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All Rega models are made in England. "Rega has long been recognized as a leading brand of audio gear for enthusiasts with audiophile aspirations but limited funds. Rega regularly comes up with radical & cost-effective engineering." STEREOPHILE 5/09
Cartridges made in England
EXACT 2 $595, "Good transient speed & openness. Doesn't have the "zippy" top end of many comparatively priced moving coils, yet rivals their detail & bass extension. Compatible with just about any preamp, including low-gain tube types. It produces a strikingly low-level of groove noise." ABSOLUTE SOUND 9/05
CDs made in England
APOLLO, List $1,000; now $845 until 3/31/10 with any CD or DVD trade-in, working or not. PRODUCT OF THE YEAR "Does more things well than any other at its price. Resolution & detail are spectacular for the money. Focus & extended response at both frequency extremes. Breakthrough performance via some radical design advancements: an all new transport, CD control chipset & system software." ABSOLUTE SOUND 1/07
"Finest under $1000 CD player, substantially more resolution than others, plus a richly textured sound that spans the entire audio spectrum." ABSOLUTE SOUND 9/09
Exceptional Value, Rated in same class as $6000 CD players. "Very strongly recommended. Smokes players that sell for twice the price! Far more value, in sound quality terms, than anything else I've heard at or near the price." STEREOPHILE 10/09
LEAST EXPENSIVE CD rated BEST BUY, "Splendidly musical performer. Bass is good, midrange is great & high frequencies are truly exceptional." HI-FI CHOICE AWARDS 2008
5 STARS, TOP-RATED above more expensive Cambridge, Primare, Roksan & Yamaha, WHAT HI-FI AWARDS 2008
SATURN, List $2400; now $1796 until 3/31/10 with any CD or DVD trade-in, working or not. A Rated, Exceptional Value, in same class as $29,000 CDs. "Faster, more open & a more detailed, more delicate sound, with greater treble extension & tighter bass." STEREOPHILE 4/09
BEST BUY, "Lively, natural bass." HI-FI CHOICE AWARDS 2008
"The music hangs magically in the air between the speakers. When I close my eyes, the singer might be in the room, it's that spooky. Offers hauntingly intoxicating music; non-fatiguing, nearly analog-like. Fun & easy to listen to. Nuances of instrumental timbre transmitted perfectly with superior musical realism." JAZZ TIMES 07
Integrated amps made in England
MIRA 3, $1195, EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, in same class as $6,100 amps. "Outstanding without being ostentatious. Purist design with remote & phono stage. Warm, rich, full bodied sound, lots of dynamic drive, very smooth & sweet midrange. I loved it! Excellent sound, nice features & outstanding value."
STEREOPHILE 10/09
BRIO 3, $695, EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, in same class as $2,500 amps. "Harmonically rich, full-bodied bass, smooth midrange & sweet treble. Excellent build quality, exceptional value. I know of nothing better anywhere near the price."
STEREOPHILE 10/09
"Very good sounding, well built at a fair price. The inclusion of a real phono stage is a nice touch."
ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 9/09
Interconnect Cable
COUPLE, $195/1 meter, "Plenty of upper mid / treble detail, fine resolution of textures, yet without exagerated transients or edginess. Bass tight & punchy, wonderfully neutral throughout midrange."
ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/10
Phono Preamp MADE IN ENGLAND
IOS. Moving Coil Phono preamp, $3195 "One of the Top Phono Stages ever. Comparing it to the $10k Conrad-Johnson TEA-1 & Nagra VPS, it definitely held its own. Fantastic listening." TONEAUDIO 2008
SPEAKERS made in England
R1, $595, "Coherent & involving." BEST BUY, HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
R5, $1595, "Presents an impressively transparent window to recordings, excellent clarity, a large transparent presentation & fine focus." ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/10
Turntables
ALL MADE IN ENGLAND & INCLUDE TONEARM
P1, $395, THE GREATEST BARGAIN in a HIGH END TURNTABLE "You get the pace, musical interplay & involvement that make analog special."
ABSOLUTE SOUND RECOMMENDED 11/09
TURNTABLE of YEAR, includes Ortofon cartridge "Rega's famous pace, rhythm & musicality are all here, but without the frequency extension or wide dynamics of more costly models. Terrific sounding, highly involving & affordable."
ABSOLUTE SOUND RECOMMENDED 1/08
"The best value in vinyl playback. Excellent focus & 3 dimensionality." ABSOLUTE SOUND 7/07
ANALOG COMPONENT OF THE YEAR & BUDGET COMPONENT OF THE YEAR, STEREOPHILE 12/08
"Highly recommended. This marks the first time that a designer whose work ranks with the very best has created an audio component this affordable. High quality & value." STEREOPHILE 4/09
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P3 & Elys 2 cartridge, $1095, ANALOG COMPONENT & BUDGET COMPONENT OF THE YEAR, STEREOPHILE 12/08
"Rega P3 immediately explained why new, young vinyl devotees are so immediately captivated. The Rega produced big solid images on a soundstage of exhuberant size. The tonal balance tended toward the rich, warm side. MP3s [have] a thin, smeary, constricted sound. Hearing Rega's musical riches - or any decent budget rig - is akin to seeing HDTV for the first time. Well-balanced musicality, inviting warmth, snappy rhythm'n'pace, relaxing musical flow & elegant appearance." STEREOPHILE, on cover 8/08
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, rated in same class as $2200 turntables. "Rich, warm tonal balance, it produced big solid images on a soundstage of exhuberant size; an evolutionary step forward, physically, sonically & ergonomically. The classic no-fuss, no-frills turntable. Three thumbs up!" STEREOPHILE, 4/09
"It improves upon Music Hall & Pro-ject Xpression in all areas; [it is] big & bold, with a lot of warmth & color. The soundstage is wide. Bass is ample with more definition. Transparency, clarity of line & texture & vividness of tonal color & timbre are an easily audible step above others." ABSOLUTE SOUND RECOMMENDED 3/09
"Known for its rhythmic incisiveness, it also has greater dynamic range, a more convincing sense of air & space, a lower noise floor, richer tonality & improved bass over earlier versions. For an extra $375, the TTPSU power supply takes the performance to a significantly higher level."
ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/10; PRODUCT of the YEAR, 2009
2007 & 2008 PRODUCT of the YEAR; rated above Clearaudio other $3000 turntables. "No turntable is a better value for the money thanthe Rega P3-24. Excellent build quality; a sonic superstar. The Rega's timing & dynamics are class leading, as is the overall transparency. We think you'll love it. It's a pleasure to use & a joy to listen to." WHAT HI-FI AWARDS 2008
BEST BUY, HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
"Solid bass foundation with nice tonal; warmer sweeter, more refined sound." ABSOLUTE SOUND 3/08
"Great performance for price; solid build quality; quick, easy setup. Sense of definition, focus & space it brought to specific instruments & voices. Hearing the Rega's realistic & coherent presentation was nothing short of a revelation." SOUND & VISION 6/08
"Reveals microscopic sonic details & a sense of definition, focus & space. A smart step-up model for vinyl addicts looking to enter the big leagues." ONLY RECOMMENDED TURNTABLE, SOUND & VISION 8/08
P5 Turntable, $1395, EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD "A Iow vibration / low coloration design; as close to set it & forget it as you're likely to find." ABSOLUTE SOUND 10/06
"One of the most musical front ends anywhere near its price. I prefer its overall musicality to just about any digital system, as well as several more expensive analog rigs. Compared to a Rega P3, the P5 is quieter, had tighter & deeper bass, a more 3D soundstage & better highs. [While] the P3 is quite the bargain, the P5 is noticeably superior & worth the extra cost. If you believe your audio system should help eliminate stress rather than increase it, the P5 will prove highly rewarding. Its engaging musicality, easy setup & ease of use should delight music lovers." ABSOLUTE SOUND 9/05
"Offers the emotional & intellectual involvement that comes only when a component gets the musical essentials down right. Compared with the Planar 3, the 5 is more explicitly detailed & significantly better at soundfield depth & image placement."
Rated in same class as $8250 tables. STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 4/09
BEST BUY, "Great sense of timing, market leading resolution & phenomenal tonearm - hard act to beat." HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
P7 Turntable, $2695, "Greater measure of musical insight" rated in same class as $7500 tables. STEREOPHILE 10/07
BEST BUY, "Highly capable, could hold its own in the most exalted company - a vivid & natural performer." HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
"Performs well out of its class. Easy set up, trouble-free build; rumble, speed accuracy, stability, wow & flutter essentially state of the art. Rega's expertise & thoughtful engineering showed immediately with a finely crafted & very well balanced sound quality. Stereo sound-stage stable & well-focused." HI-FI CRITIC 6/08
P9 Turntable, $4995, "Exceptionately elegant hi-tech player with ceramic platter & wonderful tonearm." HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
EDITOR'S CHOICE "Spectacularly good value." HI-FI CHOICE 2/08
Tonearms & Accessories
RB301, $395, Least Expensive Recommended Tonearm "Terrific sounding & affordable."
ABSOLUTE SOUND 2/08
Exceptional Value, CLASS A, same as $15,600 arms. "Uses RB700 & flagship RB1000 secure 3-point cartridge mount & RB700's improved vertical bearing housing & magnetic antiskating. Big solid images on a exhuberant-sized soundstage. Tonal balance rich & warm." STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 4/09
Cartridge Torque Wrench, $245,
"A must for serious analog addicts & professional installers." STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 4/09
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