We’ve kept this old page available as it contains info and links to review of previous (and some still current) Rega Research products which may be handy when trying to make a decision on a Rega product purchase! For the LATEST info and news about Rega Research and other products we carry, please check out our FaceBook page (open to the public – you don’t have to be signed up to FaceBook to view it):
http://www.facebook.com/Signature.Sound.HiFi
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New Rega RP6 Turntable!
January 2012 – Coming very soon, the new Rega RP-6 is a evolution of the new RP3 with a number of improvements… so you get the same type of new plinth and brace design, but with new (different from the RP3) improved platter and sub-platter design AND a Rega TT-PSU as standard equipment in your choice of gloss colored plinth… all for what will be $1,495 US Retail when they become available in the next month. Rega already has info up on their web-site about the new RP6 which you can view here on their RP6 web-page!
Rega Apollo-R CD Player & Saturn Price Drop
January 2012 – It has just become available in the UK and will be available here VERY soon – the new Rega Apollo-R CD player features a number of improvements over the original Apollo and it now comes in the compact R series chassis!. For $1.095 US Retail, you get number of improvements to power supply, analog output stage, and new (Wolfson) DAC chip set used over the original Apollo. Full details can be found here on Rega’s Apollo-R web-page! Along with the announcement of the new Apollo-R, Rega has REDUCED the price of the Saturn D player by several hundred dollars! The Rega Saturn is now $1,795 US Retail – a terrific value!
Rega RP-3 Turntable!
December 2011 – While this may look very similar to the previous Rega P3 – the new RP3 incorporates a number of significant changes/improvements over the P3. The plinth is a all new design that is made of a different lighter material and incorporates a place. The venerable Rega arm-tube has been further optimized and is a all new casting on this RB303 arm. What this adds up to is definite improvements in clarity, blacker backgrounds, better PRAT for little price difference over the old P3. Available in White, Cool Gray, and Titanium colors for no different or extra charge (the high-gloss models are discontinued) without cartridge for $895 and with a factory mounted Elys2 cartridge for $1,095!
Rega Brio-R Integrated Amp!
June 2011 – Rega is now shipping the NEW Rega Brio-R Integrated amp. Rega has given the Brio a major revision by incorporating a number of improvements. Some are convenience related as the Brio-R now has a remote control (yea!) and is now packaged in the new half size chassis first seen with the Rega DAC (see below). On the sound front, the Brio-R incorporates a number of improvements include a new 50W/ch output stage with a class A driver stage along with more robust power supply and regulation for the whole integrated amp. While only marginally more rated power output than the Brio3, this new output stage has higher peak current capabilities and can drive a much wider range of speakers with ease. They have also made improvements to the phono preamp by tweaking the gain to make it more usable with other MM carts (which generally have a bit less output than Rega’s own MM cartridges) and refinements to the RIAA EQ curve below 100 Hz. Full specs and additional details can be found here on Rega’s Brio-R web page and Tone Audio also already has the first review of the Brio-R up which you can check out here (click to view)! The Rega Brio-R comes Black or Silver finish and is $895 Retail.
The NEW Rega DAC is here!
March 2011 – The new Rega DAC is here and in stock. This is a great sounding piece that out performs the internal D/A in the Apollo and Saturn and can turn Rega Saturn’s and Apollo’s into even better sounding digital front ends. Loaded with USB and several high-res capable SPDIF digital inputs, its a great deal for only $995 retail! CLICK HERE to view or special Rega DAC web-page! A number of great reviews are already out on the Rega DAC at Positive Feedback On-Line (click to view) and Tone Audio (click to view).
New Rega Performance Pack for RP1 Turntable!
January 2011 – The new Rega RP1 (see discussion below) turntable has been available for about a month now (offering a great value for only $445 retail). As a additional bonus, you can now opt for a souped up version of the RP1 which includes what Rega calls the “Performance Pack” for just $195 more ($640 retail). What does the Performance Pack get ya for the Rega RP1?? It switches out the standard Rega black belt for the reference white drive belt, the Ortofon OM5E is replaced with the Rega Bias2, then you also get the thicker 100% wool mat (to mate up better with the Bias2), and finally a 14mm “O” ring spacer (which helps you set the counterweight to the right spot for the Bias2 very easily for the recommended tracking force). For more details, you can click here to check on Rega’s PDF on the RP1 Performance Pack! For those of you who want to upgrade your RP1 on your own, we can also get you the RP! Performance Pack separately for $195. Either way, it’s a nice deal because if bought separately, these items are a $234 retail value.
New Rega DAC and Budget Table Coming!
October 2010 – The new Rega RP1 (see pic below) turntable ($445 retail) will be here this November and it will be followed shortly by the new Rega DAC ($995 retail) in late November or Early December! You can catch details about the new Rega RP1 here on Rega’s website. The scuttle but we hear is that the new RP1 not only is better than the old P1, but better then the P2 as well!!! In fact Rega has discontinued both the P1 AND P2 tables, it is so confident about the RP1’s performance! It also will be available in your choice of Charcoal Grey, Titanium, or White finishes at the $445 price! Click here to view a (large) high res pic of the new RP1 in white! The Rega DAC is VERY similar to the DAC found in the $9000 Rega Isis CD player and features selectable filter settings and SPDIF (24/96K) and USB digital inputs! The DAC is packaged in a new half size chassis. At the 2010 RMAF I was shown some (owners manual type) drawings of what the DACs look/layout will be like and it looked allot like the picture from this UK Brist HiFi dealer’s News Page and it will be available in black or silver. It should sound close to the sound of the DAC in the Isis CD player which is very good! We have units on order and will have them as soon as they are available here in the states!
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Rega Reviews
Lots of talk in the press on Rega Research’s latest products, including a neat and rare interview with the founding and guiding mind behind Rega, Roy Gandy. Check out the below reviews and interviews (most are links to PDF files which require Adobe Acrobat reader and open into new windows):
– HiFi News on the Rega P9 table, Alpheta cart and IOS Phono pre!
– Stereophile’s Sam Tellig listens to the Rega Brio, Apollo, & Saturn
– British HiFi Critic mag reviews the Rega P7 turntable
– Stereophile’s Micheal Fremer reviews the P3-24 Turntable
– What HiFi reviews the P3-24 W/Elys2 Cartridge
– Tone Audio takes the entry level Rega P1 for a Spin!
– HiFi Choice Reviews the Rega P2!
– Jazz Times takes a listen to the Rega Apollo
– Tone Audio Review the Rega IOS Phono Preamp
– Tone Audio Reviews the Rega Elicit Integrated Amp!
– JazzTimes.com Reviews a complete Rega System!
– Tone Magazine Interview with Roy Gandy
– Tone Magazine Review of the Rega P9 with Rega Apheta MC Cartridge
– Jazz Times Review of the Rega Saturn CD Player
– HiFi+ Magazine Review of the Rega Saturn CD Player
– HiFi News Review of the new P324 Turntable
– Stereophile’s Art Dudley reviews the Rega Apollo
– Stereophile’s Art Dudley reviews the P5 and P7 Turntables
– Stereophiles Art Dudley reviews the new Rega P1 Turntable
Rega New Phono Stages!
It’s has been rumored about for awhile and it is finally here. Part of what is now called the Rega Signature range of reference products (like the Rega P9 turntable and Alpheta MC phono cartridge), the IOS MC Phono Stage was born out of development work on microphone amps that were designed for Rega’s own LP recordings. The IOS is a dual mono discrete symmetrical pre amplifier using a high performance transformer input stage. Combining the low noise “gain” properties of the transformer and low noise high bandwidth discrete transistor circuitry, the results have to be heard and re define what can be achieved from a phono pre amplifier. The IOS has options for loading, DC resistance, gain, and filtering which will match with any MC phono cartridge design, although when used with Rega’s Alpheta cartridge the synergy is stunning. The IOS is available now, MSRP is $3,195.
For those who are on much tighter budget for a phono stage, Rega has something for you folks too!. The Fono Mini is a new $145 MM phono preamp that is designed to give Rega quality performance at a budget price. Based on the same phono preamp used in the Mira Integrated, it uses the same close tolerance parts as found in the more expensive Fono preamp and is housed in a nice compact extruded aluminum case.
Rega P2/P3/P25 Packaging How To!
Packaging a Rega P2, P3, or P25 is not as easy as it seems…. there are some fine points if missed, can often result a a perfectly good Rega table getting damaged in shipment. Given the number of trade-ups we do, I though it was a good idea to put together a little how-to on some of the finer points plus a whole bunch of pictures so you can see how it is done! Click here to view Rega Turntable Packaging How To Page! (link opens a new window)
Rega Introduces P5 and P7 Turntables!
Rega has incorporated much of what was learned in the revised Planar 9 (and in particular, the RB1000 arm) into two new turntables. The very well received Planar 25 is now discontinued and replaced with the P5. The P5 features the new RB700 tonearm which has a stainless steel base and three point attachment system that was originally developed for the RB-1000. While the same basic motor drive system form the P25 is carried over, the pulley is a improved precision machine unit. The surround/trim of the is a aluminum extrusion which available in your choice of black or silver finish. The US Retail price of the new P5 is $1,295. The P7 offers much of the current P9s performance at considerably less cost. The new RB700 arm is standard and the table uses a more cost effective version of Ceramic Oxide platter of the P9. The P7 utilizes the same dual belt motor and drive system as found on the P9, with a much more affordable version of the of the P9s external motor drive power supply, called the TT PSU. All in all, the new P7 is one pretty cool package which outperformed the original P9 table and retails for $2,595. BTW, the TT PSU can be added to the P5 to further upgrade the P5’s performance for only $345.