The Jupiter and to are Rega's first foray into the two-box CD market. Based on the same slim casework used by the Planet single box player and other Rega electronics, the design of the pair is both understated and very distinctive. But how come they've gone for a separate transport and DAC just when everybody else, beset by interfacing problems, seems to be reverting to integrated designs? Rega have chosen the two-box route since they feel that the Planet provides the best possible performance from a single box player within its price band. The Jupiter and lo are designed to substantially improve on the key qualities of the Planet, and appeal to users in the next price bracket. The pair are also designed to provide a stepped upgrade for Planet users, the path being Planet - Planet/lo - Jupiter/Io. This forms an essential part of the two-box rationale.

Hooked up to my system and replacing my slightly long in the tooth Meridian 506/2, it was quickly apparent that an extended run-in is essential. Of course, a new product will always need a break in period, but the Jupiter/Io still sounded distinctly thin and edgy with little noticeable improvement after a couple of days of continuous play. Making insufficient allowance for the Rega being a brand new player, my immediate reaction was surprise that a latest generation product wasn't able to match my aged Meridian. The latter still demonstrated much more presence, stage depth and general musicality. It was only after another three days of constant playing that the Jupiter and Io began to demonstrate their true character, overtaking the Meridian and continuing to improve over the next week.

Rather than perhaps unfairly compare the Jupiter with a machine from a couple of generations back, a similarly priced Arcam Alpha 9 was brought into service. This proved fascinating, with the two machines demonstrating that they were effectively polar opposites. The Alpha showed great finesse and was capable of drawing the finest detail and nuance from a performance. However, I found the staging unacceptably flat, with very little image depth.

The Jupiter and Io generated a far more credible image with much greater depth and volume. Better still was the bass performance. This was some of the deepest and most tuneful I've encountered from a CD player, certainly at this price.

The one slight drawback with the Jupiter at this stage was its failure to latch onto a tune and drive it along. This wasn't apparent with all material, but stuck out like a sore thumb where rhythm and timing were key to holding a complex performance together. A good example was Shawn Colvin's version of 'Every Little Thing (He) Does Is Magic' from 'Cover Girl'. The Alpha 9 allowed the powerfully strummed acoustic to drive things ahead, with the vocals naturally placed and everything surging along with absolute cohesion. Whilst the Jupiter had obvious strengths in other areas, this cohesion wasn't one of them. To exaggerate what is admittedly a very fine point, it felt as if the musicians were playing at marginally different tempi. Knowing this to be absolutely at odds with the Rega approach to musical reproduction, some experimentation was clearly called for.

The most obvious culprit (and so it proved), was the digital interconnect. I'd been using the supplied Rega 'Single' cable until I substituted some Audioplan Digitenna at an early stage in the run-in process. At the time, this enhanced most aspects of performance, bringing the best from an already excellent bass. The problem was, that with the sound not really hanging together, it's disjointing effect overall was hidden. A quick swap to the Single got things back into their stride, but left me lusting for the lost weight and dynamics of the (more expensive) Audioplan.

In the quest for perfection I tried some Chord leads before frustration drove me further up the financial ladder. A lot further. A metre length of Nordost Quatro FiI was popped in place. Problem fixed! Now tunes simply waltzed along with just the right pace and required energy and whilst the bass was marginally less convincing than with the Digitenna, everything else was just as good. Of course, at something like ten times the price of the Rega cable (and more than either of the electronics!), the Nordost should sound a lot better. Was there a cheaper alternative? A call to Nordost resulted in a length of the brand new and slightly prophylactic sounding 'Silver Shadow' which is, unlike the Quatro FiI, a dedicated digital cable. Having felt that the pricey Quatro Fil was finally allowing the Jupiter to give of its best, the Silver Shadow proved me wrong.

From it's virgin state of a thin sound with more than a trace of hardness and little staging, the Jupiter was now transformed. Whilst it still didn't offer the ultimate in retrieval of fine detail, it simply got on with the job of making music. This was managed in such a compelling manner that little else was of much importance. Bass performance remained a strong point, being full bodied with just the right degree of warmth, control and when required, sheer clout. Staging was good if not exceptional but its ability to lock into the essence of the music made individual elements of no real consequence. Regardless of the type of music chosen, the absolute cohesion of the sound drew me in again and again. Whether it was the sheer punch of Basie's band in overdrive on 'Farmers Market Barbeque' (Analogue Productions CAPJ 023), the rhythmic drive and killer bass of Antonio Forcione and Trilok Gurtu's 'Ghetto Paradise' (Naim CD 032), or the warmth and evocation of Barbirolli and the Sinfonia of London in Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis' (EMI CDC 7475372), I never felt emotionally short-changed.

The way that Basie opens the album with a few, trademark relaxed, slyly played chords just behind the beat, against simple percussion, bass and guitar is superbly conveyed. There is a palpable air of anticipation before the full band kicks in and as Basie makes the racing gear change to top, there's a sense of joy and release that's one of those great moments in jazz. The Rega was able to give me the same anticipatory tingle down the spine every time I played this number. Arcam let me hear much more detail, more of a sense of fingers brushing strings in the strummed guitar in the intro for example, more 'woodyness' to James Leary's bass, more definition of individual players in the full band, but the tingle factor lust wasn't there. Forget the fine detail for me the Rega was much more able to convey a sense of 'you are there witnessing a great band having a great time and sharing in their enjoyment'. The Arcam exhibited many strengths, principally that of accuracy and detail, whether in precise, consistent positioning of players within the soundstage or of fine-detail rendition. It was much more capable than the Rega of conveying the real character of a voice or instrument. Its weaknesses were principally in restricted reproduction of stage depth and, for me much more importantly in getting to the heart of the musical emotion. The Rega created a realistic sense of space, including stage depth, tightly defined deep, deep bass AND emotion in bucket-loads.

Further proof of this can be found in the fact that with the Jupiter and Io in-situ, I no longer worry about qualitative trade-offs in choosing whether to play a CD or an LP I'm simply selecting the music I want to hear, regardless of format. And whilst I'm not claiming that the Jupiter and Io equal my trusty Michell, they come close enough for it to become relatively unimportant. High praise indeed!

I feel this Rega will become an essential shortlist player in this price band, especially for those who value sheer musicality above fine detail. It's capable of handling with aplomb anything you care to throw at it. And don't read my criticisms too harshly The supplied Rega Single digital interconnect is good, and was the best affordable option tried, so it looks like Rega have got the critical digital transfer right. However, to get the very best from the player, and as a cost effective upgrade (believe it or not!), I strongly recommend the feather light application of a length of Nordost Silver Shadow You won't be disappointed - but you will be shocked. I know it costs a lot, but you can take that as an indicator of the Rega's inherent musical quality.

I never got the chance to try the Io as an add-on to the Planet, but owners of the original Rega player should be just about ready for an upgrade by now On this evidence the new DAC should be top of their audition list.

Rega's stated philosophy is that music is the pivot on which the company is balanced. With the Jupiter and Io, they've reinforced the point.

Remote control
The Jupiter, like the single box Planet, is supplied sans remote. This seems a reasonably sensible approach since costs can be contained to absolute essentials, whilst those who really want a remote can choose between a basic unit for the player alone, or a full system remote. I was supplied with the more complex version (they all cost the same, at £25). This is obviously designed to run amplifiers and tuners too, but I did find it something of an ergonomic let down. It is not particularly logically laid out and more than once I found myself trying to use the remote back to front. Maybe it's just my stupidity but it just looked right that way round. Note to Rega: to be more user-friendly, and to sit more happily with the quality of the player, it'd be great to see a real Rega remote, rubberised controls and all.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Rega Jupiter
Product Type: Top loading CD transport.
Digital Output level: 0.5V (load impedance 75ohms)
Digital sampling frequency: 44.1kHz
Dimensions (W,D,H): 435 x 256 x 64 mm
Required space for operation; 435 x 270 x 100 mm
Finish: Black

Rega Io
Product Type: to analogue converter
Analogue output level: 2V RMS @ 1kHz (minimum load impedance: 10K)
Digital input level: 0.5V 75ohm load S/PDIF coaxial
Digital sampling frequency: 32KHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz
Dimensions (WxDxH): 435 x 256 x 64mm
Finish: Black

Prices:
Jupiter: £598.00
Io: £450.00
Bought as a pair: £950.00 (price includes Single digital interconnect)
Remote controls:
CD: £25.00
Solar System Remote; £25.00

Manufacturer
Rega Research Ltd
119 Park St
Westcliff on Sea
Essex
SS0-7PD
Tel: (44)(0)1702-333071
Fax: (44)(0)1702-432427

Web: www.rega.co.uk
e-mail: design "at" rega.co.uk

Back to Last Page | Top | Forward to Next Page | Technical Review index