Rega Saturn R

[stevebrock]

I finally got round to listening to it today, spent a few hours in Cymbiosis this afternoon - great friendly no-pressure guys.

Media was a mixture of CDs & FLAC streamed via optical from a Mac Book PRO

First impressions, the Saturn R is very detailed, musical sounding as you would expect from Rega this is on both CDs & FLAC, if I am honest I think the CDs slightly edged it.

As a comparison we then had the Apollo R/Rega DAC on and what surprised me most at how close it is to the Saturn R - If CD/FLAC is your main source then the Saturn R would edge it for me. However in my case my Vinyl front end is my main source - so IMO the Saturn R would be a waste of money as I would get better gains on my vinyl front end as I use this 80% of the time.

My main reason for the visit today was to see if the Apollo R/Rega DAC combo was better than my DAC/Mac Book PRO........ no it wasnt so at least I know that I can just get good results using my MBP and then perhaps in the future buy another Mac Mini just for music.

 

[CarlDW]

Not even a little bit tempted then?!

I would love to hear one with the Elicit-R and some RS5's...

 

[stevebrock]

Not even a little bit tempted then?! I would love to hear one with the Elicit-R and some RS5's...

Yes was very tempted!

It looks stunning, and yes it would look good sitting on the shelf below my Elicit R - but £1598 for a little bit of gain on a format I only use 20% of the time then it would be a waste.

Would rather spend the cash on a Phono Stage / Gyrodec / Low Output MC cart.

Even Wayne at Cymbiosis agreed with me - money better spent on my vinyl front end.

BTW I had a quick listen to an RP8 / Apheta / Aria - I don't care what people say about the Rega low mass plinth philosophy - my god it sounded good, but the again so does a Gyrodec with SMEIV at twice the price.

Food for thought eh?

 

[CarlDW]

Its a fair point. I mainly listen to CD so I would jump at the Saturn R. Now lets see if I can find £4k down the back of the sofa for the Saturn, Elicit and RS5...

 

[stevebrock]

Its a fair point. I mainly listen to CD so I would jump at the Saturn R. Now lets see if I can find £4k down the back of the sofa for the Saturn, Elicit and RS5...

If that was the case for me then I wouldn't hesitate! The thing is built like a tank - feels very substantail when you use it.

I love the looks

 

[CarlDW]

Ive always thought Rega kit looks great, never a bland box and the top loading CD players add a sense of occasion! Ive heard the original Apollo and the Apollo R and both sounded great, I think their presentation suits my tastes. My dream system would be an all Rega set up.

 

[stevebrock]

My dream system would be an all Rega set up.

Love my Rega set up, I am open to a Gyrodec though even after hearing the RP8

I think the reason is because it really goes well together - it just gets on with the job in hand - playing music!

Even the Brio R / Apollo R would be a cracking CD based system

 

[CarlDW]

I was at the Manchester hifi show a couple of years back, and the best set up I heard that day was an Apollo R, Dac, Brio R and RS3.

I thought it sounded more musical than a Naim/PMC set up and some Kef Blades...

The Neat Iotas also sounded fantastic that day.

 

[stevebrock]

Yep i preferred the Elicit R over the Nait XS2, found the XS2 a bit thick on bass - the Elciit R is very revealing so will show up a poor source.

Rega speakers are way under rated too IMO

 

[plastic penguin]

I personally think the Apollo-R, visually, is really hard to love. At least the Saturn-R have returned to a more quirky look associated with the original Apollo and Saturn.

Yes, £1600 is a lot of money...

Go and but the original Saturn, which the dealer likened it to your combo.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Its a fair point. I mainly listen to CD so I would jump at the Saturn R. Now lets see if I can find £4k down the back of the sofa for the Saturn, Elicit and RS5...

Hi CarkDW

Well if it's anything like an Saturn-R CD-DAC/Elicit-R/RS1 combination then the Saturn-R CD-DAC/Elicit-R/RS5 should also be an excellent system 🙂

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[stevebrock]

I personally think the Apollo-R, visually, is really hard to love. At least the Saturn-R have returned to a more quirky look associated with the original Apollo and Saturn.

Yes, £1600 is a lot of money...

Go and but the original Saturn, which the dealer likened it to your combo.

PP as you know, I have no desire now to buy another CDP. I have sourced another used Mac Mini so jhob done!

However improving my vinyl front end is very much on the agenda..... Gyro / Project / RP8 etc etc

 

[stevebrock]

Its a fair point. I mainly listen to CD so I would jump at the Saturn R. Now lets see if I can find £4k down the back of the sofa for the Saturn, Elicit and RS5...

Hi CarkDW

Well if it's anything like an Saturn-R CD-DAC/Elicit-R/RS1 combination then the Saturn-R CD-DAC/Elicit-R/RS5 should also be an excellent system 🙂

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

You standard reply as per usual Rick 🙂

 

[stevebrock]

I have an itch🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

Well rub it gently.... don't scratch. 🙂

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I have an itch🙂

Hi stevebrock

Nothing new here then. Good to see your consistency 🙂

All the best Steve 😉

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[stevebrock]

I have an itch🙂

Hi stevebrock

Nothing new here then. Good to see your consistency 🙂

All the best Steve 😉

Rick @ Musicraft

Rick you do have a sense of humour!

 

[stevebrock]

🙂

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi stevebrock

I was just testing you 🙂 Standard procedure

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[empacher]

I have an itch🙂

i think you would be better served to scratch it with the RS5s (or both ;-)

 

[stevebrock]

I have an itch🙂

i think you would be better served to scratch it with the RS5s (or both ;-)

Well I have the RS3 being driven by an Elicit R to good effect - I have to be careful with room acoustics as my room only 4x5m

 

[Mattyboy]

Rega Saturn mk3 takes a 3amp rated fuse in the rear fuse carrier.

Got synergy purple up mine...

Very very good indeed😁👍

 

[Deleted member 201267]

Rega Saturn mk3 takes a 3amp rated fuse in the rear fuse carrier.

Got synergy purple up mine...

Very very good indeed😁👍

How does this Synergy Purple fuse improve on the fuse supplied in the amp ?

 

[jamesrfisher]

A first post on a 10 yo topic, i smell spam

 

[Mattyboy]

Er.. No spam here

Just thought poeple would find this information of use..tizz all 😉👍

When I searched the internet for the answer to this question I couldn't find anything..so I posted the info on the closest match found..which was here..is that ok with you buster 😃?