth.

 

[podknocker]

Sounds like you've already decided.
Wait till you hear them before thinking about haggling Pod.
I get that you like the look - and I also understand that looks are quite important.
But sound varies so much between speakers, so you've really got to like the sound they give.
And surely the advantage of front ports is that you've got more chance of not needing to bung them - I wouldn't want to buy speakers that relied on bungs to make them listenable.

Have you ruled out standmounters?

PS: I really don't like the way that some firms charge extra for grilles - even if some people never bother to fit them.

I will haggle for free grilles if I like the sound and my budget will be £1500 so I won't be looking at the Spendor D7 at 3 times the price! I do like them in that warm cherry finish and if I had the funds and space, then I would have them. I've not ruled out standmounts, but the shop in question doesn't sell any with screw in stands. They stopped selling B&W a while back, so it's blu tac if you want standmounts. I'm not going there. The number of smart and compact floorstanders is now huge, but the shop tends to lean towards high end stuff, like Spendor. I might pop into Richer Sounds and see what floorstanders they've got. I need more treble sparkle and detail. Putting my headphones down and then listening to my system is shocking. The detail and excitement is lacking, but I don't like listening to cans plugged into my PC all the time. If I could get a pair of speakers that sound as good as my cans and my PC I would be sorted.

 

[Gray]

They stopped selling B&W a while back, so it's blu tac if you want standmounts. I'm not going there.

Yes, I had B&W (CDM1-NT) with screw threads - so I drilled through my non-B&W stands to make use of them.

I've only ever owned standmounts - and I don't go there with Blu-Tac - little 8mm diameter door buffers for me - all the tackiness without the mess (you can't just bump into the speakers and knock them off believe me, they need deliberate removal effort).

You're right, there are plenty of compact, neat floorstanders now - as long as you're not limiting your choice to just them because of a fear of Blu-Tak 🙂

Let us know how your auditioning goes - if you like them in the shop, maybe you'll do a home trial before buying.

 

[nopiano]

I heard some Ayas when they were first released. It might have been roughly a year ago at the Ascot Show, in an all Rega system. They sounded great fun, and more refined than I’d expected. I liked the compact cabinets and the unusual shape and finish too.

Trouble is I’ve bought several pre-loved speakers since buying my ATC at list price in 2017, and am now more tempted by used or ex-dem value. But I’d definitely hear the Rega and maybe some new KEF Q and the Q Acoustics 5000 series, to compare with brands I’ve enjoyed previously.

 

[davidf]

I heard some Ayas when they were first released. It might have been roughly a year ago at the Ascot Show, in an all Rega system. They sounded great fun, and more refined than I’d expected. I liked the compact cabinets and the unusual shape and finish too.

Trouble is I’ve bought several pre-loved speakers since buying my ATC at list price in 2017, and am now more tempted by used or ex-dem value. But I’d definitely hear the Rega and maybe some new KEF Q and the Q Acoustics 5000 series, to compare with brands I’ve enjoyed previously.

Rega speakers tend to sound like that on the end of a Rega system - the whole is a greater sum of the parts - I'd be a little more careful with other electronics. Unless they've changed approach over the past 7 years or so.

 

[nopiano]

Rega speakers tend to sound like that on the end of a Rega system - the whole is a greater sum of the parts - I'd be a little more careful with other electronics. Unless they've changed approach over the past 7 years or so.

Exactly my experience too, David!

 

[Din5]

I booked a demo session next week to hear the Rega Aya speakers. I'd never heard of these until I saw them earlier. I really like the small size and although the concrete cabinets will look weird in daylight, they look fairly smart and compact. Does anyone have a pair and if so, what do you think?

How did the audition go ?

 

[podknocker]

How did the audition go ?

I had to cancel as something else happened. I will try to book another day next week. I think my QAs know I'm looking for an upgrade, as they sound really good lately. I'm dreading the audition really. If I really like the sound of the Regas in the shop, but they sound odd in my living room, I'm going to be annoyed. The shop has an Omnia and can stream anything I listen to so I can listen out for stuff that's better, worse, or missing.

 

[Jasonovich]

I had to cancel as something else happened. I will try to book another day next week. I think my QAs know I'm looking for an upgrade, as they sound really good lately. I'm dreading the audition really. If I really like the sound of the Regas in the shop, but they sound odd in my living room, I'm going to be annoyed. The shop has an Omnia and can stream anything I listen to so I can listen out for stuff that's better, worse, or missing.

Does the dealership have Audiolab Omnia they can test with the speakers or perhaps, if it's not too inconvenient, allow you to bring yours with you, so you can have a real idea how these speakers will sound with your amp?

 

[Din5]

Best to take your Q Acoustic speakers with you for comparison during the audition.

 

[podknocker]

Does the dealership have Audiolab Omnia they can test with the speakers or perhaps, if it's not too inconvenient, allow you to bring yours with you, so you can have a real idea how these speakers will sound with your amp?

Yes they have an Omnia so I will be getting a really accurate reproduction when listening to the Regas.