Rega Amplifiers - Shelf Filling Heavy Weights

/ Audio T Cardiff/

NEW

REGA ELICIT MK5 AMPLIFIER

With the arrival of the all new Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier, I thought it was high time we compared three of Rega’s best; the Elex-R , Elicit and the Aethos. I’ll take a look at the differences in performance and tell you all about these fantastic British built amplifiers. I very proudly own a Rega Elex-R with a Rega Planar 6 turntable myself, so I’ll let you know how I came to the decision of my purchase and why I count myself as a bit of a Rega fanboy!

Since their humble beginnings back in 1973, Rega’s initial success was built upon award-winning tonearms and turntables but Rega has been making complete hi-fi systems since the eighties. From day one every Rega product has been designed to achieve some of the best musical performances and deliver a lifetime of musical enjoyment at an affordable price.

To this day, Rega designs and assembles every product by hand in their custom-built 38,000 square foot facility in the South East of England, employing over 140 people, their product range is currently exported globally to 46 different countries. So let’s take a look…

Rega - Elex-R

Starting with the Elex-R we have a fine blend of the Brio and the Elicit. So, what comes from where and why combine the two amps. The Elex-R borrows its power circuit and phono stage from its big brother the Elicit and the simplicity from the Brio, this comes together giving you more power control and dynamics while retaining that classic warm but detailed Rega tone we all know and love. Basic features:

  • Price £1045*

  • 72 watts per channel into 8 ohm and 90 watts per channel into 6 ohm

  • Moving magnet phono stage

  • 4-line inputs with pre-amp and record out

  • Class A/B design

  • The same power transformer as the Elicit

Rega - Elicit MK5

Now for the new kid on the block, the Elicit MK5. This highly anticipated amplifier has gone through its fair share of changes making it a real force to be reckoned with. With decades of award-winning design packed with a few new features, Rega have come up with the perfect integrated amplifier at this price point. Featuring the same FET based pre-amp circuit found in the award winning Aethos, and it is powerful enough to run even the most power hungry floor standing speakers. It also has arguably one of the best integrated DACs I have ever come across in an amplifier. The Wolfson DAC really stands out in the crowd, especially being driven by Rega’s all new Saturn MK3 CD player, I can hear great detail while maintaining the warmth and musicality. Here are the features:

  • Price £2000*

  • 105 watts into 8 ohms 127 watt’s into 6 ohm and a huge 162 watt into 4 ohms

  • Moving magnet phono stage

  • 4 line out input’s with record in and out

  • Class A/B design

  • Built in Wolfson 16 to 24 bit DAC with digital, optical and coax input’s

  • Built in headphone amp with 1/4” socket

  • Direct and preamp out

Rega - Aethos

Now last but not least the Jewel in Rega’s crown the Aethos . Although the Aethos looks very similar to the Elex-R and the Elicit it certainly stands apart from the others in not just price. Being the most powerful amplifier in this shoot out with its internal dual mono design putting out 156 Watts per channel into 6 ohms this amp is a true monster. The headphone amplification circuit switches the main speaker output using a mute relay as so not to obstruct the signal path, so you get the sound quality you desire while listening through headphones. The tech specs:

  • Price £3300*

  • 125 Watts into 8 ohms and 156 Watts into 6 ohms’

  • No phono stage

  • 5-line inputs with direct input, record out and pre-amp out

  • Dual mono design

  • Built in headphone amp with 1/4” socket

The Setup

So I could best judge the performance of the amplifiers, I have replicated as much of my home setup for a reference point I’m intimately familiar with…

Music used

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced - recorded in 1967 - Tracks used - ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ (Vinyl)

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - Recorded in 1975 - Tracks used - ‘Trampled Underfoot’ and ‘Ten Years Gone By’ (Vinyl)

Alice In Chains - Rainier Fog - Recorded in 2018 - Track used - All I Am (CD)

The listening

Rega Planar 6 Spinning Jimi Hendrix

So down to the important part. As previously mentioned, I personally own the Rega Elex-R. I know how it is going to sound and perform. This is where my love of class A/B amplification starts. With its ability to create a good and strong sound stage and warm yet detailed tone, also borrowing some of the same tricks that the Elicit has up it’s sleeve, i.e., the power circuit bringing out things I’ve not heard before like the backing vocals in Hendrix’s ‘Wind cries Mary’. What stood out to me aside from its tone is its simplistic design and the fantastic value. It is a lot of amplifier for your money.

Now onto the all new Elicit Mk5. As I stated before, this is the latest edition to the Rega family. There have been several incarnations of the Elicit amplifier before, but I personally think Rega have outdone themselves on this one. Not only does it have more power, but it has so much of the same feel as its big brother, the Aethos. The Elicit feels more effortless and I found myself turning the volume up, especially on ‘Led Zeppelin’s - Trampled Underfoot’ with that infamous clavinet used on that track by John Paul Jones, instantly getting my foot tapping.

Next, I thought I’d explore the Elicit’s Wolfson DAC so I connected up the Rega Saturn MK3 CD player. I found it detailed and easy to listen to as well as engaging on ‘Alice in Chains - All I Am’. The swirling phaser effect that they use on the recording is mesmerising and full of depth. This amplifier is a hard one to beat at this price point.

Ok, and now for the finale (drum roll please)… Well, I have to say this amplifier has taken my breath away. Yes, this amplifier has a lot more power but that in no way means it is hard to control. It is effortless to listen to, yet draws more detail out of the music. This was noticeable when playing ‘Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone By’. I could hear that slight bit of a ring from John Bonham’s upper toms on his drum kit (I know I’m being really nerdy, I’m sorry). In short, the Aethos is at the top end of the scale here but if you think about what you are getting for your money this amplifier is priceless.

Conclusion

Led Zeppelins Physical Graffiti LP

So, to sum up this shootout - Each of these amazing amplifiers bring something different to the table and not just more of the same. The Elex-R has fantastic build quality and simplicity, a rich tone and bags of power. The Elicit has more power but yet more functionality especially with it’s lovely new built-in DAC. And of course, the Aethos a true class A amplifier with more power to say the least, but yet more control and detail and much much more to make you smile.

You maybe wondering why I went for the Elex-R?

It’s a long enjoyable road on the Hi-fi journey and I am at the start. I felt the Elex-R is the best amp to start with for me as I really enjoy its class AB tonal characteristics and how easy it is to use. The power behind it as I mentioned before is borrowing some of the Elicits power amp design which is capable of driving many many loudspeakers on the market. It drives my Acoustic energy AE300 speakers with ease and was at the right price point. Maybe further down the road I may go for an Elicit or really head down that wonderful class A route and go for the Aethos… We’ll just have to see.

But don’t take my word for it. Why not pop into our store for a demonstration and see which one you prefer.

Thanks for reading

Nick, Matt & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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