The Rega Brio R is one of the best budget integrated amplifiers to go for and will be an amazing entry-level amp for music lovers who want to have an enjoyable listening experience. The Brio R has been around for about a decade or so and has won plenty of accolades during these years, but can it still stand its ground when competing with the latest amplifiers currently out on the market? There’s a high probability that the Rega Brio R sound quality and performance still remains competitive in this day and age as long it is partnered with pair of matching speakers.
It is crucial to pair your Rega Brio R with matching speakers so as to enjoy its complementary effects and allow them to provide you with the best sound quality that they can muster. To find such loudspeakers, we must first learn more about this terrific integrated amplifier’s sonic characteristics and merits. Once we have the necessary data, we will then be able to share with you a list of the best speakers which you can choose and pair with the Rega Brio R.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Rega Brio R
It is a compact integrated amplifier and will be ideal to be part of a desktop sound system since it doesn’t take up much space on your table. The small footprint of the Rega Brio R also makes it easier to place it almost anywhere in a listening room and will be a wonderful amplifier choice for listeners who have limited space. It is a pity the Brio R doesn’t have a built-in DAC though but this can easily be resolved by pairing with a matching Rega DAC. The Rega Brio R does have an exemplary moving magnet (MM) phono stage though and will be great for turntable users.
The Rega Brio R is quite powerful for a compact size integrated amplifier, it has a power output of 50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (both channels driven) and goes up to 93 Watts into 4 Ohms (Peak power, one channel driven). This makes it powerful enough to drive mainly bookshelf speakers and probably some floor-standing speakers which can easily be driven. If you are going for bookshelf speakers and want more bass output, you can always connect an active subwoofer to the Brio R record output. But you will need to adjust the subwoofer volume every time you change the volume level of the Rega Brio R integrated amplifier though.
It has a surprisingly high level of clarity which is quite a feat for an amplifier at this price range. Musical details are been clearly delivered and there’s no need for us to strain our ears to hear the subtle nuances. The Rega Brio R is good at digging out details but better at presenting them. There is a level of energy and rhythm coming from this small integrated amplifier which makes listening to music engaging and fun. Furthermore, the Brio R is capable of handling a wide dynamic range with agility and control There’s never a dull moment when listening to this amplifier, and unknowingly you will start tapping your feet.
The lively music presentation of our favorite tunes does not sound harsh or hard when pushed which is fantastic as this means we can enjoy our music listening session for long hours without worrying about listeners’ fatigue. It may sound too bright for some listeners though but is never overly bright. The overall sound reproduction of the Rega Brio R is still quite smooth and easy on the ears. Brio R’s energetic performance can be a bit much for music which is meant to be laid-back or relaxing. Its overall bass performance is agile as well and tight but does lack a bit of weight.
The Rega Brio R is neutral sounding and does slightly lean towards the bright side. It has an innate ability to dish out plenty of music details and with clarity. This helps to provide a high-resolution music presentation. The phono stage of Brio R is excellent and detailed as well, with a slightly smoother music flow. For listeners who like warm sonic characteristics when playing their vinyl record audio sources, this Rega amp may not be suitable for you. Still, it’s a fun-sounding amplifier and is worth your time to try it out. We have gathered enough data and information, it is time to share with you a list of the best speakers to pair up with your Rega Brio R integrated amplifier.
Rega Brio R Specifications
- Power Output: 50/73 Watts into 8/4 Ohms (both channels driven), 58/93 Watts into 8/4 Ohms (one channel driven)
- Inputs: 5 Line inputs, 1 MM Phono input
- Outputs: Record out
- Dimensions : 343mm x 216mm x 84mm | 13.5″ x 8.5″ x 3.3″
- Weight: 6.1kg (13.5lbs)
Best Speakers to match with Rega Brio R
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is a multiple award-winning bookshelf speaker and will be an excellent match with the Rega Brio R integrated amplifier. Furthermore, for such an amazing loudspeaker, the Concept 20 is still modestly priced, no wonder it took the HiFi world by storm when it first debut. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 adds a bit of warmth into the overall sound reproduction without compromising clarity. You still get loads of music details from these stand-mounters and they are clearly delivered as well. The Concept 20s also help to provide more musical refinement and smoother music delivery.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 (Black)
The Dali Spektor 2 is one of the best speakers to match with the Rega Brio R especially if you want an energetic music performance no matter what music you are playing. This is a pair of articulate and agile bookshelf speakers with an expressive midrange reproduction which is impressive for loudspeakers at this price range. They are affordably priced and can easily match with most listeners’ budgets. There is speed and finesse, the Dali Spektor 2 is agile enough to provide its listeners with an engaging music delivery without losing stability. The dynamic swing of the Spektor 2s is equally outstanding.
More Info at Amazon – DALI SPEKTOR 2 Bookshelf Speaker (Black Ash)
The Wharfedale Diamond 220 is another amazing pair of entry-level speakers and has even won quite a few awards throughout the years, making them worthy bookshelf speakers to pair with the Rega Brio R. It is also an excellent choice for listeners who like warm-sounding bookshelf speakers that can smoothly deliver music. The Diamond 220s have a pleasing sound quality and the Brio R amplifier helps to add a bit more energy into the overall sound reproduction. The Wharfedale Diamond 220 warm sonic characteristics provide a fuller midrange reproduction and a full-bodied bass delivery.
More Info – Wharfedale Diamond 220 Bookshelf Speaker (Walnut)
The KEF Q350 will be one of the best speakers to pair with your Rega Brio R integrated amplifier. It is also an award-winning bookshelf speaker but will be ideal for listeners who prefer neutral-sounding speakers that can deliver a large-scale sound. The Q350s are able to deliver deep bass frequencies with accuracy and detail. There is weight in the bass as well and helps to build up a nice music presence in the listening room. The KEF Q350 has an innate ability to dig out a large amount of details and can produce them out clearly which will complement the Rega Brio R really well and the alacrity performance of the amp helps to add a bit more fun to the overall sound reproduction.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q350 (Pair, Black)
For listeners who want to match their Rega Brio R with a pair of floor-standing speakers then the Klipsch RP-6000F will be a good choice to go for. It is a pair of floor-standers with very high speaker sensitivity which enables the Brio R amplifier to drive them to high volume levels. The Klipsch RP-6000Fs are capable of filling a room with musical presence and details. The level of clarity is astonishing and the bass performance of the RP-6000F floor-standing speakers is pretty tight. These are lively loudspeakers and we will suggest hearing them out first to see if they are not too bright sounding for you.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch RP-6000F (Ebony Pair)
If you are planning to get bookshelf speakers and want to find some way to improve the overall bass performance. Getting a powered subwoofer can be a good idea and we will suggest going for a sealed cabinet type. Sealed subwoofers are agile and fast which means they are able to keep up with the speakers and will excel in music playbacks, not to mention, they can render low frequencies more accurately and realistically. You might want to check out SVS SB-1000 Pro, it is an entry-level 12″ sealed subwoofer and has a peak power of up to 820 Watts. The frequency response of the SB-1000 Pro is 20Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB) which is really remarkable for a subwoofer at this modest price point.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
To Sum It Up
The price points of these speakers listed here are quite closely matched with the Rega Brio R integrated amplifier. You can shortlist the speakers based on your preference and arrange an audition to hear them out. During the auditioning of the shortlisted loudspeakers, you will be able to tell which speaker sounds the best to you. You should include the subwoofer that you are about to get during these speaker auditions so as to provide you with a more accurate result of the overall sound quality.
