Rega Elex-R Integrated Amplifier

Key Features

• Custom full-width case with improved heat dissipation
• Combined feedback and passive volume control pre-amp
• 72 W per channel into 8 Ω, 90 W per channel into 6 Ω
• Pre-amp out / Record out / 4 line inputs
• Integrated phono stage
• Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects

Rega Elex-R

The Elex-R borrows technology from Rega's critically acclaimed Brio and Elicit models, namely the design principles of the Brio combined with the power circuits and superior phonostage of the Elicit-R. The Elex-R is a well-established machine in its own right, having won a What Hifi award for 'Best Stereo Amp'. The Elex-R is housed within a full-width Rega chassis with increased heat dissipation. The larger chassis allows for a larger transformer which allows it to offer 90 Watts per channel into 6Ω and 72.5 Watts per channel into 8Ω

Simplicity was key in the design & for usage, avoiding unnecessary features like tone control or a headphone output allowed Rega to concentrate on the signal path, allowing the Elex-R to offer the best possible sound quality while remaining easy to use.

Connectivity is kept simple, there is one high-quality moving magnet phono stage, four line-level inputs, one tape out and a single preamp output (if you feel the need for additional power)

Design Innovation

The Elex-R is built to the highest standard and designed to deliver the best possible audio performance whilst remaining simple to use and easy to set up. The Elex-R is built into the full-width Rega case with increased heat dissipation, which along with a larger transformer enables the Elex-R to deliver 90 Watts per channel into 6Ω and 72.5 Watts per channel into a design centre rating of 8.

Our time, effort & money have been spent on developing the circuit and construction utilizing the highest specification of components throughout. As part of the design, we have included useful features like pre-amplifier output, to enable the new Elex-R amplifier to be used in a wide combination of systems and have avoided superfluous gadgets such as tone controls or a headphone socket as they can obstruct the signal path and degrade the produced sound quality.

The Elex-R has been built to Rega’s extremely high standards of reliability and quality to ensure many years of musical enjoyment. The primary function of an amplifier is to boost and equalize the low-level signal generated by a phono cartridge, DAC and CD player or other source components to a level that can drive the loudspeakers. It is vital that the amplifier achieves this whilst minimising distortion, as this would directly affect the music. The distortion level is typically 0.007%; just under the clipping of the output.

The volume control and pre-amplifier used in the Elex-R are designed to overcome the problems associated with the standard arrangement. This design uses a custom chip along with peripheral support ICs like a microcontroller and a custom-made rotary volume control.

The Elex-R uses a combined feedback and passive volume control, where the feedback and input levels are varied to set the required volume level. The level and tracking between the two channels are set by the close tolerance parts in the pre-amplifier circuit and less by the actual potentiometer itself, thus keeping the mismatch of channels due to volume control tracking irregularities to a minimum. As well as keeping tracking irregularities to a minimum, this method also reduces noise and input overload as the control will only ‘use’ the required gain to amplify the signal. This form of volume control is normally only found in professional broadcast environments where accurate low noise control of levels is required.

Power Amplifier Technology

The output amplifier used in the Elex-R, Elicit-R and Brio-R was born after extensive research by our engineers to develop a low source impedance emitter follower Class-A driver stage. This is based on a complementary pair of 150w Sanken Darlington output transistors. The technical and sonic improvement gained by the use of low-impedance drivers is well known, however, it can feature high-standing currents in the driver stage when using standard transistor configurations. By combining the low impedance driver with the Sanken Darlington transistors (with their embedded thermal bias network running at a lower standing current) this combination forms a complementary emitter follower emulating Class-A conditions with good thermal stability with lower standing.

The Elex-R is the perfect match for Rega's Planar 3 or Planar 6 turntable and will pair well with a number of different speaker brands, depending on your needs.

Who is Rega?

Rega is a specialist hifi manufacturer based in Essex, UK and is renowned for developing and constructing some of the most highly regarded turntables (as well as cartridges and tonearms), electronics and loudspeakers available on the hifi market today. Rega was founded in 1973 and has honed their craft over many years of being a leading brand in every category it put a product to.