| Author |
Thread: Rega Brio or Rega Brio 3 ? |
    
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 30
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 10:30 am: |
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Rega Brio or Rega Brio 3?
Which is the best and Why?
Thanks in advance
Carlos |
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Relevant Product Info
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Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 3894
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 10:50 am: |
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The Brio 3 is rated at 49 watts per and the Brio at 38 I believe. There are a number of internal changes that mean more power and a more effortless presentaion. I know of no integrated anywhere near it's price that can touch it.
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/172641.html |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 33
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:16 pm: |
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Hi Art,
Can you tell me if the Rega brios I have mentioned before are both good generalists like a Nad 320 bee?
They play rock, pop music and classic music very well and with great power like the Nad 320bee?
Do you know if they can match my sources well?
Sorry to much questions but any help you or someone can give me is welcome.
Thanks in advance
Regards
Carlos |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 3916
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:32 pm: |
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Obviously I would need more info that you have provided thus far. What speakers and source are you using? |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 34
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 04:42 am: |
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Nad 521bee cd player Monitor Audio B2 speakers
Regards
Carlos |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 35
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 04:55 am: |
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and a Sony st-sdb900 (Dab and fm tuner) |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1907
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 07:25 am: |
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Carlos, the Brio is a different presentation to the C320BEE. It has more drive and power. It should suit the C521 fine. The Monitor Audios are easy to drive too so I shouldn't imagine it would have a problem.
There have been several Brios. They have progressively got better. The original was a dinky little thing, low on power but sweet as a nut. The later (big) Brio was a good staple. The latest Brio 3 is a very good machine. It seems to resolve the signal better and the extra power means that it is happier nowadays driving more difficult speakers like Dynaudio Audience 42s and Totem Dreamcatchers. It also breathes more easily and just generally has a bit more drive. It's not a huge difference but it is an obvious one in a side-by-side comparison. The weakpoint in your system after this would be the 521.
I have only one caveat in all this. Your profile says you are using Cyrus biwire (did you mean DNM?). I only ever use Rega amps with Naim speaker cable. I'm not sure how the rather strange capacitative load of the Cyrus cable works in this application The VDH cable you mention is the Name which is an AV interconnect so I guess you're using that with the tuner? I use Chord Co interconnects in these NAD/Rega systems. I find it suits the NAD/Rega approach.
Regards,
Frank. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 3921
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 07:38 am: |
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Chord speaker cable works well with Rega as well. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 36
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 09:35 am: |
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Thanks for your comments folks,
But and about musical reproduction, it is a generalist amplifier?
I`m having problems to find a Rega dealer in Norwich, do you know any?
Regards
Carlos |
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Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 37
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 09:43 am: |
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I have at home the Chord Carnival Silver biwire and another interconnect, Qued 1. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 3924
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 03:29 pm: |
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Just get some Chord IC'as and you're in business. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 38
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 06:46 pm: |
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Frank, I Found a Rega Brio version 2000 in ex demonstration condition for £200 and I`d like to ask you if That model sounds much different than Rega Brio 3.
If I`m not wrong the Rega Brio 2000 is famous to be smooth like a tube amp but I read something different about Rega Brio 3 but it was not explicit enought to me.
Both amplifiers have different presentation?
I really need to know because I will buy it by internet.
If you can help me in that doubt I really appreciate that.
Regards in advance
Carlos |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1921
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 09:44 am: |
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The Brio 2000 has a similar sound to the Brio 3. It's a bit smoother, not as transparent, nor as powerful as the 3, but generally it's a similar presentation.
Regards,
Frank. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 39
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 05:13 pm: |
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Hi Frank and Art, thank you very much for all information and help you gave me.
I`ll try the Rega brio 2000 if I don`t like it I can swap it to the Rega brio 3.
Regards
Carlos |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 43
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 11:41 am: |
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Hi people, I already have at home my Rega Brio 2 for 3 days now.
This product is really good, to be honest I didn`t expect it was so good, I still amazed and delighted with such quality sound from that litle amplifier but with great heart.
I never enjoyed the music like now because all music sounds great and it does a good match with my sources and speakers I suppose it will play even better with a Rega p2 or p3.
I don`t understand why the british press doesn`t like Rega amplifiers, it is vey strange isn`t?
Best regards
Carlos |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4118
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 01:07 pm: |
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The US audio press has been very kind to both the Mira and Brio and for good reason they are fine integrated amps. |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 1579
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 02:57 pm: |
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Hi-Fi choice (I think thats the; it's at home) did a review of a Brio3/Apollo/R3 system. They had nothing but praise for it. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4120
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 04:23 pm: |
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Nice to see ya again Stu. |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 1580
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 05:53 pm: |
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Thanks Art. I've been busy traveling for work the last few months. Div 1 Men's Basketball season is pretty long and I've logged quite a few miles since November. Not much time to post here.
But, is it just me or has traffic here dropped a lot the last couple of months? |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4121
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 07:07 pm: |
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I really hadn't noticed, probably because I've been here the whole time. Now that you mention it though...yeah! |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 5959
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 08:35 pm: |
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yep! |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1946
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 06:10 am: |
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Don't we wish! Here in the UK, traffic has increased massively in the last few years. Now the government's considering road pricing (at about $2/mile) to make people use alternative modes of transport and reduce congestion!
Really pisses me off...
Regards,
Frank. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4123
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 07:12 am: |
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Traffic on the website Frank.
Automobile traffic has increased at near exponential rates here. I5 is near to impossible to drive on now. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 5965
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 05:56 pm: |
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That won't buy a lot of votes, Frank. But guess what? The opposition will Ballyhoo it right to election day, win, then fuhgettaboutit!
Massive revenues into the general accounts..er,er ecological funding. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 44
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 09:36 pm: |
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Hi Guys,
Two days ago I used solid core speaker cable to connect my Rega Brio amp and speakers and it sounded very well to my ears but I don`t want to damage my amplifier and then I connected them with Chord Carnival Silver Plus Which I had at home but that cable is to bright in the highs.
I`d like to try a Naim cable but i don`t Know it.
Has the Naim cable a better sonic balance than the Chord cable?
Regards in advance.
Carlos |
Bronze Member Username: Chicomoralessxm
Dutch isles
Caribbean
Post Number: 53
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 09:25 pm: |
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Just a question guys are there any online stores that sell rega??? and does this this int amp compare to the music hall offerings?? |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4195
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 10:22 pm: |
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Carlos,
Frank recommends Naim speaker cable for Rega amps. The Sound Org (US distributor for Rega) here in the states recommends Chord and another Rega dealer I know swears by Van Den Hul. I have Chord but also use Chord interconnects. Sounds great and not a bit bright. Took awhile to break in but quite good now.
Chico,
I don't know of anyone who sells Rega online but you can google it and see for yourself. I wouldn't compare Music Hall because of their poor reliability and the company doesn't stand by their gear. There is a world of difference between Roy Gandy and Roy Hall. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 45
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 06:04 am: |
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Hi Art,
Thanks for the post.
As you said it takes some time to break in but it already done it and sounds great now with the Chord cable.
Regards
Carlos |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 46
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 06:20 am: |
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Art,
Did you try with your sound system the Rega`s Ear headphone amplifier?
Does it sounds good?
Regards in advance.
Carlos |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4198
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 07:59 am: |
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"Did you try with your sound system the Rega`s Ear headphone amplifier?"
No, sorry. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 47
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 09:55 am: |
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Hi Art,
Thanks any way.
Art, sorry about my english but it isn`t my first language.
Regards
Carlos |
New member Username: Stodz
Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-07
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| Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 12:13 pm: |
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just ordered a rega brio.brand new .ex demo but has been in a box most of its life .its 6 -7 yrs old and the dealer that sold it to me said it sounds alot better than the brio 2000....anyway i will be useing nordost flat line bi-wire hooked to usher s-520's .any thoughts on this cable and speaker s to what i might expect to hear? |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 53
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 08:43 pm: |
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Hi Dallas, be careful with the cables you use in your Rega Brio.
Rega only advice Qed or Naim cable to use in their amplifiers and says to avoid special cables made from solid core or claming use ofc. You can find all information about it in the Rega`s manual.
Frank Abela (ecoustic member) works with Rega stuff and recomend Chord cable.
Congratulations for you purchase, you will be very happy with it I`m sure.
Regards
Carlos |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4239
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 09:54 pm: |
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Careful Carlos, do you mean that your Rega dealer recommended QED and Naim because if QED knew they were being recommended they'd be the first to brag about it...
http://www.qed.co.uk/
They are not shy about name dropping!
The US distributor for Rega recommends Chord and another dealer I'm working with recommends van den Hul as well as Gutwire.
I like both the Chord and van den Hul. |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 56
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 06:37 pm: |
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Art, you are right about Rega recommendations, I made a mistake. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 6250
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 09:10 pm: |
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Carlos, make mistakes here for free, not in the audio buying dep't.
You look like you are doing pretty well! |
Bronze Member Username: Carlos_m
Great Yarmouth
England
Post Number: 58
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 05:57 pm: |
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Hi Nuck,
Thanks for your support.
By the way, I had to use my Cyrus speaker cable again because I was missing it a lot. That cable is really amazing and it works very very well specially with my Rega Brio and it does everything very well.
Regards
Carlos |
Bronze Member Username: The13thgryphon
Spokane,
WA
USA
Post Number: 36
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 11:48 pm: |
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Hi All,
I find the statement about OFC and/or solid-core speaker cable interesting. Anyone have an idea why Rega (or Roy Gandy) doesn't recommend using it on their equipment?
I read the statement in a Brio 3 manual, and it very definately states that "Very expensive cable claiming to use special materials and technologies along with "solid core" or OFC
types are not recommended."; but why? |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 6363
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 12:11 pm: |
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John, I dunno. It might the lowering of inductance in a twisted pair, I have seen it before.
I bought a Rotel 5 channel amp 5 yrs ago, it shut down when the first owner used Kimber 8 cable(I think), and the amp shut down outright.
I ran all 5 channels wide open with ripcord.
I get sick of the whole difficult load/hard to drive thing.
8W SET and some horns |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4309
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 01:49 pm: |
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Roy also doesn't recommend cleaning records he states that the stylus will clean the grooves. Roy has some odd ideas. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 6376
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 02:06 pm: |
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Like worn out brake pads will clean the rotors? |
New member Username: Stodz
Post Number: 5
Registered: Mar-07
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| Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 02:39 pm: |
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LOL...i believe mr gandy might be somewhat correct.i suppose it would be more of what you might be cleaning your records with. for some not so much into there records(my dad included )i have seen him clean records with a house hold cleaner..ughhhhh.perhaps mr gandy is also assumeing that the more u clean the more of a deposit or buildup of the cleaner might be left behind.perhaps maybe there could be some wear attributed to cleaning.i guess we all have our lil quirks about how we do things ....in reference to the speaker cable issue. i was one who posted on this .not understanding to much on capitance and inductance etc i can attest that my brio works just fine useing nordost flat-line bi-wire.i suppose it can be considered an exotic cable .....regards ....Dallas |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1951
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 08:18 pm: |
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Hi guys,
I recommend the Naim cable because I like it best with the Rega kit and because Rega themselves recommend it in their manuals. I've tried it with other (in some cases more expensive) cables and usually come back to Naim. Rega's own cable is a bit veiled and soft. For the same money I'd take a Chord cable over it.
Chico, Rega choose their dealers carefully and stipulate no online sales. A dealer cannot sell you a Rega product online as part of their contract - the dealer would lose his dealership. Rega products are somewhat quirky and benefit from specialist dealers to show them in their best light. It's how Rega has done business for 30 years, with very little marketing.
Carlos, my main concern with the Cyrus (DNM) cable is that iot is a high capacitance cable. If you find that the Brio runs hot to the touch, then the cable is not doing the amp any good and you should not use it. The DNM cable is very clean with deep tuneful bass, but it is a bit restricted in resolution and colour by comparison to the Naim cable which has a bigger bass as well.
Regards,
Frank. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4336
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 09:08 pm: |
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Perhaps it's different here in the US Frank but I have manuals for a Rega amp, cd player and speakers and there is no mention of Naim cable in any of them. In the R5 manual they recommend their own cable only. |
Gold Member Username: My_rantz
Australia
Post Number: 1281
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:03 pm: |
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"Rega choose their dealers carefully and stipulate no online sales. A dealer cannot sell you a Rega product online as part of their contract - the dealer would lose his dealership."
Frank - that doesn't seem to be the case here downunder: http://www.wickeddigital.com.au/Rega-mid-101-p-1.html |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1958
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:35 pm: |
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MR
Well that's a surprise to me!
Art, according to the current Rega Brio 3 manual available from the Rega website:
"We recommend using good quality cable such as our own, or similar types made by QED or Naim. Very expensive cable claiming to use special materials and technologies along with "solid core" or OFC types are not recommended."
Regards,
Frank. |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 1628
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 02:18 pm: |
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Frank,
In the States, Rega allows sales of the P1 by all dealers. Rega dealers may also sell on-line, provided that their is no local dealer. For example -
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AREGAAPOLLOSILVR |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 1629
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 02:18 pm: |
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If forgot to add - Scroll to the bottom of the page in the link. |
Gold Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 1960
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 02:33 pm: |
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And at the bottom you will see:
NOTE: Due to territory restrictions we are unable to sell this player in all areas. Please give us a call and we'll let you know if we are able to ship one to you.
But I take your point about online selling. Perhaps they don't enforce it quite so strictly outside the UK...
Regards,
Frank. |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 1631
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 05:19 pm: |
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The line at the bottom was what I was referring to. They are allowed to sell in areas that aren't supported by a dealer. Another piece that I should have linked to states this -
"Not available for shipment into markets supported by an Authorized Rega Dealer."
This matter has gotten far more attention than it truly deserves.
Good to see you Frank! |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4342
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 11:27 pm: |
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I have the Rega Mira 3 manual, R5 manual and Apollo manual, no mention of Naim or QED. It appears that the Brio 3 is the only one with that recommndation. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 4343
Registered: Feb-05
|
| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 11:39 pm: |
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