Rega Brio-R, Brio and IO small form factor integrated amplifiers

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Art K, Jan 23, 2021.

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  1. Art K

    Art K Retired but not tired! Thread Starter

    Location:
    Corvallis, Oregon
    Sometimes you just find something you love! These amps are it for me. All three destined to be classics. Great sound and value. I owned two Brio-R’s at one point. My ex-wife still has one of them tethered to her B&W speakers.

    Right now I’m listening to my Spendor Classic 3/1’s with my IO and together they sound smooth and musical. Last weekend I had my Harbeth P3’s connected to the IO and that sounded wonderful as well... I really thought it would be mismatch and was surprised at how good it all sounded.

    I have Brio on order and am looking forward to it’s arrival.

    Perhaps I am just a LoFi guy!
     
  2. Noel Patterson

    Noel Patterson Music Junkie

    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    I agree, loved my Brio-r. Sadly passed it along to my father to try on his little Harbeths as I just needed more power to my speakers. Stumbled across a good deal on a PS Audio and decided to try it and it did open up the sound significantly and sounds great, but I do miss something that the Brio gave me. My Rega amp journey isn't over tho, when I find a good deal on an Elex-r, it's mine!
     
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  3. Art K

    Art K Retired but not tired! Thread Starter

    Location:
    Corvallis, Oregon
    Yeah, certainly some of the amps I’ve owned have more of this or that but in the end I keep coming back to these little Rega amps. I have owned amps from LFD, Sugden, Sonneteer, Belles, Heed, Croft and so many more but still circle back around. My Croft isn’t going anywhere. It’s just taking some time off.
     
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  4. brubacca

    brubacca Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Once you are into Fi meaning a brand like Rega it's not Low-fi.

    Its got groove and is good enough where good recordings sound great. Also crappy recordings sound good.

    Brio is a great place to be.

    I have a Naim Unitiqute. Think Brio with DAC and streamer built in.
     
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  5. Art K

    Art K Retired but not tired! Thread Starter

    Location:
    Corvallis, Oregon
    I love the Naim sound as well. However, I do not want a DAC and streamer built in to my amp. A good phono, yes. If I did want the DAC built in certainly the Naim Uniti Atom would be at the top of my list.
     
    bhazen likes this.
  6. russk

    russk Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse NY
    Rega just makes good sounding amps. They don’t measure great and can be a little on the noisy side compared to the best modern examples but they sound great for the money. Naim, Rega, Audiolab, and Rotel are classic brands and always a safe go to recommendation.

    Also like Nord’s integrated amps. I was surprised they were made in the UK for some reason. Small, light weight, and great sounding.

    Then again I’m definitely a midfi guy in my old age. I like Yamaha, Marantz, Technics, Klipsch, and JBL so....
     
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  7. Ntotrar

    Ntotrar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tri-Cities TN
    Miss my all Rega system.
     
    maglorine, bhazen, timind and 4 others like this.
  8. Noel Patterson

    Noel Patterson Music Junkie

    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Always liked Rotel too, owned a couple small amps in the 90s. Been wondering what the new ones sound like.
     
    SonicCzar, Manny-O-War, russk and 2 others like this.
  9. Echoes Myron

    Echoes Myron Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I have an all-Rega front end with the Elicit-R. Absolutely love it.

    Great little amp--neutral and detailed, with just a touch of warmth.
     
  10. shug4476

    shug4476 Nullius In Verba

    Location:
    London
    I think I've said over and over... if the Brio had an AV bypass I'd never have sold it. Absolutely fantastic amp.
     
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  11. Donivey

    Donivey Forum Resident

    Location:
    NC
    Any dealers on the East Coast?
     
    GoldprintAudio likes this.
  12. Ntotrar

    Ntotrar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tri-Cities TN
    bhazen, GoldprintAudio, Ivand and 2 others like this.
  13. Ntotrar

    Ntotrar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tri-Cities TN
    I have made up my mind, back to Rega. Just something lacking in my current system... With the right material it sounds amazing. So I find myself avoiding albums I otherwise loved. Horns? When I had front to back Rega I didn't have this problem...
     
    Art K, Ivand, timind and 1 other person like this.
  14. action pact

    action pact Music Omnivore

    I prefer tubes most of the time, but when the weather gets too warm for that, I bring this little guy out...

    [​IMG]

    I like my Brio-R so much that I've added some more Rega components to my system, a Fono MM and a DAC-R.
     
  15. Pmds55889397

    Pmds55889397 Forum Resident

    Rega amps just gets better and better.
    Maybe not the final last word, but plain musically.

    Their range have six amps, nine (maybe ten) turntables and much more, made in UK
     
    shug4476 likes this.
  16. shug4476

    shug4476 Nullius In Verba

    Location:
    London
    Yep even the Elicit wasn't that transparent but it sure sounded great!

    Also Rega really comes alive with vinyl.
     
    Echoes Myron likes this.
  17. brubacca

    brubacca Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Agreed. This exactly. I find this also true with Rega DAC. Rega makes music.
     
    bhazen likes this.
  18. russk

    russk Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse NY
    I’m in the U.S. but if I had Rega gear at UK prices it would be hard to justify anything else as far as components go. I could live happily with an Elicit-R and P6 with an Exact into a pair of the new Klipsch or JBL. Hell my Dac-r still holds its own when compared to new DACs I’ve tried from Schiit, Chord, and Topping.
     
    fcdvpds, Ro-Go, bhazen and 1 other person like this.
  19. jcr64

    jcr64 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Indiana
    @Art K, weren't you one of those who warned me off the IO for my then-incoming P3esrs, suggesting that even for near-field listening I should have more power? I went with the Brio and love the combination, but I still periodically wonder if I could have saved a few hundred dollars, since all my listening on that system is near-field, low-volume at my desk.

    Sorry if I've falsely accused you!
     
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  20. John76

    John76 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midwest
    I replaced a NuForce IA-7 and Exposure 15 integrated amp with two Sonos Amps and couldn’t be happier. Both were used in a multi room setup and the Sonos Amps sound just as good and functionally work better with the gear they’re attached to.
     
  21. Art K

    Art K Retired but not tired! Thread Starter

    Location:
    Corvallis, Oregon
    You are correct, I did. Later in the same thread I corrected that. I will have a Brio very soon to compare directly in my own home. The IO is a lot more capable than I originally thought.
     
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  22. Ilusndweller

    Ilusndweller S.H.M.F.=>Reely kewl.

    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    I remember that IO thread and I was a bit skeptical bc of its light weight. Glad it is even better than you anticipated Art. I have always enjoyed your equipment reviews and thoughts, thanks!

    //Rave review for the new $595 Rega Io Amplifier
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
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  23. bhazen

    bhazen I Am The Walrus

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    Naw. You've got an ear for musicality and value! :)

    I haven't heard the iO yet, but it appears to be stunning musical value for the money (very positive reviews from people I trust.) I had the Brio-R for awhile, and have to say that, in my room anyway, I'm not sure the money I spent for the Nait XS2 I have now was really all that worth it.

    Rega really knows how to make a musical, affordable amp. ♡

    I agree with the sentiments expressed about the Rega DAC-R, too ... an underappreciated jewel.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
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  24. Ntotrar

    Ntotrar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tri-Cities TN
    Ok, not going back to Rega just yet but I'm going to try something different. If it doesn't work out then I'll probably be Rega bound!
     
    bhazen likes this.
  25. Art K

    Art K Retired but not tired! Thread Starter

    Location:
    Corvallis, Oregon
    Line Magnetic not working for you?
     
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