Rega Valve Isis Compact Disc Player

Rega Valve Isis player from one of our long time customers as part of downsizing.   Rega's all-out attempt at a state of the  art Cd player with the tube output.  Single ended and USB outputs.  USB input that allows for streaming.  

Rega's now legendary head electronics engineer Terry Bateman spent 10 years researching the concept of a CD player using valves in the output amplifier. Valves have been widely used in musical instrument and recording amplification from the 1950's to the present day, therefore it made great sense to develop a valve based CD player to match that of the signal chain found in such applications.

This approach kept the circuit straightforward. This is mainly because musical instrument amplification is not excessively hindered by some of the folklore surrounding certain aspects of valve audio design. He took the approach of combining the technical and sonic attributes of valves in a differential instrumentation amplifier circuit driven from differential output DAC with a passive LC filter.

From Six Moons:

Whether it was slow Clapton Blues, more aggressive Lee Hooker or totally raw Vaughan, the Rega always presented the music most accurately. From nice ‘n’ easy to fast & aggressive, it showed everything in a very orderly fashion. This didn’t lack in dynamics and both micro and macro expressions were more than satisfactory. The Isis was fully capable of delivering sudden dynamic output swings like a grand piano’s fortissimo without relinquishing details. I know a few players capable of even greater dynamic articulation like Gryphon’s Scorpio but Rega's clear advantage was this incredibly orderly way and fantastic differentiation of sounds never blending together. 
  It’s safe to say that Rega’s Isis Valve offers what its brand and name promise. Obvious strengths are the smooth coherent liquid sound and beautiful timbres. Not even for one second was I prepared to discuss timbre, midrange or bass as separate entities as the music presented was too coherent. Spatial effects were great, on par with the best tube devices and cast on a soundstage that was grand, stable and well sorted. But that wasn't all. This player was capable of delivering incredibly realistic recorded ambiance. Microdynamics were another forté. This player performed equally well at very low volumes where it delivered more detail that I knew to be present in very familiar recordings. It didn't have any trouble delivering very good macro-dynamic performance and large voltage swings although to be perfectly honest in this area you might find superior performers elsewhere (but they will usually fall behind in some other aspect). I encourage you to give this player a try. Any audiophile shopping for a machine in this price range can't afford not to check out the Rega Isis Valve. 

• Laser Semiconductor
• Wavelength 780nm
• Digital sampling frequency 44.1kHz
• Power Consumption 46w
• Phono Unbalanced 2.4V source impedance 600 Ohms
• XLR Balanced 2.4V source impedance 600 Ohms
• Co-Axial SPDIF 0.5V source impedance 75 Ohms
• Toslink compatible output
• USB 16bit 44.1/48kHzTHD+Noise< 0.06%
• Frequency Response 30Hz - 20kHz +/-0.5dB
• Rega custom designed and CNC machined aluminium case work
• High quality anodised finish
• Aesthetic high gloss black facia and lid
• CNC machined matching remote control
• Dimensions  W 434mm x D 350mm x H 112mm
• Dimension needed to operate  W 434mm x D 350mm x H 200mm
• Weight 19.5Kgs