We now have the complete line up of the new Rega Research RS series of loudspeakers on display. OK, I know most of you out there think only turntables or maybe CD players when it comes to the Rega Research name, but Rega has been making very good speakers for over 20 years! The new RS1, RS3, RS5, and RS7 incorporate a host of improvements. The main improvement is Rega's first in-house designed soft dome tweeter that is featured in all the RS series models. The tweeter features what Rega calls
Zero Rear Reflection Technology which minimizes reflection related resonances for a smoother and more even treble response. Additionally the woofers uses in the RS3, RS5, and RS7 models use a re-designed 8 layer cone design along with
Rega's Bass Resonance Technology to help control bass resonances for a smooth and even bass response. The cabinets have also been spruced up (better footer design, dimensions tweaked, and real wood veneers) as well.
So far, we have been playing the new RS1 ($695/pair retail) and RS5 ($1,595/pair retail) around the shop and we are mightily impressed. The new tweeter not only offers a more even and smoother top end response (improved bloom and more natural decay), this also improves resolution of the speakers as well. The RS5's (like the $1,195/pair RS3's I listened to at CES) strike us as a terrific value for their price. Like the other three way RS speakers I have heard, they disappear well, the bottom end is even with good weight and definition, and most importantly they have a natural tonal character. This is all accomplished with a speaker that does not have the significant frequency response tailoring I hear in other speaker to achieve a certain "sound". Are they perfect? No. But the sins of the Rega RS speakers tend to be ones of omission... I'd much rather have the Rega's slightly smoother presentation than a speaker that tries to amp up detail with a bright/grainy sounding mid-range driver or a little less top end "air" for a more even and natural sounding treble.
2 comments:
Natural sounding? Even though very pleasant and in this regard one of the best out there, considering their respective price range, Rega RS-series aren't exactly the most natural sounding speakers.
IMHO... Within thier design context and price, they are pretty natural sounding. Any sins are those of omission... much less offensive then a clearer but much brighter sounding speakers for example.
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