Rega Radio 2013?

[shevans]

Is there any news of a Rega Radio or similar in the works for this year?

[DSJR]

In the UK at any rate, I think "HiFi" radio in separates form is done for in all honesty. FM and even DAB is hobbled by broadcasters compressing everything (Radio 2 presenters now sound like they've been "Dolby" encoded, so squished and sibilant they sound these days and the music always sounds gutless and flat)

OK ok, I'm generalising again, but it's such a shame to me that really excellent vintage tuners are now so limited by the quality of so many UK broadcasts they reproduce - I rarely listen to Radio 3 however - can't stand soprano's wailing up and down the scales which is what seems to be playing every time I venture there ;)

[shevans]

In the UK at any rate, I think "HiFi" radio in separates form is done for in all honesty. FM and even DAB is hobbled by broadcasters compressing everything (Radio 2 presenters now sound like they've been "Dolby" encoded, so squished and sibilant they sound these days and the music always sounds gutless and flat)

OK ok, I'm generalising again, but it's such a shame to me that really excellent vintage tuners are now so limited by the quality of so many UK broadcasts they reproduce - I rarely listen to Radio 3 however - can't stand soprano's wailing up and down the scales which is what seems to be playing every time I venture there ;)

Nothing like the direct answer that I was hoping for.

[hifi_dave]

Rega have always been very tight lipped about new products - not allowing any info to slip out until just before launch date. So, there might be an 'R' tuner on the drawing board but we won't know until it's here.

However, tuner sales are almost non-existent in the UK, so it might not be a viable proposition for Rega to develop a new model.

[shevans]

Thanks, I suppose there "could" be an internet radio / streamer in the pipeline instead of a tuner just have to wait and see.

[hifi_dave]

Once again, there is nothing in the pipeline.

Roy Gandy has said that any form of streaming device is highly unlikely as there are numerous devices already on the market.

So, don't hold your breath and I won't hold out any hope of a valve based phono stage..:doh:

[Covenant]

It would be nice if Rega did their own station like Linn except play some decent music instead of obscure folk artists and 1950 Frank Sinatra impersonators.

[RichB]

I have to agree here the quality of DAB broadcasts is simply awful, the GB public were sold a turkey with digital radio. A lot of FM broadcasts are also unlistenable, and that's not just the music selections and presenters either. Radio 1 sounds 'boosted' to within an inch of its life...its loudness for loudness sake.

As much as I'm keen on Rega stuff I can't see much point in them making a tuner or streamer. Most of my radio listening is from the web which does have some nice sounding stations, radio paradise, avro, hkg fm, and of course streaming services such as last FM and spotify give me all the choice you need. Computer and half decent DAC is all one needs.

[The Grand Wazoo]

It won't be a Rega, but there are so many good ways to buy yourself a really good (and I mean really, really good) tuner at the moment. The best days of tuner manufacture are long gone, but there are plenty of fantastic deals to be had - do a bit of research and see what you fancy. Don't go for the obvious things that are raved about, look for something solid and dependable in the second or third tier of rankings and you'll find something that'll beat most modern tuners into a cocked hat andfor about a fifth of the price.

[DSJR]

Nothing like the direct answer that I was hoping for.

Sorry, but that's the way it is as I see it. Rega made some lovely sounding (and performing) tuners in the past, and I suggest you bite the bullet and look for one of these :)


I have a friend who listens almost exclusively to international web-based radio and he claims the quality is superb and way above much of UK broadcasts. I also understand that the compressed digital feed from the BBC is then fed to the FM transmitters, the audible damage being done long before the FM side.

Nowt wrong with DAB, but again, the 192 speed meant that the sources had to be impeccable for it to work properly, The fact that it now seems that quantity of stations has taken over from less but better quality in the UK, is very sad IMO..

Back to Rega. Richard Dunn may hate this fact, but Rega are in business to make money and any investment in tooling for a new product has to realise a profit fairly quickly once the R&D costs have been recouped. A Rega Radio 2013 may be a wonderful thing, given decent source broadcasts, but I don't think many would be sold sadly, much as I'd like to see one :(

[shevans]

Many thanks, in the past I did have a Rega Tuner 3 and currently own a NAD FM/DAB/streamer amougst my boxes but really after somthing that could match visaually the Rega DAC. The shiny back, red LED and small factor means it would not get noticed ;)