Rega Brio-R Amplifier

The people at Rega are not in charge of balancing the trade deficit. While a significant number of priced hifi is now made in China, Rega continues to make strong layouts constructed by hand by skilled craftspeople in its UK factory. The organization makes a 50wpc integrated amplifier with the outstanding phonostage is very commendable; without going to the Far East the business does it at this degree is nothing less than unbelievable. Roy Gandy, Rega's chief guy, is fond of saying that Rega loves to assemble products that provide top performance in their own specific course. But this time, Rega hit at the ball way from the park.

Longtime Rega enthusiasts might be taken by surprise the cost of the Brior is than that of the prior version, which has existed for about 12 years. But, the newest version offers significant increases as it occupies a footprint that is considerably smaller.

Ensure that you make use of both hands when unpacking the Brio-R. The streamlined carton is pretty hefty, weighing in at around 20 pounds. The Brior features the exact same enclosure as the Rega DAC earlier in 2013 we reviewed, the common strategy keeping costs low and quality high. No detail is left to chance; the remote control circuitry is given its own independent power supply to ensure signal innocence. Poking around in shows one pair per channel, high quality movie covers, as well as a signal path that is very short.

Despite its carton that is smaller, the brand new Brio packages a a wallop that is bigger than its forerunner. And there is never been a perfect example of specs not telling the entire story.

Really, while the final Brio fought with low-impedance loudspeakers, the Brior sailed through. Furthermore, the Rega had no issues driving my MartinLogan Aerius that is classic. A moderately priced incorporated that can handle MartinLogans and Magnepans without difficulty?

Just like the previous Brio, the Brior features an onboard MILLIMETERS phonostage, additionally enhanced in sensitivity and sound quality. Before, users that did not use a Rega phono cartridge complained about a lack of increase an issue that needed serious twisting the volume control to reach acceptable listening levels, in the phonostage. Due to its quietness, I used to be even in a position to make use of a Grado Master1, which has an output signal of just .5mv (47k load). Doing thus necessitated establishing the volume at nearly 2:00 for the maximum amount, but the Brior stayed up to the job.

The front panel that is spartan shares the exact same design brief using a button that needs a touch to toggle between input signals, volume control on the right, as well as a power button on the left. The mute control is obtained through the remote, which likewise allows for input and volume amount changing. And the Brior can just be turned on and away in the front panel.

Approximately rear, a set amount output signal as well as five input signals made for a great match with my Nakamichi 550 cassette deck that was recently restored, which by the way is nearly the exact same size as the Brio-R. For the tapeheads, the output signal has a degree of 210mv.

The single caveat? Input Signal one is the phono input signal and never indicated as such. Stopping up in a line level source here will result in a hateful sound at blown and best tweeter so proceed with care. Get some of Cardas RCA caps, if for no other reason than if you are not a vinyl enthusiast. Rega turntables tend not to have ground wires. But when you are using a 'table that's one, the ground screw is underneath the back face of the amplifier.

The Brior runs on the standard IEC AC outlet, so the ones that love swapping power cords can geek out all they need. And while the typical consumer that buys a Brior may not step too far to the entire world of superior cables, the amplifier is great enough to justify this. Given the limited space, loudspeaker cables with spades are virtually out of the question; banana adaptors or catch bananas.

Different parts are regularly set by resolution apart from integrated amplifiers. The Brior has an entire clarity I Have heard my share of considerably more expensive pieces that fight to sound this great --and that I've never experienced only at that cost. In the end, just a few of sub-$3k amplifiers supply accurate high end sound; the Brior goes on top of the short list. It really seems like parts that are different.

Other cheap integrateds I Have tried (except for the PrimaLuna ProLogue1) do not solve this. Or, what does come through on exactly the same plane as the remaining music--a performance that is blurry as well as is level. By giving dimensionality that is actual, the Brior is a budget component you could listen to for long periods of time, totally participated in the presentation.

The amp maintains a reasonable share of headroom too. Until played at really high volumes whether listening with or with no symphony orchestra, the Rega did not run out of steam.

Your favourite speaker using a sensitivity rating of between 87-91db should show a more than satisfactory match for the Brio-R the power amplifier segment of.

The phonostage in the Brior should show an ideal match for anything in the $100-$600 when combined together with the Rega RP1 and range an upgrade which includes the Prejudice 2 MM, and its own Performance Pack cartridge. The latter features a tonal equilibrium somewhat tipped toward the warm side of neutral than-stellar LP pressings sound their best.

As an example, a buddy that brought over budget treasures bought for fewer than $3/each could not consider the operation wrought by the RP1/Brio-R mix. The Brior's phonostage offers an extremely smooth upper register as well as superb resolution. And while the RP1/Prejudice mix turned in an excellent show, changing to the P324 and Blackbird offered a large helping of "what the analog fuss is really all about."

The Rega Brio-R establishes the standard for an $1000 integrated amplifier and then some. While it is possible for anyone that frequently hear the world's best (and usually most expensive) equipment to get excited about amazing sound, it is really thrilling to listen to this degree of sound quality from an amplifier using an $895 price tag. Music lovers on a budget no more need to sacrifice quality. Where you least expect it, this one could produce a crazed audiophile.

Rega Brio-R Amplifier photo