When the Rega RP1 first debut more than a decade ago, it was one of the best affordable turntables with a modest price tag. The RP1 may be designed and built as a budget turntable but the sound quality it can produce is far from ordinary. With the right pair of speakers, the Rega RP1 can provide its listeners with exceptional sonic performance. Now the question is which speaker should you aim for.
It may not be the cheapest among the budget turntables but the sound quality it can muster certainly belongs to the very top few in that era. To find matching speakers for the Rega RP1 turntable, we will need to learn more about their sonic strengths, limitations, and characteristics. With enough data, we can then list out the best speakers to pair with the Rega RP1 turntable and will be shared with you later on, please do continue to read further.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Rega RP1
The Rega RP1 doesn’t come with a built-in phono stage and this means we can’t connect to most active speakers directly unless they have their own phono preamps integrated into them. A phono preamplifier is an absolute necessity if not, the sound quality will drop drastically. We can resolve this by either using a dedicated phono stage or with an amplifier that has a built-in phono preamplifier. The Rega RP1 is a clean and stylish-looking turntable, the minimalistic design will make it easy to aesthetically match with most modern speakers, not to mention, to fit in nicely in almost all types of listening rooms.
More Details at Amazon – Rega RP1 (Cool Gray)
This is a well-built budget turntable, it uses an RB 101 tonearm which is quite light. The platter of the Rega RP1 looks durable and is a bit lightweight itself. The Rega RP1 uses Rega’s carbon MM cartridge and has a low vibration motor. These chosen components and parts enable the RP1 turntable to provide its users with a clean sound quality by reducing as many vibrations and other unwanted noises as possible within their price point. There is no doubt the Rega RP1 is a high-quality entry-level turntable and should provide its users with a fantastic music listening experience for years to come without a hitch.
It has a high level of accuracy and an energetic drive which makes it fun to listen to our favorite vinyl via the Rega RP1 turntable. The bass performance of the Rega RP1 is tight and agile, blending in nicely with the rest of the upper registers. There is speed in its bass reproduction which helps to keep up with the music pacing. A little more details in the lower frequencies will be better though. The deep bass delivery has enough punch and impact, not to mention, it is taut and does not overstay its welcome. The Rega RP1 lower registers also help to put up a nice musical presence in the listening room.
There is articulation and energy in the upper registers as well, giving us an overall sound reproduction that is simply engaging. The expressive music presentation is highly organized and precise which is really impressive for a budget turntable at this price point. The Rega RP1 is capable of reproducing natural-sounding vocals and musical instruments which sounded organic and detailed. It seems to be a bit warmer than most of the other Rega turntables but still remains more biased towards neutrality. Nonetheless, the Rega RP1 is still a great turntable for vinyl analog music playbacks.
The overall sound reproduction of the Rega RP1 does not go overly bright when pushed and the edges seem to be quite rounded off. This does allow us to keep listening to our records without worrying about listeners’ fatigue. The RP1 turntable’s enthusiastic music delivery also helps to avoid dull moments and adds energy to some music which can be dark-sounding at times. All in all, it is entertaining to listen to the Rega RP1 and the musicality of the turntable is top-notch at this price range. We have prepared a list of the best speakers for you to check out and you can choose one of them to pair with your Rega RP1 turntable.
Rega RP1 Specifications
- Tonearm: RB101
- Cartridge: Rega carbon moving magnet cartridge
- Motor: AC synchronous
- Speed: 33.3rpm and 45rpm
- Dimensions: 445mm x 114mm x 381mm | 17.5″ x 4.5″ x 15″
- Weight: 4.2kg (9.2lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Rega RP1
The Rega Kyte will be one of the best speakers to pair with the Rega RP1. This is a pair of bookshelf speakers made by the same reputable company and so we can be assured of its quality as well as matching sound signatures. The Rega Kyte are enthusiastic performers, able to bring out the emotional energy of the music and their overall sonic characteristics make it a fantastic pair of speakers for vinyl analog sources. The Kyte speakers are fast too and when combined with the Rega RP1 turntable, you will have an engaging and smooth music presentation with a touch of warmth.
More Details at Amazon – Rega Kyte Bookshelf Speakers Black
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 will be another amazing pair of bookshelf speakers to match with your Rega RP1 turntable and especially for listeners who prefer a warm-sounding system. The pleasing sound quality and smooth music delivery of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 are accompanied by plenty of musical details. The forgiving nature and all-rounded capabilities of this award-winning Diamond 12.1 help to ease off the harshness, making it easy to listen to these speakers. The bass reproductions of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers are outstanding which belies their size and will complement the Rega RP1 turntable.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 White
The Dali Spektor 6 is one of the best speakers to match with the Rega RP1. It is a pair of floor-standing speakers with an innate ability to fill a listening room with large-scale sound. With the alacrity performance of the Rega RP1 turntable, the musical presence in the room can feel energetic and enveloping which is fantastic for immersion. These are dynamic and energetic performers themselves, the Dali Spektor 6 is able to provide an engaging music presentation too. They are also easy on the ears and will show mercy on bad recordings allowing us to enjoy a fun music listening experience.
More Details at Amazon – DALI Spektor 6 Pair (Black Ash)
For listeners who have tight budgets and/or limited room space, going with a pair of active speakers such as the Klipsch R-41PM will be an excellent choice. This is a pair of powered speakers that come with a built-in phono preamplifier and has other features such as Bluetooth connection and a dedicated subwoofer output. With the built-in phono preamp, you can directly connect the Klipsch R-41PM active speakers to your Rega RP1 turntable, saving you space and money. The R-41PM are bright-sounding loudspeakers with an astounding level of clarity and have a lively overall sound reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch R-41PM Powered Speaker Black
The Q Acoustics 3050i will be an amazing pair of floor-standing speakers to partner up with your Rega RP1 turntable. These are award-winning floor-standers with a modest price tag and have exceptional sonic performance. They will be great for listeners who like spacious soundstage and engaging music presentations. When coupled with the sonic characteristics of the Rega RP1, you got yourself a punchy and exciting music delivery. The overall sound reproduction is full-bodied and the bass responses are tight. The musicality of the Q Acoustics 3050i will be a suitable match with the Rega RP1.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3050i (Graphite Grey)
If you are looking for a pair of powered speakers with warm sonic characteristics which can directly connect to your Rega RP1 turntable then the Kanto YU6 will be an exemplary choice. The Kanto YU6 looks beautiful and sounds even better, delivering a well-balanced music delivery. The bass performance is ample but we will recommend connecting an active subwoofer for deeper bass reproductions. These active bookshelf speakers have a plethora of features and the most notable one will be the built-in phono preamp. You can check out Kanto YU4 if you find the YU6s are too big for you.
More Details at Amazon – Kanto YU6 with Phono Preamp – Gloss Black, Pair
More Details at Amazon – Kanto YU4 with Phono Preamp – Pair, Matte White
To Sum It Up
It is highly recommended to hear them out first before seriously considering getting them. During the speaker auditions, you will be able to find out if you like their sound quality. For listeners who already own a phono preamplifier, you can check out other active speakers such as the ones from Yamaha and PreSonus. They have a wide range of studio monitors to choose from and you should be able to find one that will suit your budget. Furthermore, they have incredible sound quality to boot. Definitely worth your time to have a look at them.
