Verdict
Rega add more functionality than we ’re used to , but does n’t alter the sonic characteristic we ’ve always admire .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Rega is n’t a companionship to rush into anything . Look at this latest variation of its Elicit integrated stereo amplifier , for example , and you ’ll see that it ’s taken until this fifth generation for the society to decide that perhaps a digital stimulation or two might be an idea .
Nevertheless , Rega can be relied upon to drive home the goodness when it fall to heavy quality . From the entry - level io ( £ 420 ) to its flagship Osiris ( £ 7500 ) , its compass of integrated stereophonic system ampere is fully free-enterprise at every level . So it seems improbable in the extremum that the Elicit MK5 will fluff that record .
The Rega Elicit MK5 integrate stereo amplifier is on sales event now , and in its home market place of the UK it ’s price at £ 2000 . American customers are wait at around $ 3350 , while in Australia it will set you back AU$4300 .
You do n’t need me to narrate you this is serious money for an integrated amplifier – specially since Rega is n’t in the use of discount its products – at all , ever . Mind you , that does n’t mean steel both heavy and small are n’t trace up to sell you an choice at very similar money – the likes of Audiolab , Naim , Rotel and Yamaha ( just off the top of my head ) all have a bounder in this especial fight .
Design
rich is usually as proficient a way to trace the design of Rega amplifier as any . Certainly , it ’s more appropriate than , say , fancy . And the Elicit MK5 is no dissimilar – there are no excess blueprint flourish here ; just a serious and business - like esthetic allied to some bomb - proof casework . An all - in free weight of 12.5 kilo tells its own taradiddle .
Still , heft of this sort quite often indicates a production that operates with self-confidence , and that ’s the case with the Elicit MK5 . The big volume control on the right of the facia is nicely damped , the power and input excerption buttons are positive in their action .
So while it ’s unbelievable to make the shortlist of any integrate stereo amplifier lulu contests , this Rega is nevertheless on the right side of “ functional ’ ”
Feature
In some means , the Elicit MK5 mark a bluff going away from the average for Rega where its integrated stereoscopic picture amps are concerned . But having decided to take the dip , I ca n’t help but bid the company had then swum all the means into the mysterious conclusion .
However , it is n’t mostly business enterprise as usual , to be fair . The Elicit MK5 feature five line - spirit level remark alongside a impress - magnet phono stage for use with a lazy Susan , and all six input ultimately lead to analogue gain circuitry that borrows quite to a great extent from the £ 3300 Aethos integrated adenosine monophosphate that Rega launch this time last year .
As far as outputs go , there ’s a 6.3 mm phone socket on the dashboard , and a few stereoscopic picture RCA eq on the tush for manipulation with a pre - amp and/or transcription devices . There are also bind posts for a single yoke of speakers .
The bragging word ( from a Rega item of view , at least ) is the appearance of digital visual and digital coaxial inputs on the rearward panel – there ’s one of each . This is something of a departure for the Essex - based manufacturing business , even if it ’s something the companionship ’s most famous rivals have been into for a while now . Both inputs lead to a Wolfson DAC with a maximum resolving of 24bit/192kHz .
I ca n’t help but wish that , having steel itself for a self-aggrandising step into a audacious young world , Rega had further prick the hummer and fitted a USB input andBluetoothwireless connectivity , too . After all , digital is digital , right ? If it ’s “ convenience ” you ’re take for , why not go the whole pig ? Still , let ’s not ask for the moonshine when Rega has finally decide to provide the star …
index is quoted as 105 watts per channel at 8 ohm , and 162 watts per channel at 4 ohms . Given how cryptical - breathing Rega amplifiers tend to be , it ’s unmanageable to hail up with a pair of speakers that may be too truculent for the Elicit MK5 to drive – not that are cost - appropriate , anyway .
Control is via Rega ’s Solaris scheme remote French telephone . It is n’t bad by prevailing banner , inasmuch as its buttons are all of a decent size of it and its labelling is somewhat clear . Some backlighting would be nice , of course , but then again , see the remark above about necessitate for the moon …
Sound Quality
Where do you tolerate on the idiom “ laid - back ” ? Does that sound like a incontrovertible to you ? If so , the Rega Elicit MK5 may not be the perfect choice for your next structured stereoscopic photograph amplifier . But if you find words such as “ positive ” , “ clean ” , “ elaborated ” or “ punchy ” a bit more to your liking , then show on – the Elicit MK5 is all of those things , and then some .
drop off on a vinyl copy of Étienne de Crécy ’s Super Discountvia the Rega ’s admirable move magnet phono stage and it all becomes clear . Really very clear indeed , in fact ; this Rega adenylic acid is the aural combining weight of a impertinently cleaned windowpane that looks out onto a adorable view .
Throughout the frequency orbit , the Rega is a role model of lucidity and item retrieval . The amount of entropy it can pull up and retain is little short of startling , and it delivers it without any sort of fanfare . alternatively , it ’s simply a part of an extraordinarily information - racy whole .
At the bottom end , the Elicit MK5 punches determinedly and with no little weighting . Bass sounds are properly controlled , though , so although they ’re solid , they ’re never indocile . As a upshot , this rhythm - dependent recording moves along at a time rather than sounding musclebound . The grip and manoeuvrability that the Rega demonstrates take a shit it an ideal terpsichore - base partner .
The top of the frequency kitchen range is likewise self-assertive , likewise detailed and similarly energising . Partnered unsympathetically ( and the Rega is quite intolerant of less accomplished electronics ) threefold sounds can glint as dangerously as broken glass on the lawn ; but get your system - matching right and it ’s all about an upfront , significant and spacious presentation .
flip-flop to something a little more , well , human ( such as a candela of Joni Mitchell ’s Ladies of the Canyon ) allow the Rega to showcase its mid - range fidelity – and it ’s pregnant . It clothe the vocaliser ’s innocence of tone with an absolute hatful of part and emotion , bring out the hunky-dory detail with the sorting of casual efficiency and lack of magnification that ’s the hallmark of a good grouped amplifier .
Joni Mitchell is an affecting singer , even in less - than - ideal context – and when circumstances are idealistic , as they are here , she ’s effortlessly and systematically moving .
Elsewhere , the Rega is similarly accomplished . It ’s hefty enough to make the most of big dynamic variance ; it ’s thoughtful enough to verbalise the most small harmonic dispute with rank positivity ; it ’s expansive enough to describe a big soundstage with complete certainty .
And all of these admirable traits are reproducible across the circuit card . Whether you ’re listening to an analogue source , a digital eq , or have plugged in a pair of ( necessarily equal to ) headphones – the Rega does n’t change its transonic position at all .
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Should you buy it?
The Rega ’s moving magnet phono stage is impressive .
Some wireless connectivity would have been welcome .
Final Thoughts
Even if it was purely an analog integrate amplifier , I ’d like the Elicit MK5 a great quite a little . So I suppose it ’s just a issue of “ want , need , want ” that Rega fitting a majuscule DAC and a couple of digital stimulant simply makes me want more . Just take the Elicit MK5 on its own condition , Simon – it ’s a great - sounding amplifier and a front - smuggler at the price .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every amplifier we survey thoroughly over an extended period of time . We utilise industry standard trial to compare features properly . We ’ll always narrate you what we encounter . We never , ever , live with money to retrospect a product .
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FAQs
There is no support for the Bluetooth standard on this Rega amplifier .
