System original Saturn is used in comprises, Regs Elex R (superb amp). Celestion A1 stand mounts (24 year old and just lovely). I also have the original Rega DAC. I now tend to use the Saturn as a transport and feed the DAC. Sound is as Jason describes above. Timing is just brilliant and it really gets to the core of the music. Holographic soundstage with huge amount of detail. Rega was achieving this 14 years ago with Mk1 so I can only assume Mk 3 will be just as good and possibly even better.
Am adding this comment a bit late but thought it relevant. I have the very original Saturn. It's now turned 14 years old. It has its quirks where sometimes it does not track the disc first time. Recently it was skipping badly on track 1. Laser mech obviously at its end stage. Took it to dealer who sent it back to Rega. New laser fitted all for a fair cost of 140 pounds sterling. Now works a treat again. I love this unit and am delighted to see Reg a still supporting a 14 year old unit. Just thought I would mention this as a long term owner of original.
Hi there, an interesting question so I thought I'd reply. The reason we use a large diameter midrange driver is because we want our customers to experience uncompressed midrange dynamics. If you look at most flagship tower speakers you'll find small diameter midrange drivers which are inherently limited when it comes to dynamics....often having the same capabilities as a good bookshelf speaker. With a larger driver you get realistic dynamics, faster transients, increased transparency, greater texture and detail and vastly reduced distortion and colouration. The wide baffle actually has considerable benefits in that we get significant lateral and rearward cancellation meaning the 1512's are much easier to position than a tower loudspeaker to the point they can be placed close to or against a back will with minimal negative impact. Additionally we wanted to produce a fine piece of furniture as much as an exceptional loudspeaker. The Elypsis 1512's can be custom finished to our customer's tastes, when placed on low stands are no more obtrusive than a chest of drawers. I hope that answers your questions? For any more please don't hesitate to contact us. Yours, David Fowler - Stratton Acoustics
But most manufacturers of high quality midrange drivers don’t opt for large ones like you have, and that’s without considering placement within speakers. Wouldn’t midrange ones of this size be more common if they were better, as most high end cabinets could accommodate them, especially as they often accommodate bigger woofers. If you used a more vertical cabinet which rested on the ground, you could still accommodate all drivers used in the 1512s. Imagine they were say 18 inches wide by 4.5 to 5 feet tall with 18 inch depth. Isn’t the idea to recreate an old design which was for studio monitors (mainly?) based more on nostalgia than performance? Sure, a big cabinet always helps. But a taller one could have been made with the same volume. Then stands wouldn’t have been necessary and the speakers could be more easily accommodated.
@@Coneman3 - We chose to define different performance goals than all other brands. Our goal were not to produce a product that fitted a catagory but to produce the highest performance loudspeaker possible. The only reason to set this goal was to communicate the recorded performance more enjoyably to tne listener. It would have been easier to produce a towering floorstanding speaker that the 1512's but it would not have resulted in the performaance we required or the user experiance we wanted to provide. Interestingly ease of accomodation is actually far better with the 1512's than with other loudspeakers as we do not have the acoustic restrictions of a narrow baffle or cabinets with questionable integrity. When this is taken into account the 1512's can be accomodated as pieces of furniture rather than in the conventional manner "Audiophile" loudspeakers have to be (spaced away from rear and side walls) and as such are far easier to live with than any other product with loosly comparable performance. We always wanted people to retain their home's usefullness with these products rather than have to convert a living space into a dedicated listening space. I would welcome you to come and listen to the 1512's and for you to experiance what they are capable of, when you do I think the rationalle behind our design philosophy will become clear.
Hello, Thanks for the review. I'm just curious about when you said "even using tidal tends to sound a bit better"... which sources do you consider sound better than Tidal ?
Never say never, I have no doubt that the Rega Naia is outstanding, but there is always and I mean always something better out there if you are willing to pay for it.
Yet it still plays the same 99p/99c round flat pieces of pressed plastic that the cheapest turntables play. Yet another way humans fool themselves into false beliefs.
Great detailed review of all aspects of the Naia. That ceramic bearing is a step in of itself, nice turn table. I know the early 1980 Regas well, boy have they evolved over the years.
This is a deck that I would very much like to hear. I found the P10 to be extremely detailed and transparent throughout the audio band but is a bit tonally thin, lacking body. Still one of the best decks, probably only bested but similarly priced Origin Live. The Townshend Seismic Sink used by Jason and seen under the deck in this video is absolutely essential as the Rega has no isolation from ground borne vibration.
I have a question. I own the Bowers & Wilkins 802D speakers. Paired with the Gamut DI 150 amplifier. I would like to buy a new amplifier. Which one would you suggest, knowing I'm a musician and listen only to classical music?
Hi great review i will be buying the planar 10 but not sure weather to go for the apheta 3 or aphelion 2 so what would you recommend the phono will be the aura and rest of my system is nap 300dr 252 supercap and focal sopra 2
Hi thanks for such a concise yet illuminating review. It really gave me a fuller picture of its character. Bringing music to life is what I strive for-using LFD DAC and amplifier. Do you think this would be a good match? Been using a zen stream for two years with quite satisfying results but nothing too insightful. Thanks again, Mike
Thanks Mike, I suggest you read the full review linked above. The Pulsemini will upgrade your Zen server however, it will add dynamics and improve resolution and timing but you might want to consider one of the bigger Innuos network streamers which will bring more insight.
Is there going to be a problem using the spdif out for the digital as opposed to the usb? I read that sometimes the analogue out is better than some good dacs. @@TheEarOnline
Ok good yeah listened to it on Saturday and very impressed both with digital and analogue out. I’ve ordered and can’t wait to get it set up at home. The demo model only had 30 hours on it too! Will probably get the lps when it’s released eventually to open things up even more. Cheers 🍻
I purchased a H600 and it arrive defective so had to return it . With the bad (null) customer service from hegel im now looking into other brand options
I’m a Rega fan and a three times Rega owner and I’ve no doubt that this is an extremely fine turntable. However, I think it’s a stretch to say it’s the absolute best unless you’ve had the opportunity to hear other high end designs. Incidentally, the purpose of the rigid connection between main bearing and arm is to ensure that any vibration present in the closed loop system is present throughout. This ensures that the relative movement between the cartridge and the record surface is eliminated or at least minimised. It’s the same principle adopted by Linn, although their light weight sub-chassis is, of course, suspended. People who don’t take the time to understand this design philosophy will always gravitate to the blunt instrument school of turntable design. If it’s massive, it must be good.
Sold my h590 to pre order h600 when it was first introduced and now I got it with me for more than a month. I can say that it is pure market. This amp is not significant better than h590. Not shit,but nothing special at all.
It is definitely more resolving, it is difficult for me to describe these aspects in words,... but it is really better (for me),... I had the h590 for over two years,... there is a difference not only in the dac itself, but also in the amplifier (preamplifier?). Rent the H600 for a test and I assure you, you won't return it ;)
That probably rules out most of the once-famous British loudspeaker brands for you as well then because they’ve shifted the bulk of their production to China nowadays. It’s the race to the bottom for them
I'd buy a Hegel in a second, but a 2 year warranty on something that cost this much... tells me hegel has no faith in manufacturing. Sticking with Moon for now.
Hifi prices (like everything else) have skyrocketed, value for money is now a rare thing. Guessing the Hegel is excellent but the mark up is not worth it, and built in China while still upping the price, Hegel taking the p**s. Go second hand, yeah some risk but worth the risk.
just made some Green Tea - sourced from China! Water boiled in a John Lewis kettle, made in? Yes, China. Shaved with a Braun razor from ... yes, China. Pine Nuts on my pizza from ... China -(
goodness - this is really a very modest price for all its sections. You should see how much some gear costs - look at the lines of Absolute Sounds retailer, for instance. You'll be staggered.
Hmmmm………. I took delivery of the H600 today and am disappointed. As the owner of a music fidelity m8xi I consider this to be significantly superior to the h600 - so much more authority over the sonic spectrum. Both have very ordinary remotes, the only + I see for the H600 is that it’s almost 1/2 the weight of the M8xI. Both look very similar. Hmmmm…… my first Hegel, and I’m disappointed…
Thanks for your comment, I was wondering how it compare to well established brands known for their super integrated amps. My first thought was why they completely ignore Nu-Vista or Diablo. I don't wanna dis H600 without hearing/comparing it but this intro/review seems to be biased unless it's paid ad, than I would understand.
Why would anyone consider moving from the M8xi to this an upgrade in the first place beats me. A side-step at most unless you count in the dac and the streamer. In that case one could have spent the upgrade amount in a separate dac and streamer.
You're witty😆... I had M8xi and nu-vista 800,... and h590 was better for me. H600 is a killer among integrated amps. I suspect that you have a mismatched system, maybe the room or you have strange hearing preferences... well everyone has different ears ? ... good luck 😉🤘
