Rega Elex Mk4 System
Our integrated amplifier champ deserves to be matched with this stunning system
We have loved all the iterations of Rega’s Elex amplifier over the years. This, though – the mark four – is the first of them to have a digital to analogue converter (and a headphone output). Which, of course, opens up rather more system-building possibilities than its forebears could offer.
When you are putting a system together, it doesn’t always work simply to run a finger down a list, stop at the five-star products, bung them together, and expect everything to work perfectly. Life – and certainly hi-fi – just isn’t like that. Take a little care in bringing the various musical strands together, though, and it is possible to come up with a stunning system that adds up to more than the sum of its parts.
While the Elex Mk4’s new digital connections mean we could incorporate other sources such as a laptop or CD transport, or upgrade the sound of an older CD player, we’ve opted here to stick to the analogue inputs and add a streamer into this system, plus a top pair of hi-fi headphones. We also make use of the moving magnet phono stage with one of Rega’s own fine turntables.
The Rega Planar 6 is an extremely refined turntable; in this system we suggest pairing it with Rega’s Exact moving magnet cartridge. The Planar 6/Exact combination is an enthusiastic performer, providing bags of detail, a well-organised soundstage and great insight, which marries beautifully with its revealing amp stablemate, with its wonderful timing and agility.
Dali’s terrific Oberon 5 floorstanders are old favourites. These compact two-way towers should fit in most rooms without issue; they are unfussy about positioning, although we find they perform at their best square on to the listener and with a bit of space between them and the rear wall.
These are responsive, musical and fun speakers that bring out the emotion in music and really pull the listener in. They will play loud enough for most situations and in most rooms. While compact, those twin mid/bass drivers still deliver plenty in the way of low-frequency punch and authority and help to make these speakers sound notably larger than they are.
Opening the streaming door
Using a record player with an Elex amplifier seems like a natural fit, but Rega has never made a streamer, and certainly doesn’t look likely to any time soon. Here’s where the Cambridge Audio CXN v2 comes in. In our view it is the best product of its type at this sort of money.
The CXN is chock full of features and can handle Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Chromecast, Apple Airplay 2, Qobuz, Deezer and more. It can play hi-res files up to 24-bit/192khz, upsampled to 384khz, through USB, optical and coaxial inputs. A pair of RCA and balanced XLR outputs sit alongside two digital outputs.
The Cambridge streamer presents music with vibrancy and enthusiasm, and manages to get to the emotional core of a track. Bass is punchy but lithe, while the upper registers are light and airy without ever straying into over-bright territory.
As with the other components in this set-up, timing is tight, and this system gets your foot tapping with consummate ease.
Beyer dynamics’ DT900 Pro X may be marketed as ‘studio’ headphones, but the analytical nature that implies is only part of the story; these impressive cans are also extremely well suited to home use. They are open-backed, so leak sound both in and out, but this design also generally gets the most from your music. They are a joy to wear over longer listening sessions, too.
As we say in our review, the DT900 Pro X “deliver a superbly composed and detailed performance. They dig up a lot of information and organise it in a cohesive and musical way. They fulfil their ‘studio’ brief by delivering all the resolution, stability and control required to dissect a recording, but manage to convey the emotional impact of the music as well as anything we have heard at this level.”
These are individually excellent products that come together in a wonderful synergy to provide an outcome that even exceeds the sum of those parts. We struggle to think of a way £4500 can be better spent on a stereo hi-fi system.