Rega Elicit/Saturn

[rdpx]

I notice there is a silver Rega Saturn on eBay at the moment for about £400, and also a silver Elicit amp for £600.

I was wondering if any of you lot had any thoughts about these pieces? Specifically wondering if the old Saturn is a better buy than a new Apollo-R as the price is v similar.

And what about the Elicit? Currently have a Brio 3. Have been idly looking out for a Creek Destiny 2, or maybe even get a Croft integrated one day. I like the idea of one remote to work it all though... I don't remember seeing anyone talking much about the old elicit amp...?

Last query. I am using a Clearaudio Nano Phono stage. How might the MM stage on an Elicit compare to this?

Cheers

R

[rdpx]

Don't all speak at once!

[struth]

Not tried any Robert . Sorry

[rdpx]

Not tried any Robert . Sorry
I don't mind if you want to make up something.

;)

[Floyddroid]

They're shit!

I don't mind if you want to make up something.

;)

[walpurgis]

Not owned any Rega stuff other than turntables and arms. Was not hugely impressed. I've heard Rega phono stages, amps and DACs and again not been too struck. It's all decent enough at the price I suppose. Rega made their reputation with the Planar turntables and RB300, which were giant killers at the time, simply because there was just no real competition.

The Creek Destiny 2 though is an amp I'd like to own (as a backup). I have very good amps, but the Destiny 2 is a bit special.

[rdpx]

I've heard that about the destiny 2...

We currently have a Rega Brio 3, and it's very nice but always looking about for more.

Also use a Marantz CD6000KI, and I have a feeling we can do better than that, and buying two pieces that could have one remote would be very nice, hence thinking about the Regas.

[walpurgis]

Also use a Marantz CD6000KI, and I have a feeling we can do better than that.

You can. Just use it as a CD transport feeding a good DAC! Something from Theta or Monarchy Audio maybe.

I really don't see a Rega CD player being much of a step up from your already pretty decent Marantz.

[rdpx]

You can. Just use it as a CD transport feeding a good DAC! Something from Theta or Monarchy Audio maybe.

I really don't see a Rega CD player being much of a step up from your already pretty decent Marantz.

I have box/space/WAF issues which mean I can't really fit a DAC in anywhere... also I know it might seem sacrilege, but I would really like to be able to control the amp volume with a remote, and so if we do get a new amp with a RC then it would make sense to get a CDP to match, I think.

The Saturn seems to have very good feedback from what little I can find on the web. I know there are a lot of people swooning about the new(ish) Apollo-R, and I would have thought the old Saturn should be better than that, no? You don't seem keen Geoff?

R

[Reffc]

The Elicit amp is an excellent amplifier and the phono stages Rega build in are also excellent. I think to say that they make their name with just the Planer turntable is perhaps to do them a disservice. I personally don't much care for their speakers (or speaker designs which I have my own thoughts on...I don't consider them to be any sort of specialists in the loudspeaker arena at all)) but their amplifiers are hugely under rated and are very good indeed, from the humble Brio upwards. The Saturn is also a cracking CDP and in fairness probably less cheaply put together than the Apollo R but I wouldn't say any better SQ wise. The Apollo R is a cracking player and bests a lot of so called "high-end" players for the money. I've been using one for some time now, and it's a very analogue sounding player, in that there's no discernible unpleasant edge as with so many CDPs irrespective of price yet it retains all the detail you'd want. The Saturn is very good but wise to double check that there are no transport issues or other reliability niggles. There are some reports of issues but no more so than any other player of that age (presumably an earlier Saturn?).

[walpurgis]

You don't seem keen Geoff?

R

I'm sure the Rega is fine for the money Robert. I'd suggest trying to find a dealer that can demo one for you or somebody on AOS who has one and would let you hear it and take the Marantz along for comparison.

[southall-1998]

There's plenty Rega dealers in London!!

S.

[hifinutt]

The Elicit amp is an excellent amplifier and the phono stages Rega build in are also excellent. I think to say that they make their name with just the Planer turntable is perhaps to do them a disservice. I personally don't much care for their speakers (or speaker designs which I have my own thoughts on...I don't consider them to be any sort of specialists in the loudspeaker arena at all)) but their amplifiers are hugely under rated and are very good indeed, from the humble Brio upwards. The Saturn is also a cracking CDP and in fairness probably less cheaply put together than the Apollo R but I wouldn't say any better SQ wise. The Apollo R is a cracking player and bests a lot of so called "high-end" players for the money. I've been using one for some time now, and it's a very analogue sounding player, in that there's no discernible unpleasant edge as with so many CDPs irrespective of price yet it retains all the detail you'd want. The Saturn is very good but wise to double check that there are no transport issues or other reliability niggles. There are some reports of issues but no more so than any other player of that age (presumably an earlier Saturn?).

agreed . I have heard the elicit and was well impressed

[Colin]

The saturn is a fine sounding machine, I have used one since soon after they where released. Having compared it with machines costing twice its price, I still chose the saturn. Much better sounding than the apollo or apollo r. They had the odd glitch with the software on a few early models but fixed it. Given Rega's customary customer service levels I would imagine they still will. The initialising routine is a little slow, as it adjusts the laser to the disc, so you need to wait a few seconds after loading a disc before you press play. Given it is going to play for over 40 minutes, and sounds superb when it does I dont see it as a problem.

The elecit is a much under rated amp, as is a lot of Rega kit. Well detailed without being bright, and hangs all the threads together very coherently. It lets you listen to individual instruments, or the very musical whole.

[DSJR]

I've directly compared the Apollo R and Saturn old and new. They're all good, but the Saturn seems a bit more 'expansive' given an amp with more power to exploit it. ALL fairly current Rega amps are lively by nature and can take half to three quarters of an hour to settle down from 'cold,' but the wait is worth it imo.

The Elicit is a good amp and has very usefully extra power over the Brio R and is a bit on the brighter side of neutral, as were the Mira 2000 and '3' models. I suspect a perfect match with the Klotz-type interconnects as Rega used (AC110) as well as the MC5000, which I use extensively now(and not all with MS plugs) in my non NVA gear.

Rega service is superb if you need it (they're making almost too much now and problems arise more than in my day, but they ALWAYS sort it to the customer's advantage), so I'd say to go for them, use speaker cables like the Talk 3 or 4mm Van Damme 'Blue,' rather than Chord Rumour or Odyssey in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

[dowser]

Probably not relevant, but I use an original Mira in my office system - I'm amazed how well it drives my Sonus Faber Concertinos (original bi-wire versions) - I assume it uses unregulated supply rails, never popped it open to check.

[jasonC]

i use to own a rega planet cd spinner and i loved the sound.
i have owned planet 2000 and the original planet,
i liked the original most, both in design,build and sound
regret selling it but i needed the money at the time.
i have owned rega amps but was not so into them.

[jasonC]

i use to own a rega planet cd spinner and i loved the sound.
i have owned planet 2000 and the original planet,
i liked the original most, both in design,build and sound
regret selling it but i needed the money at the time.
i have owned rega amps but was not so into them.

[southall-1998]

i use to own a rega planet cd spinner and i loved the sound.
i have owned planet 2000 and the original planet,
i liked the original most, both in design,build and sound
regret selling it but i needed the money at the time.
i have owned rega amps but was not so into them.


The orignal Planet is a nice machine. What did you prefer from the original over the 2000 model? Is it the sound??

S.