Rega DAC
Something of a superstar. If your budget extends to £500 it deserves attention
Write your own reviewFor
An engaging performer in all genres; 24Bit/192kHz ability with optical and coaxial; solid build
Against
Doesn’t need such a wide variety of filter options
Rega’s new digital-to-analogue converter steps into a rather barren part of the market. There’s no shortage of talent below £350, but up until now if you wanted to take a decisive step up you’d have to spend well over four figures.
We think this Rega DAC is good enough to change that.
It is equipped with a USB input, as well as two opticals and two coaxials. The USB socket will accept 16-bit signals at up to 48kHz sampling rate, while the optical and coaxial connections support digital formats up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Those who like to tweak are in luck. This converter has ten filter options: five for inputs with sampling rates below 48kHz and five for those above.
The differences are subtle, so the choice really just comes down to taste. We tended to like the default setting, number one, on most occasions.
Detailed and dynamic sound
Regardless, this is an excellent-sounding product. It’s detailed and dynamic without sounding harsh, even with edgy recordings such as Kanye West’s Monster (a WAV file from our Apple MacBook).
The Rega has a sweet tonal balance that balances insight, bite and refinement beautifully. The Rega really stands out from the competition in the way it handles rhythms: it’s crisp, and conveys the momentum in a piece off music superbly.
The result is a musically engaging performer that reproduces the emotion in music as diverse as James Blake’s Limit to your Love and Mahler’s Symphony No.2 brilliantly.
Put simply, it makes music – no matter how complex – make sense.
There are no downsides here. If your budget stretches to £500, and you put sound quality above all else, this Rega DAC is a must-listen product.