stereoguy

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This review is the new version of Rega Elicit integrated amplifier with optional MM or MC phono stage that came out recently. Since I consider myself to be music lover first and equipment nut second, this integrated amplifier suits my needs well. It is thoroughly competent and eminently practical. I've given over to the inconvenience and discomfort of tubes and class A solid state on several occaisions over the years (Pass labs, conrad johnson, audio research). Yes they sound great but in some ways are a pain to use and own. Good tubes can be finicky and cost alot, class A amps use gobs of electricity, and both types of amp generate copious amounts of heat. Sometimes I would be sweating during a listening session. I might find myself being subserviant to music at times, but I am no longer willing to be subserviant to equipment. Nowadays I just want to listen to music without bother. I had used the Rega Mira as a possible solution to all this. If that amp had been just a little better I would have kept it and soldiered on. Well the Rega Elicit is more than a little better than a Mira. I wanted a good integrated with a built in phono stage for my turntable- the Rega Elicit is that amp. Though I do feel the US retail price of the Elicit is prohibitvely high. I got a good deal on mine and Rega had a phono stage included free introductory promo going on when I got it (phono is normally an extra charge). The Elicit has a very appealing look to it plus it feels solid, hefty and well made when you pick it up. The power supply transformer is the core of any amp, it seems Rega has given that fact ample consideration. The sound it gives is assured and involving across the board. You don't get the boundless sense of reserve higher powered amps can have. At the upper edge of its loudness capability there is a change in tonality which does not become offensive. The sound goes from being more laid back to a little more foward. In this manner it reminded me of my CJ tube amp and Sugden class A amp- it will remain composed if used within reason. Tonally The amp falls somewhere between the Rega Mira3 and Sugden A21 I have owned. The Elicit has a stronger than typical bias into class A but not enough to run very hot. The result is a subtle sweetness and refinement which the Mira lacks. The Elicit is more clear and detaled than the Sugden A21a but I wouldnt call it hyper detailed. The soundstage is good, treble is smooth, bass is proplusive. What Hi-fi kept calling this amp "musical" as if it's some kind of crime. After awhile I've learned that components that impress immediately rarely stand the test of time. Folks this is about as good as British class A/B integrated amps get. I can speak of it as being well suited as the heart of the Rega system I now own. It did not work as well in a piecemeal situation. I'd suggest that people who listen to this amp at least consider to try it with Rega speakers. To sum up The Elicit is a clean and musical sounding amp that also happens to be utilitarian. I am very happy to own it.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from e-bay

Summary:
Well I got this Amp for my 2nd rig. My 1st being in nott'm and consists of a planet CD player, cursa pre, 2x maia power amps and a pair of b&w p4 speakers. Yes I'm already a fan of rega! My 2nd setup is just so I can listen to music in my rented room in London and consists of the elicit, MS05i speakers and a nothing special aiwa xc-300 cd player. I recently got the Elicit off e-bay for £200 inc deliver. Its one of the last serial# of this amp to have ever been made. It sounds rarther sweet and out classes the rest of the kit in this setup. Its surprisingly good even at low volumes (sometimes a weakness at low volumes *ARCAM* where one channel up staging the other at low volumes). Build quality is very good and looks are like all pre-2000 rega boxes. When I move back to nott'm I will give it a try out in my other rig to see how close it comes sound wise. But with the speakers and CD player I have in this 2nd setup I can't fault the nature of this solid sounding amp.

Strengths:
Toe taping sound! Good stereo image. Good across volumes. Drives speaker well even at low volumes (balanced sound). Solid build. Very tidy internal design (with each power stage having its own transformer). Electronic switching elimates any crackle when switching between inputs between inputs. Can drive even low impediance speakers. Sounds better than the Brio, luna, mira & elex - but shares the same strengths. Good phono stage (switchable internally between MM & MC)

Weaknesses:
Initially the lack of a remote was considered a weakness by me, but now I'm not bothered! This class tends to run at a warm temperature. There are no pre outs (but then it doesn't really nead any add on power amps as its a dual mono!)

Similar Products Used:
Rega cursa/maia/maia, rega luna, rega mira, brio & elex. Music fidelity x-ray range, arcam 9 + 9p

Price Paid:  $440.00 from AV Shop, Ostfildern,

Summary:
When I decided to buy a hifi system, I hear some low-price components: Atoll IN50 (french integrated 2x50 W), Nad C300, Thule Audio IA50B and two older amplifiers which are of another class: a ten year old Rega Elex and a used tube amplifier Kora Flash (unfortunately a bit expensive for the student I am). The Rega has stricked me with its ability to reproduce the emotion of good performance and with its formidable dynamic.I was so delighted that I decided to seek for a potential bargain. I found it with an used Rega Elicit that I payed only $440 instead of $1360. Confident in the "Rega sound", I''ve bought it ear-closed. I was very proud of my new purchase, but how would it sound like? Well, non-audiophile listener would say that it produce the same sound that the Elex, which is, in fact, a good point for the Elicit. Effectively, The Elex has a very powerful, dynamic and rich sound. This amp is a charmer! But for audiophile usage, the Elicit dramatically increase the realism of the music: 1°- the soudstage is more open, with greater depth and the stereo image is more stable. 2°- the sound spectrum is really very big, from the higher to the lower freqencies. The bass are particularly well-reproduced: they go very low while being well-controled, without any trace of flawless. Every octave of the harpsichcord lash the air with an equal ease. 3° - the tone of the instruments are glaring of truthness. What for a celo! It''s fantastic! The voice are simply marvellous. 4° - even if the Elicit seem to be less powerful then the Elex, it is certainly more realistic. The micro-dynamic is fascinating. 5°- Perhaps the greatest quality of this superb amp is his transparency. With the Elicit, you will be sure that the sound you hear is as close as possible to the signal the CD player generate. Its weaknesses? Precisely its transparency: the assocation with good source component is essential. To concluded, the Elicit, which is no longer produced and could be found only used, is clearly a bargain. Be sure that, for the price you will pay to have it, the Rega surpasses a new amp you could have for the same price. For this last reason, I will becareless, and give it 5/5. My system: Rega Planet Mk1 Rega Radio R Rega Elicit dual mono gamp, 2x70 W Davis acoustics Axel 3, 3 ways speakers 4 mm2 speaker cables.

Strengths:
Unbelivable truthness tone, large sound spectrum, firm and powerfull bass, ability to expose each melodic line

Weaknesses:
Great tranparency, so chose the analog or digital source with care!

Similar Products Used:
Rega Elex

Summary:
After auditioning NAD, Arcam, Bryston and Naim I bought the Rega Mira and Planet. They sounded so good, (and cost so much), that a few weeks later I figured what's another paycheque - so I bought the Elicit. What really turned me off the Arcam was the volume control which made one channel turn on first at low volume. The Rega seemed to be well built and exude quality. I quickly followed up with an upgrade from the Planet (CD) to Rega's Jupiter/Io CD.

The Elicit seems to have the perfect balance of high resolution and punch with a smooth, natural sound. It's not bright and thin and not blurred or lazy. I find the system wonderfully easy to listen to and absolutely non-fatiguing. With a good quality recording it's very involving and exciting with excellent pace and rhythm.

The Elicit needs some time to warm up so I think a Standby switch might be a good idea. My only real complaint is that there is no remote control available. I wish Rega added a volume (for amp) button to the Juptier's remote.

Partner the Elicit with the Rega Jupiter and a good interconnect (and suitable speakers) and I think you will agree the sound is delightful and you do get what you pay for.

Strengths:
Clean, clear powerful sound. Excellent value.

Weaknesses:
No remote control.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz, AMC, Rega Mira.

Summary:
This is a very underated amplfier,good solid meaty sound,well controlled bass.
With vinyl it simply excels,its only drawback is that it prefers warmer soucre components, so the inevitable cd matching can be tricky. I use Roksan Xerxes :rb 300 : goldring 1042 turntable.
Orelle CD10 Transport & dpa enlightenment dac
ProAc Tablette 50 speakers.
Very involving sound just be careful with the cd player, I may try Rega Planet cd and see if this is a more sympathetic match.

Strengths:
Excellent phono stage

Weaknesses:
can sometimes sound brash at high volumes

Similar Products Used:
audiolab 8000, arcam delta 290