Rega Brio Integrated Amplifier

"Five Stars" What Hi-fi? Magazine

"Immensely Engaging, Precise and Subtle Sound"

Rega's critically acclaimed Brio integrated amp gets a nice upgrade with the new Brio 2017. The upgrades start with a completely new case to house its improved circuits and parts. It now sits in a fully aluminum two-part case, which boosts the Brio’s heat sinking capabilities and improves on Rega’s already solid build quality and reliability. The new Brio also has a cleverly integrated headphone jack specially designed to avoid interference with the audio circuit when not in use. And as you would expect from renowned turntable and tonearm manufacturer Rega, a very high specification moving magnet phono stage is built in as standard.

Throughout the design process, the Brio has been meticulously improved in every aspect, from the quality of materials to the manufacturing process, to make this new Brio a step ahead in Rega’s engineering and design for amplifiers.

"An Upgrade in Every Way"

"It’s an upgrade in every way, from its redesigned features to its immensely engaging, precise and subtle sound," notes England's What Hi-fi? magazine, which awarded the new Brio with a top rating of Five Stars. "It’s the kind of amplifier we want to leave on and play our entire music collection through. Again and again."

"The Rega Brio remains the budget amp to beat at its price point," reports Jason Kennedy in his February 2, 2017 review for the-ear.net. "It is hands down the most musically rewarding amplifier in its class. Combine that with its improved aesthetics and a remote control that is big enough not to lose in the couch and you have a piece of kit that offers fantastic value and top light entertainment in a compact container."

Ample Power on Command

The Brio 2017's power amp section provides 50 watts RMS, both channels driven into the rated load of 8 ohms and 73 watts RMS, both channels driven into the rated load of 4 ohms. Additionally, it provides 58 watts RMS, one channel driven, into the rated load of 8 ohms, and 93 watts RMS, one channel driven, into the rated load of 4 ohms.

Four line-level inputs are provided, and input one is the moving magnet phono stage input, for a total of five analog inputs.

Brand New Case Design

The sleek and minimal look was designed to bring elegance to Rega’s classic style. But the new aluminum two-part case still harks back to the swooped features hidden away in Rega’s past amplifiers. Combining all these aspects makes this Brio case unique among the competition as far as looks and performance at this price point.

Re-designed Circuitry

Key improvements have been made to the circuits of the Brio. The PCB layout has been fully upgraded to handle higher specifications for all critical parts. A second raw power supply has been added to provide further isolation between output stage and the driver stage/line and phono amplifiers. This improves the isolation between high and low level signal stages of the amplifier. Higher specification MUSES operational amplifiers (op-amps) have been used in the line amplifier and phono amplifier.

Audiophile Headphone Jack

For convenience, the Brio has the capability to drive standard hi-fi headphones from the internal amplifier. Adding a headphone jack was only possible by finding a way to reduce its impact on the main signal path, so that it doesn’t disrupt the overall sound quality. Rega paid special attention to the switch that deactivates the main speakers for optimum performance.

Product Features

Integrated amp with built-in MM phono stage
Five analog inputs (four line-level, one phono input)
Headphone output jack with minimal interaction with main signal path
Fully aluminum two-part case
Heat sinking capabilities
PCB layout has been fully upgraded to handle higher specifications for all critical parts
Second raw power supply has been added to provide further isolation between output stage and the driver stage/line and phono amplifier
Higher specification MUSES operational amplifiers (op-amps) have been used in the line amplifier and phono amplifier

Product Specs

Input Sensitivity

Input 1 (phono) input sensitivity = 2.1mV at 47K ohms in parallel with 220pF.
Maximum Input 1 (phono) input level = 100mV
Input 2-5 (line) input sensitivity = 210mV at 47k ohms
Maximum input 2-5 (line) input level = 10.25V

Power Output

50 Watts RMS both channels driven into the rated load of 8 ohms
58 Watts RMS one channel driven into the rated load of 8 ohms
73 Watts RMS both channels driven into the rated load of 4 ohms
93 Watts RMS one channel driven into the rated load of 4 ohms

Headphone Output

No load = 8V
32 ohms = 1.8V
54 ohms = 2.6V
300 ohms = 5.9V
Source impedance = 109 ohms

General

Frequency response, phono: 15Hz to 40KHz (-3dB Points) / 27Hz to 20.5KHz (-1dB Points)
Frequency response, line: 12Hz (-1dB points) to 43KHz (-3dB points)
RIAA accuracy (100Hz to 10KHz) ± 0.4dB typically better than ± 0.3dB
Power consumption: 195 Watts at 230V/220V/115V/100V into the rated load of 8 ohms
Record output level: Record output level (with rated input levels) = 210Mv.
Record output impedance = 470 ohms
Dimensions: 8.5" (W) x 3.0" (H) x 13.6" (D) (including volume control)
Weight: 11.2 lbs.

"Five Stars" What Hi-fi? Magazine

"It’s an upgrade in every way, from its redesigned features to its immensely engaging, precise and subtle sound."

"It’s the kind of amplifier we want to leave on and play our entire music collection through. Again and again."

- What Hi-fi? magazine, 2017

"The Rega Brio remains the budget amp to beat at its price point, it may not win the features war but it is hands down the most musically rewarding amplifier in its class. Combine that with its improved aesthetics and a remote control that is big enough not to lose in the couch and you have a piece of kit that offers fantastic value and top light entertainment in a compact container."

- Jason Kennedy, the-ear.net, February 2, 2017