Rega io Integrated Amplifier

"Recommended" Award – Five Stars – Hi-fi Choice

Best Buy Award – The Ear

"Something Rather Special at the Price Point"

Rega's all new io amplifier is designed with every music lover in mind. Simple to setup and operate, the io is designed to integrate seamlessly into any hi-fi system.

The compact size allows the io to be used in a variety of systems and delivers a performance well beyond its price point. As you would expect, there is a high quality built-in MM (moving magnet) phono stage, two line level inputs, a redesigned mini wireless remote control and high quality headphone output that is cleverly integrated to deliver optimum performance without compromising the audio circuit. All of these features combine to deliver a powerful, well balanced musical performance at an incredible price.

"From the first bars of music, it is clear that the io is something rather special at its price point. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the top end - the treble is absolutely delightful," reports Adam Smith in his June 2020 five-star review for Hi-fi Choice magazine, which honored the io with a "Recommended" award. "There is no shortage of detail at all and the unit has plenty of insight to offer, but the smoothness, clarity, and lack of sibilance, even in less worthy recordings, is the real prize here. At the low end, the io may only have 30W to play with, but it works wonders with it."

"The Rega Io is a great little amplifier, it packs a punch that you don’t get from the far more highly featured competition that exists on the market and delivers music that you just want to keep playing," notes Jason Kennedy, the-ear.net, June 17, 2020.

Power Amp and Phono Amp Stages Borrowed from the Brio

The io uses the same power amplifier and phono stage as its larger brother, the multi-award winning Brio. The IO aims to deliver exceptional sound quality in a smaller and more cost effective package. The class A/B circuit shares its DNA with the rest of Rega’s amplifiers, and, as usual, great care has been taken in component selection. Onboard the io are Sanken output transistors, an Alps volume potentiometer, and a linear power supply that enables an output of 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

"Star of the Show" Built-in MM Phono Stage

Got a turntable or thinking of buying one? You won't need to invest in an outboard phono preamp with the io. The high-quality MM moving magnet phono stage is built in and it's designed to perfectly complement the rest of the io's circuitry. Just plug in your turntable to the phono input and get ready to find new reasons to enjoy your favorite vinyl.

If you're wondering just how good this phono stage might be, wonder no more. According to Adam Smith in Hi-fi Choice, "Rega is a vinyl specialist after all, and so the phono stage is as good as any standalone MM unit at the price… In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is the star of the show, revealing just how good vinyl can be at this relatively affordable level."

Two Line Level Inputs and a Headphone Stage

In addition to the MM phono stage input, the IO provides two line-level inputs for source components. There is a headphone output on the front of the unit for powering your headphones. The headphone output is driven from the power amplifier stage of the unit through relays to avoid signal degradation when headphones are inserted or when the product is muted, assuring you of the best possible sound quality at all times.

Rounding out this well designed product, a new wireless remote is included as well.

Product Features

Integrated amp with Class A/B circuitry
High-quality built in MM (moving magnet) phono stage
Two line-level inputs for source components
Redesigned mini wireless remote control (batteries included)
High quality headphone output
Sanken output transistors
Alps volume potentiometer
Linear power supply

Product Specs

Power output: 30 W RMS both channels driven into the rated load of 8 Ω
Input 1 (Phono) input sensitivity: 2.1 mV @ 47 kΩ in parallel with 220 pF
Maximum input 1 (Phono) input level: 100 mV
Input 2-3 (Line) input sensitivity: 210 mV @ 47 kΩ
Maximum input 2-3 (Line) input level: 10.25 V
Headphone output: No load 8 V; 32 Ω 1.6 V; 54 Ω 2.4 V; 300 Ω 5.7 V
Source impedance: 109 Ω
Power consumption: 135 W into the rated load of 8 Ω
Frequency response: Phono: 15 Hz to 40 kHz (-3 dB points) / 27 Hz to 20.5 kHz (-1 dB points)
RIAA accuracy: (100Hz to 10 kHz) ±0.4 dB typically better than ±0.3 dB
Line: 12 Hz (-1 dB points) to 43 kHz (-3 dB points)
Dimensions (W x D x H): 7" x 11.4" x 2.7"
Weight: 6.4 lbs.

Product Manual

	Rega io User Manual (PDF Format)

"The $649 Rega io Integrated Amplifier doesn’t scream from the rafters but it’s possibly the best affordable integrated amplifier right now."

- Ian White, ecoustics.com, November 29, 2021

"An entertaining little amp with strong musical insight; quite possibly has the phono input performance level to beat in this price class; small form factor with good build quality."

- Lim Juan, audioFi.net, July 1, 2021

"If we already liked the Brio we love the io! It's always nice when an excellent, affordable product comes on the market. And the Rega io does not disappoint. This amplifier is full of spirit and its reproduction goes straight to the heart."

"The io may be the cheapest amplifier in Rega's range, but we think it's one of the best! It delivers 30 miraculous watts that will be sufficient in many situations. Because of its limitations we only give it 4 stars but it is Alpha Approved. Highly recommended!"

- Geoffrey Van Houwaert, Alpha-Audio, October 12, 2020

"The Rega io is so good, one is tempted to summon up a cauldron full of well-worn audiophile clichés."

"...the io is worthy of our Exceptional Value Awards for 2020, but that doesn’t truly explain a product that gets the essence of the music so right. Audiophiles beginning their journey here may be spoiled for a very long time."

- Jeff Dorgay, TONE, October 2020

"Everything that makes Rega one of the most compelling manufacturers of Hi-Fi in recent years is here in miniature. By making careful reductions to power, connections and casework, Rega has kept everything that makes their amps what they are. The io is genuinely brilliant; an amplifier that does a little less to give you more than pretty much any rival and, for these reasons, it’s an indisputable Best Buy."

- Ed Selley, avforums.com, August 14, 2020

Best Stereo Amplifiers 2020 - What Hi-Fi?

"What will most win fans over to the Rega io, though, is its class-leading performance."

"Simple, but no less successful for that; this is yet another superb-sounding Rega amp."

- What Hi-Fi?, July 10, 2020

Hi-fi Choice "Recommended" Award – Five Stars

"Looking at the finished product, Rega has clearly succeeded admirably - the io is small and neat but comes across as sturdy and well screwed together. In use, it has the feel of something much more expensive than its price tag would suggest."

"From the first bars of music, it is clear that the io is something rather special at its price point. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the top end - the treble is absolutely delightful. There is no shortage of detail at all and the unit has plenty of insight to offer, but the smoothness, clarity, and lack of sibilance, even in less worthy recordings, is the real prize here. At the low end, the io may only have 30W to play with, but it works wonders with it. Basslines are confident, punchy, and taut and it digs deeply with confidence. Rega is a vinyl specialist after all, and so the phono stage is as good as any standalone MM unit at the price… In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is the star of the show, revealing just how good vinyl can be at this relatively affordable level."

"The io looks, feels, and sounds like a much more expensive unit and serves up a smooth and detailed sound quality belying the relatively modest 3W of power output on offer – making it another worthy addition to the budget amp hall of fame."

- Adam Smith, Hi-fi Choice magazine, June 2020

- Jason Kennedy, the-ear.net, June 17, 2020