Rega Elicit MK5

Rega Elicit MK5 - A well designed and great sounding amplifier

The new Rega Elicit MK5 has borrowed elements from both its amplifier big brother and other of its digital and analogue family members. The result is a well-designed and good-sounding integrated amplifier at an attractive price of almost DKK 20,000. The Elicit MK5 also offers a solid novelty: for the first time, Rega has put a digital converter in one of its amplifiers, so that streaming becomes both easier and in better quality.

Highlights:

• 2 x 105 W per channel to 8 Ω
• High quality turntable input for MM pickups
• 2 x Digital inputs - 1 x optical and 1 x Co-Axial
• High performance Rega DAC circuit for digital inputs
• New advanced preamplifier
• Headphone output
• 2 x Digital inputs - 1 x optical and 1 x coaxial
• Record entry
• Alps volume potentiometer
• Thermal protection

New possibilities with a DAC

We are used to English Rega, which has been one of the world's best record player manufacturers for 50 years, always giving the highest importance to analogue music reproduction. But as streaming has become an integral part of our music consumption, Rega has followed suit and is now sending an amplifier with a built-in digital converter (DAC) onto the street for the first time.

The Elicit MK5 is, as the name suggests, the fifth generation of one of Rega's best-selling amplifiers. Much is new – but much is also familiar. The design is, for example, well-known Rega with clear references to big brother, Aethos. The Elicit MK5 thus also matches the design of the Saturn MK3 CD player. And it is not just the exterior that is "borrowed" from Aethos. Also parts of the interior, more precisely the preamplifier part, are based on the experiences of the much praised big brother. FET transistors are used here in a discreet circuit design, quality relays, polypropylene capacitors and an ALPS volume potentiometer. Everything is carefully selected and coordinated based on sound and technical properties.

As mentioned, the Elicit MK5 amplifier allows the connection of digital sources. It can be, for example, a streaming device, CD player or the sound from your TV. And although it is the first time that Rega has put a DAC in an amplifier, the English have many years of experience in digital design. It can be heard, because the built-in DAC firstly makes it easy to integrate digital sources into your music system, and secondly, it will usually provide a significant boost in sound quality.

As mentioned, Rega are masters of record players, and therefore there is also the possibility of direct connection of a record player with MM or high-output MC pick-up.

Effect for most people

The sound quality of both the preamplifier, the turntable input and the digital inputs is followed all the way through by an output of a stable 105 watts, and here too Rega draws on the experience of the company's other, good-sounding amplifiers. This makes the Elicit MK5 amplifier an obvious partner for the majority of speakers on the market. With the Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier as a link between your sources and the sound in your ear, you will enjoy the straightforward and infectious joy of playing that comes with it. This is regardless of whether you choose a smaller or larger quality speaker.