A Bit About the Rega Ara Speakers (predecessor to the Rega R1, RS1, and current RX1) 

Yeah, I agree - they're special speakers. I still have Ela Mk1.25's, too, but these Aras will never leave me. I wanted to try a pair of RS3 for some time, now, but they're not too easy to come by. Might get lucky one day, though... never know.

They're really nice in a smaller room, and can be had quite cheap on the used market.

Yeah, from what I have read, the RX1 is really something! Glad you have a nice pair of speakers that you enjoy. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to hear them one day.

Hi there, I haven't actually listened to the RX1, so I have no first-hand experience with it. But I CAN tell you that it uses a different principle than the previous models. The RX1 uses a heavy, very braced cabinet, whereas previous models adhered to the light cabinet philosophy. The main driver is also different than the previous models - it's a doped paper driver. The tweeter is the same as on the RS1. The RX1 apparently requires a more powerful amplifier than previous models in order to maximize their sound quality. I have read some favourable reviews of the RX1, but also some that were not so favourable. They, of course, lack low end due to size limitations - just like previous models, so in order to get the full sonic spectrum, a subwoofer is definitely required. Oh, and one more thing: the RX1 jumped up quite a bit in price compared to previous models, so it may not be the best deal out there on the market. Of course, the only way to really know how good you think they are or even if you like them at all would be by listening to them (which I realize is not always possible, but it's a fact. No matter how much someone describes their sound, you have to listen for yourself- just like with any other speaker). I recently purchased another pair of used speakers without hearing them, and to be honest, I'm not exactly thrilled with them (not Regas, but Royds). The 'new' Royds I got are good, but not what I expected. That said, it's fun to buy and try, then sell again if they're not to my liking, which is what I've been doing for years now. :) Whatever you've got going on equipment-wise, just remember to have fun! if you find yourself over-analyzing sound, the sound may not be right for you, in my humble experience :) That's all I can think of for now. Cheers! Happy New Year!

I've never owned or even heard a Brio (maybe briefly at a store), so I can't really say. I've read that they pair really well with their own brand of speakers - that they really groove together. Depending on your room size, you could look into a used pair of Rega RS3, RS5, or RS7, maybe. I actually think that quite a few British speaker brands would mate well with the Brio, since lots of British brands seem to 'mesh' well together. That's a start. Hopefully someone else with experience with the amp will chime in and suggest other makes and models.

Hey there - bear with me... a little busy this week with family, but I'll get back to you over the weekend, once the dust has settled. :)

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio yes family first!! thanks in advance

@@frankvanhelvert6231 So, I happened to make a video comparing the Rega Elas to the ADS L420s, which can be seen here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LOPhmuHsFv0.html But in a nutshell, the Rega Ela Mk 1.25 projects a more three-dimensional sound, and gives more body to the performers, which makes them sound more palpable. Don't get me wrong, though... The ADS L420 sound pretty decent, especially considering how little they cost on the used market. I'm a huge fan of ADS speakers; these were picked up on a whim, and do not disappoint for what I paid. They're quite bright, so it's better to pair with warm gear, and I strongly recommend a sub in a medium to large room. They project a very wide sound stage, but not very deep, whereas the Regas are not quite as wide (but still wide open), and as mentioned, much more three dimensional.

Hi Jimmy, I've never used that particular amp, but I do know that Denon made quite robust gear in the late 80s. If your amp is up to specification, it should put out 80 watts per channel into 8ohms, which is more than enough for the Aras. My Aras sound good connected to any of my amps (they just each provide a slightly different 'flavour' of sound). Once you get your amp, if I were you, I would focus on getting the speakers optimally positioned (the amp itself should drive them without any issue). I personally could not believe how much better they sounded once I brought them out into the room. When they were too close to the wall (which i initially did to reinforce the bass), the midrange was muddy and flat. On a whim, I pulled them out 2.5 feet into the room where they were housed at the time, and it made a day and night difference. Sound became amazingly transparent, midrange completely cleared up, and vocals became so natural-sounding. The Aras went from being a 'ho-hum' speaker in my mind, to being a pair that I will never sell. Love 'em! Let me know how it goes - I'm curious as to your own experience with them. Cheers!

Hello! It's actually a Sugden A48b that has been quite heavily modified. Since it's been modded, I doubt I will make a video about it specifically (I've never heard it in its original factory state, so I can't comment on its performance 'out of the box'). I might make a video comparing my amps to each other, based on how they each drive my collection of speakers. A video like that would not necessarily be to qualify their overall sound, but instead to show how various amps handle speaker loads differently from each other. Making a video like that is still on the back-burner, though. I have other video ideas that will take priority. :) Cheers!

Heya! Thanks very much for the kind words. There's not much out there on Rega speakers, so thought I'd chime in (kind of like I did with the Epos ES14s that I discussed in another video). (These) Regas are special to me, somehow. I just love their light and lively presentation, with natural vocals due to their paper driver (and i like the fact that they used the same driver in all of their models. That speaks volumes). Cheers, and thanks again for the kind comment.

Depends on what you're looking for sonically, room size, musical tastes, etc. I thought the R1 sounded amazing when driven by Densen gear at a Toronto audio store. They leveled up from the Aras (incrementally). To be clear, though, I didn't like the Aras much at first, either, until I got them properly set up in the correct sized room. It took me a while before I recognized what they could do, since I had them poorly set up for so long. You also have to be realistic with what you expect out of them, given their small box and driver size. But I hear ya - they're not for everyone (just like anything else).