REGA Aethos Integrated Amplifier

AETHOS Integrated Amplifier The Aethos stereo amplifier is housed in a brand new, custom designed case. Employing four 160 W 16 Amp output transistors per channel, this delivers 156 W per channel into 6 Ω. The Aethos is a dual mono design using a custom wound toroidal transformer and regulated supplies for the sensitive amplification and driver stages. The pre-amplifier stage uses class-A discrete circuitry throughout. The Aethos is a no compromise product with one goal, to deliver your music as faithfully as possible.     Design Innovation Our time, effort and 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 such as the switchable direct input and preamplifier output, to enable the new Aethos amplifier to be used in a wide combination of systems. The headphone socket has been integrated such that the speaker switching is performed by the output mute relay as so not to obstruct the signal path and degrade the sound quality. We have taken the design concepts underpinning the multi award winning and hugely successful Elex-R and Elicit-R and propelled the performance to the next level and beyond with a 125watt dual mono design with features such as fully discrete FET based line amplifier, polypropylene capacitors throughout the signal path, K-Power reservoir capacitors, power amplifier regulated supply and a high current output stage comprising of four 160w Sanken output transistors per channel.   KEY FEATURES 156 W per channel into 6 Ω (125 W per channel into 8 Ω) Dual mono design 5 Line inputs Headphone socket Remote control Direct input Record out Pre-amp out Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects     REVIEW & AWARDS Rega Aethos review - Read More "If you’re in the market we would recommend listening to both, and the choice is likely to come down to system matching and taste as much as anything else. That saving over the Naim helps the Rega’s case, though. Either way, the Aethos is a terrific proposition and has to be heard." - What Hi-Fi?   Rega Aethos Integrated Amp Review - Read More "The Aethos has too many virtues to ignore though. It delivers more power and if you are able to match it with a modicum of attention, it has a level of performance that is absolutely outstanding for an amp at this price point. The ease that it partners with the Kudos Titan - a speaker that is more than twice as expensive - suggests that it could form the basis of a system that involves rather more expensive components and it will more than hold its own. The choice between Aethos and Supernait 3 was something that a few dealers had mentioned that, prior to lockdown, customers were coming down on either side of the fence on and I can see why. This is a very fine amp indeed and one that joins the ranks of the Highly Recommended." - Ed Selley   The only way is Essex - Read More "By focusing on simply making an integrated amplifier that takes established design practices the company knows work well and evolving them rather than drastically reinventing anything, Rega has produced an amplifier that delivers a well-crafted blend of realism, space and simple musical joy. The Aethos has the power to be usefully unaffected about the loudspeakers it's partnered with and is a genuine pleasure regardless of the music that's played. This is another fine and well thought-out component from Rega, and one that makes the integrated amplifier market more competitive than ever at this price point."   Rega Aethos - Read More "The Rega Aethos has a very similar character to the Elex-R and Elicit-R but is more revealing and powerful which opens up a wider range of loudspeaker options but does place higher demands on the source. Essentially it won’t gloss over anything coming from the front end, be that the hard- or software. But it is a very musical and compelling amplifier that makes you want to listen longer and, dare I say it, louder, which is one of life’s great pleasures after all. Add to this very high build quality, a good selection of analogue in- and outputs and you have a classic amplifier, built for sound quality first. What more do you really need." - Jason Kennedy   NYDELIG FORSTERKER - Read More "The Rega Aethos is a completely analogue amplifier, and is not an alternative to amplifiers that have both a record player input and are fully loaded with digital electronics. Here you only get the basics, and then Rega thinks it's up to you to find matching electronics that are adapted to the level of the other components in your system. It can quickly become expensive if you have to maintain the level of the amplifier, but then at least you have a wonderful musical amplifier as a starting point for future musical experiences." Aethical Considerations - Read More "The Aethos is detailed and tuneful throughout the entire frequency band. It is dynamically stronger than the ElicitR I mention earlier – by large margin – yet subtle and well balanced at the same time. For the money, the Aethos is difficult to fault. Well worth an audition." Rega Aethos – Integrated Amplifier HiFi Review - Read More "All things considered and with an excellent headphone output, this Rega Aethos is the analogue blockbuster that you need to listen to, particularly if you have a high numbered new Planar turntable.  It’s an ‘Outstanding’ recommendation for me, I’ve not got a ‘Blockbuster’ one yet, I’m working on it though!" - Simon Wilce  Analog reference amplifier - Read More "Rega Aethos is such an amplifier that is easy to overlook because it lacks both DAC, streaming and turntable input. But if that does not bother one, Aethos is by far the best integrated amplifier we have tested, in terms of sound. It is sparklingly dynamic, very refined and the music flows so naturally and freely that you forget that it looks like a listening station from the 70’s DDR regime. Aethos is simply a damn well-sounding amplifier. It holds in plenty for us." - Lasse Svendsen    Rega Research Aethos Integrated Amplifier - Read More "The Rega Research Aethos integrated amplifier is both a beauty and a beast. It can handle delicacy and sweetness with the best of them but when the music demands it can launch an aural assault of the highest order. The only thing I’d like to see changed is that touchy remote volume control. If shopping at this price point, put this one on your short list, find a dealer and go have a listen." - Stephen Dawson   Rega Aethos Integrated Amplifier Review - Read More "In fact, 'strong value' is a useful two word summary for the Aethos in general. Thanks to that burly casework, it feels like a lot of amp for the asking price and that perception is only enhanced when you listen to it. This is an amp that produces a sound that fundamentally engages the listener and delivers on the emotional aspect of music exceptionally well. There is no shortage of price-competition, but Rega has delivered an amplifier foregoing an overly elaborate specification to focus on pure audio performance – the result is something that should be on any purchasing shortlist at the price." - Ed Selly   REVIEW: REGA AETHOS - DOES (FORTUNATELY) ITS OWN THING - Read More "The Rega Aethos is an unconventional-looking amplifier with a purist, analog-only philosophy. What it mainly does is provide amplification tending towards neutral - and that with a lot of surplus power. Combine the Aethos with the right speakers – difficult, but in our opinion a touch of heat is a good idea – and you can celebrate " - JAMIE BIESEMANS        SPECIFICATIONS Power Amplifier Output (at rated 230/115 V Supply voltage) 125 W RMS both channels driven into the rated load of 8 Ω 156 W RMS both channels driven into 6 Ω Record Output Record output level (with rated input levels) 219 mV Record output impedance 560 Ω Pre-amp Output Pre-amp output level (with rated input levels) 840 mV Pre-amp output impedance 100 Ω Dimensions (W x H x D 433 x 95 x 360 mm (including speaker terminals) Weight 17.5 kg