Rega Isis CD-player
For building moderately priced parts packaged with value, Rega has built a strong reputation during the past thirty years. Rega turntables have been a victory of simplicity and function, using a legion of fans that cross the world. Creator Roy Gandy did not even begin assembling CD players until about ten years past, and is a winner of giving his customers high performance with no higher cost. His sense of humor is apparent within their web site, where it is said that Rega was "the last important high end organization to construct a CD player."
About the exact same time the P9 turntable was additionally introduced by Rega. Subsequently $4,000 and now $5,000, ten years after (with the tonearm updated from the RB900 to RB1000 standing), this was Rega's only entrance into more high-priced parts. Among my benchmark turntables for the previous couple of years, the P9 is a table that is very particular, offering functionality well beyond its pricetag, the same as every other Rega merchandise.
Together with the introduction of the IOS phono period that tendency was continued in 2008 and later on the Evoke integrated amplifier, in the entire year. Something was up at Rega. Though quite fairly priced in market conditions, at about $3,000 each, these parts were still a significant measure up from the Fono. and Brio
Rega is an excellent combination of 20th century craftsmanship, early 21'st century modernization and with their own spin used.
That is not a typo. But it is a CD player that is very special. Before, Rega has been about offering the very best value they believe they can assemble fanatical. Because they just outsource a small portion of the generation, they remove multiple resources of markup that get passed to the customer and have become quite efficient.
They never have deviated using the ISIS a single millimeter from their preferred path, yet the focus has shifted somewhat. The ISIS is the primary product Rega has constructed that's not had a target price attached to it; it is just the most effective player that his staff and Gandy believe they're not incapable of building, with price no item. Coming full circle the pricetag is just $9,000. Has Roy Gandy gone crazy?
It is definitely a competitor as well as in Rega style that is typical, offers worth way beyond its price point. Even in the event you haven't had the opportunity to see them gathered at the factory, the minute you open the carton, the attention to detail is evident. Rega crate
The ISIS comes packaged in an extremely strong yet tasteful mini-crate using the ISIS emblem -density, closed cell foam internals. It provides you with the feel without being excessive, that something unique is indoors. The huge aluminum chassis reveals an appearance not unlike previous Rega players, with their well-known "spaceship" top loading door and red LED's to the leading panel, but severely fortified all the way around.
Along with the player, a large billet remote control is contained that's a set of good quality RCA interconnects as well as a considerable power cord including on par with what you'd expect together with the world's finest audio equipment. An extremely nice touch I'd adore to find out you being in a position to get the choice, although I Had say of these being terminated with XLR's.Rega remote
Which leads us to something else you have never seen from Rega, some of balanced XLR jacks on the rear panel. In addition, there are regular RCA outputs for anyone needing it. Analog and digital periods have their very own independent power supply transformers and there are ten individual voltage regulator periods in the electronic section for the analog position along with another ten. That is definitely an extremely serious bit of hardware that is digital.
Those getting the player serviced as time goes by and worried concerning the utility of the CD format, worry not. In the owner's manual, there's a signature from another technology that QC'd the mechanical and electrical systems, the technician that assembled your ISIS as well as the technology that archived not one, but two spare laser units and analyzed. I presume it is safe to state that the ISIS will survive more than most of its own owners with CD transportation mechanisms becoming tighter all the time and that I appreciate this attention to detail. Rega back view
A great DAC that occurs to play with CD's, or the other way around?
Rega gives you the choice to make use of the ISIS at the same time as the marketplace for high performance CD players is likely nearing its end. Considering the recent success of the Ayre USB DAC, I am thinking this isn't a deal breaker for the existing batch of audiophiles which are more computer, although personally, I'd adore to find out a SPDIF input with this player.
While you could be clinging on to your own gleaming disks for now, the ISIS gives the choices to you to go both ways and that is what makes the ISIS such a great worth. When streaming files from my Mac Book Pro through the USB input signal, which can be switchable in the front panel or the remote the DAC operation of the ISIS was also excellent. With 24/96 files becoming will restrict your music options going forward.
Which $800 bottle of wine can you enjoy along with your dinner?
Together with the ISIS in limited supply globally, the question everyone has been asking me is does is stack up to the five number players I 've here as benchmark parts? Bloody great, I say. Comparing the ISIS Naim 555 was an intriguing study in presentation. It turned out to be a huge help that we'd the ultra disclosing YG Acoustics Anat II loudspeakers around for the length of the review. Within a six-figure reference system, the 555 had the supreme edge when it comes to total analog-like smoothness, although not by a great deal.
The edge went somewhat in favor of the ISIS in relation to passing assault and tonal contrast. Though it failed to have quite the subterranean bass slam of the Wadia but when comparing the playback of the track the ISIS had a clear border in upper ending refinement.
However, this degree of tonal contrast is I'd say that's it is glowing virtue and what I kept coming back to with the ISIS. Acoustic instruments possess a layer of feel that makes the player lots of fun and is unmistakable using the ISIS to hear. And undoubtedly your chosen female vocals will seem fine.
Tonal truth can also be a strong suit using the ISIS. Fans of acoustic music will notice the additional layer of detail and tonal body the ISIS supplies. Going back through a few of the best jazz standards Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane underscored at nailing the tonality of acoustic instruments, just what a fabulous job this player does. Naysayers of high end digital is going to be taken back at how this player that is natural sounds with piano and violin.
That is the sort of stuff that individuals buying five amount CD players do, although naturally we are splitting hairs here. A little insanity in the event that you will, but all great pleasure. The ISIS is a player which allows one to make that last leap to where you become immersed in the music, rather than believing "this is extremely great for digital." There are just a few of players at any given cost that reach this lofty target.
