Rega Brio 3 ??

[bobchiba]

Hi all. Recently been using a arcam combo of alpha 8r and a delta 290p off a Rega a rega P1. Recently got rid of the 290p becuase I can't really play at the same volumes in my new place. I was actually miffed that I ever bothered with the power amp because after using the 8R by itself, I forgot what a wonderfull smooth, pacey sound it has.

My question is, I really like Rega as a brand and they are local to me which I guess I feel a sort of loyalty towards, but how does the brio 3 compare to the Alpha 8R, if anyone has experience with them both I'd like some opinions, and whats the jump up to the miara (spelling??) like. I guess eventually I see myself with all Rega maybe, ie, P3, amp, R3's etc

 

[drummerman]

bobchiba:

Hi all. Recently been using a arcam combo of alpha 8r and a delta 290p off a Rega a rega P1. Recently got rid of the 290p becuase I can't really play at the same volumes in my new place. I was actually miffed that I ever bothered with the power amp because after using the 8R by itself, I forgot what a wonderfull smooth, pacey sound it has.

My question is, I really like Rega as a brand and they are local to me which I guess I feel a sort of loyalty towards, but how does the brio 3 compare to the Alpha 8R, if anyone has experience with them both I'd like some opinions, and whats the jump up to the miara (spelling??) like. I guess eventually I see myself with all Rega maybe, ie, P3, amp, R3's etc

Its been a long long time since I've heard an 8 but the rega is an 'organic' or fluid sounding amplifier with good punch and a relatively wide/high sound (stage). Compared to more expensive amplifiers it lacks a little power but you'd never thought so at normal to (relatively) high volumes. Spending more will add better focus and firmer bass too but you really have to look at amps a few hundred pounds more to substantially better it imo. Whilst on the subject, I prefer the Brio to the Mira. I'd be very surprised if it does'nt trounce the Arcam though since you have lived with yours for a long time and are used to the sound your ears may have to re-adjust to anything else first. If you can, take one home for a couple of days.

 

[chebby]

....

 

[Cypher]

I'm very interested in this amp. Too bad there isn't that much information available on the web about the Brio 3.

I'm also interested in the new NAD C326BEE amp. Which one would be better do you think ?

 

[Cypher]

I just bought a new Brio 3 amp for a very good price.....I will get it next week. I hope it will sound better than my Rotel RA-04 amp. I really like the minimalistic look of the Brio 3.

Can anyone tell me if the Brio 3 sounds better/different than my RA-04 ?

 

[tonky]

I bought a 2nd hand (pre-owned!) Brio last year. It's a very nice sounding amp.A good broad soundstage. It does not offend in any way. It has a nice warm friendly musical sound with good clarity and detail.

I now own a cambridge 840A v2 which is a great amp - such a clear musical sound. The Brio will be relegated to a second system or something I will give to one of my children - it's a definite keeper!

COYB

 

[Cypher]

Thanks for the reply Tonky.

I still love the RA-04 but it can sound a bit clinical at times. What I read about the Brio 3 sofar is that it's a very musical amp, can't wait to hear it. A dutch review stated that under 1300 euros he could not find an amp that sounded as good as the Brio 3.

 

[respe]

I am a bit of a Rega nut, and to my ears the brio is one of, if not
the best budget amp. The sound is very involving, and what few sins it
has are of ommision. It does not try to be all things to all men, but
what it does is absolutley spot on. The soundstaging is good, the drive
and timing spot on, and although it is conservative on power out put it
seems able to cope with demanding speakers better than a few amps I
have heard that with much higher powe ratings.

I would actually
but the Brio rather than the Mira, and when I had the funds to upgrade
the amp side of my system went to Rega Pre-Powers rather than the Mira.

A system along the lines of P3, Brio, RS3, and apollo for CD spining is proably one the best sounding, involving systems around for the money, and a fair bit more.

Unfortunatley with Rega's attitude to advertising, and supplying test equipment to the mags, they are not maybe as widley known as they deserve to be, but as a company they prefer people to listen to the kit at a dealers before buying.

 

[tonky]

I agree wholeheartedly respe - involving it is.

Not sure if it's the best amp under 1300euros. Listen to the cambridge 840A or 740A if funds allow (or a second hand Pioneer A400 which sounds just as good in my opinion). I have a second hand pioneer a400 also and have used the brio and a400 side by side. It's a close call - both are so good. Alright !!! The A400 by a tight whisker just edges it. (it has a headphone socket too!)

cheers tonky

 

[matthewpiano]

The Brio 3 is superb. IMO its better than the A400, although it does suffer from the same slight tendency towards steeliness when the going gets really tough in terms of texture and volume. Both amps are excellent though, and the A400 is a bit of a bargain these days.

I've not heard the new C326BEE, although I am awaiting delivery of a C325BEE (a model I've had before) and if the 326 is anything like that I'd say its potentially a stronger all-rounder than the Rega. The NAD sound is slightly warmer than the Pioneer or Rega but with the same sort of lucid musicality.

The Cambridge Azur range is also well worth a look, particularly the 740A and 840A as tonky suggested.

 

[tonky]

Yes I agree that it doesn't like being driven too hard. As an amp it is probably a little less system dependent than the A400. Tho both are quite easy to match.

Tonky

 

[csq2]

I have listened to both the C326BEE and the Brio 3 at a Hi-Fi store and I bought the Brio 3 in the end. The Cambridge had more features and looked better, but the sound was too "bright", almost to the point where vocals sounded too harsh. On the other hand, the Brio 3 had a more relaxed and soothing sound. Songs that sounded harsh and choppy now sound smooth and fluid. I can listen for hours with the Brio 3 without feeling fatigue or stress.

 

[Tesler]

Having bought a brio 3 some weeks ago, it replaced my old Pioneer A400. I can say I'm almost totally empressed with it except for one or two minor gripes.

It is a very nice sounding amp, definately digs up more detail and has a wonderful open soundstage.

The first gripe is that it does not have enough Bass weight, some recordings sound a little thin. I'm running it with a Marantz CD6002 and B&W DM602s2 with 2 runs of QED Silver Anniversary XT speaker wire to each speaker, biwired you might say?

I also have a Marantz CD63se which I tried with the Brio for a week or two, however the Amp was way too bright with it, so I put the CD6002 in which seems to give the brio a warmer sound.

Second gripe is, it does go all wrong when you play TV sound from the Humux FOX-2T freeview box, or any other source other than CD, sound is flat and cold and Bass is almost non existant, I'm getting this flat sound Via the phono input with my Turntable too, quite odd as I thought the phono stage on the Brio was meant to be excellent, it's a long way short of the sound I was getting with my Pioneer A400.

If you just want an Amp for the purpose of good quality CD playback, great detail but not to much of a Basshead then the Brio will do nicely.

Playback of anything alse other than CD may disappoint you.

These are just my findings and opinion, the only way you can decide is to listen for yourself.