If you have been paying attention you will know that we have been looking forward to getting our hands on the new Rega speakers for a few months now.
Rega don't add new speakers too often so when a new range of 3 comes along all at once it's going to be special. Especially when you remember what a roll Rega are on. Sure they are famous for the amazing turntables but now their cd players and every amplifier boasts awards and acclaim worldwide.
So what has prompted the new models? Well, Rega work away on new ideas, technologies, and production techniques all the time. These three elements have come together to give them some real advances.
Their Reference RS10 speakers launched 2 years ago with a new treble unit designated ZRR. This technology is now adapted into a new lower cost unit designed to match with the heart of the RX range, the all new DX125 bass midrange driver. This amazing unit features in all three RX models. In the compact RX1 it does all the bass. In the RX3 and RX5 it is joined by a dedicated side mounted bass unit, a system previously used on the RS ser ies and now upgraded. This system allows you to easily tailor the sound to your room. Start with the bass units facing out towards the corners. If you have too much bass simply change round left and right, the bass units point inward and the bass is reduced in balance. This along with moving the speakers closer to or away from the wall can give the optimal position for any room, very clever.
To use an amplifier that would be a natural partner I first listened with the £ 898 Rega Elex-r. In truth these can be driven by a lesser amp as they are all efficient but let's see what Rega think RX1s should sound like.
Oh-oh, first impressions of the RX1s are really good!
You know I love the Kef LS50 but they have real competition here. I started with Paolo Nutini's These Streets album, just the mood I'm in ok?, and it is lovely. Musical, soft and detailed, and a wonderful voice where you hear all the emotion. Let's try some Radiohead for another great voice, Street Spirit from The Bends album. The guitar sounds great and there's plenty of bass when the bass line comes in. These can really move some air for a small speaker. Something harder next, rock'n'roll from Steve Gibbons Live at the Robin Watching the river flow. Great attack and great drums, these can really rock and are amazing at £ 798
Let's take it up a notch with the RX3 compact floorstanders at £ 1298
. OMG Rega are clever! The bass/mid no longer has to do bass so we immediately have better bass extension as well as better clarity on vocals.
Steve Gibbons now fills the room with more dynamics and slam from the live recording. And these are only 16cm wide!
Shelby Lynne's beautiful Just a little loving next, and it is superb.
Wants me to see what more we can get out these tiny floorstanders with the big sound so let's change the amplifier to the £ 1598 Elicit-r amplifier and reall y get them moving.
Playing Shelby Lynne again gives even deeper bass, even more emotional vocals and even crisper drums, really enjoying these special speakers.
Another track before changing to RX5s, Talking Heads Psycho Killer from Stop making Sense. David Byrne's vocals sound superb!
Let's try Burning down the House from the same album, great now let's go £ 400 more to the RX5
Now the bass line on Burning is even more impressive and these speakers are still only 18cm wide!
It is genius to have this sound from such a compact box, love them to bits!
Let's try a different kind of test. Step right up by Tom Waits from the Small Change album has a really tight double bass lead with drum and sax backing.
Great song, ironic, driving with every possible american sales line.
To summarise, many of you will absolutely love these first for the sound and secondly for the value and thirdly for the domestic harmony!
Call in for a listen, place your order, deliveries start late August/early September
