New DAC from Rega: http://www.rega.co.uk/html/DAC.htm

Wolfson chipses. I like Wolfson chipses. Discuss.

So you're getting one, right?

I should ask if they have a loaner program.

This does look interesting, it also includes a series of filters that can be applied.

I've tended to like Rega's "strive" to sound like analog with their digital gear, so indeed this holds promiose for me. Good small form factor, too.

Oh, and they make it in silver, too

Edited January 16, 201115 yr by skullguise

Any pricing info yet? Hard to say it looks very intersting until that info comes out.

Todd -- AudioAdvisor said something about $995. It's not async, but it's Rega. I like Rega. Hope to hear this some day.

Yup, 995 at audio advisor.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=REDAC

Rip Off US? £498.00 (including 20% V.A.T. ?) e.g. http://www.harrowaudiohifi.co.uk/viewitem.asp?MyID=&StockCode=h127re098

Looking at the back panel image from audio advisor shows it as 115V 50/60Hz , so looks like the AC->DC power supply is region specific rather than universal, which increases the number of SKU's that that they have to manage, but allows them to maintain exclusive dealerships and regional pricing differentials.

It could be worse, you could be in Australia for example. http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2011/01/10/internet_tax_row/

i don't think i've ever heard a piece of Rega digital.

me neither, but I've always been intrigued. plenty of talk about this DAC on the Hoffman forum.

IIRC 909 loved his Saturn before he upgraded.

I also have not heard Rega digital, but want to. I saw all the press accolades re the last couple of Rega CDPs, which extolled their analogicity. I'm beginning to understand that type of compliment as meaning a rather soft and distant presentation. I'd like to see if that holds with this DAC.

I also need to get at least a passable TT setup so I can become more familiar with what analog sound really means.

sorry, i'm a dumbass...i saw this weeks ago & forgot to post:

http://www.tonepublications.com/magazine/issue-34/

they review the dac as well as some other neat gear such as LCD-2:)...even threw in some beer talk...

i don't think i've ever heard a piece of Rega digital.

Rega has some of the best PRAT I've heard, at least at <US$1K levels (Planet, Planet 2000, Apollo). Not the last word in detail, but very listenable, non-fatiguing, and analogue-y.

The Saturn is a very good cdp.

This looks very interesting. I have been very close to buying a an Apollo many times. I like that is desktop sized!

I owned the Apollo for a while, and heard the Saturn at a dealer visit.

Dusty is absolutely right, re:PRaT and (less) detail. But it isn't as bad as one thinks; the details were often there, but just a little deeper in stage, or softer in tone. Not a top to bottom balanced sound in some aspects, but quite enjoyable for listening, and always kept me involved with the music.

Again, I'd like to see something on the filter options on this DAC. The Tone Audio review didn't get into them.....

I don't know about the rest of the Rega digital gear, but after lusting after the Saturn for many years based on its looks, I was frustrated by the glacial load times, not to mention the feeling when using it that it is really a glorified portable cd player. Maybe a Rega DAC would be just the ticket...

I really liked the Saturn. It reminded a lot of the 508.24, with more PRAT and a bit less finesse.

Want. I very much like the Rega digital sound, based on the Apollos I've heard.

I had a Planet 2000 that was just too un-involving with rock music. Swapped it out for an Arcam 73T and was happier. Curious to read some more reviews on this DAC though.

Bill

I'm probably the least technically inclined when interpreting this kind of stuff fluff:

The input stage comprises a Wolfson digital receiver with a high stability low jitter clock. The receiver and PLL have their own dedicated power supplies. The DAC stage comprises of a pair of parallel-connected Wolfson WM8742 DAC's, which are driven via a buffer stage, which ensures the integrity of the data being fed to the DAC IC's similar to the arrangement used in the Isis (Rega's refrerence CD player). Great care has been taken to remove noise generated by the PC and other input sources. During development this was identified as a major drawback with many DAC's on the market today.

The output amplifier employs a discrete differential multiple feedback filter and output amplifier, with a high cut-off frequency for use with higher sample rates. We decided not to use a sample rate converter and process the data at the incoming sample rate which keeps the signal processing to a minimum. Jitter was minimised by synchronously clocking the digital data with our receiver PLL (removing any jitter from the input signal).

It almost sounds to me like the same claims all other vendors use, is this some major feat to have accomplished or something?

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE TOO MUCH JITTA

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Little bumpage....

Just picked one of these up from my local dealer. Floor model, new condition but had some playing time. Silver, too

Plugged it into a second system, comprised of a Panny DVD S47 player, the Rega, a Radii EL84 triode integrated amp, to my Silverline Preludes. Good amount of detail, while still slightly warm sounding (and it's not just the tube amp). Have swapped around the filter settings a bit, haven't got a good grip on them yet, may need to put it into my headphone system to better judge.

I like the music this is making, though; it's definitely not going back!

Hope to get some time this weekend, otherwise it's not until we come back from a trip next week.

Cool Todd! Enjoy the new toy.

DACs...om nom nom....

Looking forward to more impressions, skullguise!

I begin to suspect that giving "good amount of detail, while still slightly warm sounding" is a characteristic of a Wolfson WM874x DAC...