Brio-R or Mira 3? Both are equally priced, which is the better performing amp? Please comment if you've compared the two or can offer suggestions one way or the other.

They'll be driving the RS5 speaker and used with a Saturn and Rega DAC.

Thanks!

edit: Also, is there any reason not to go with the Cambridge Audio 840A V2 which is also about the same price now? It seems like a well regarded unit as well and at the new price....it's very tempting.

There is no substitute for hearing them yourself, as we all have different tastes.

Personally, I prefer the Brio R for it's much beefier and dynamic presentation. The Mira is more laid back and sophisticated but might suit polite music better.

Brio R, no contest for me!

Defintely Brio-R if you're using the Rega Dac. The rega dac is great and everything, but it gels the best with the Brio-R. If you're planning on getting rid of hte dac, and just use the saturn, then the mira might be a better bet; which might not be a bad option, if you're really only spinning CDs.

Brio-R or Mira 3? Both are equally priced, which is the better performing amp? Please comment if you've compared the two or can offer suggestions one way or the other.

They'll be driving the RS5 speaker and used with a Saturn and Rega DAC.

Thanks!

edit: Also, is there any reason not to go with the Cambridge Audio 840A V2 which is also about the same price now? It seems like a well regarded unit as well and at the new price....it's very tempting.

Rega amplifiers is far ahead the Cambridge stuff which to my ears sound sterile non dynamic fatiguing

The Brio-R is extremely good for the price, makes some overpriced stuff look (and sound) silly

I've owned both...Brio-R is my preference.

Guys,..I'm getting curious about the Brio R amp, after so many raving reviews and users findings.
(not even talking about the great looks), but...

I just noticed on a site that the power-consumption of the Brio R is rated at 195 watts. :o

That seems like an awful lot, especially compared to my Nait 5i-2 that draws only about 10 watts.
Wouldn't that mean an huge difference in the electricity bill ? :confused:

Defintely Brio-R if you're using the Rega Dac. The rega dac is great and everything, but it gels the best with the Brio-R. If you're planning on getting rid of hte dac, and just use the saturn, then the mira might be a better bet; which might not be a bad option, if you're really only spinning CDs.

Could you elaborate more on this please? What aspects make you feel the DAC a better pair for the Brio-R and the Mira3 with the Saturn?

Guys,..I'm getting curious about the Brio R amp, after so many raving reviews and users findings.
(not even talking about the great looks), but...

I just noticed on a site that the power-consumption of the Brio R is rated at 195 watts. :o

That seems like an awful lot, especially compared to my Nait 5i-2 that draws only about 10 watts.
Wouldn't that mean an huge difference in the electricity bill ? :confused:

Ok 195 watts is the maximum consumption and in reality it will never consume that much power, it would be much the same as the nait in practise!

Ok 195 watts is the maximum consumption and in reality it will never consume that much power, it would be much the same as the nait in practise!
Really ? That would be reassuring. :)

what about brio r vs elicit?

No competition. Elicit is way better, but also way different. Brio-R is a scrappy little puppy, all bouncy and happy. Elicit is an adult.

Ok 195 watts is the maximum consumption and in reality it will never consume that much power, it would be much the same as the nait in practise!Not quite. As I explained to Alco in the Brio R thread, the Brio is biased into class A, so the 195 watts would be its idling consumption and not its maximum.

Jan

As I explained to Alco in the Brio R thread, the Brio is biased into class A, so the 195 watts would be its idling consumption and not its maximum.
This means that even if I had it powered on for say 8 hours a day it would still consume about 50% of all my other electrical devices together on a yearly basis! (lights, tv, PC, fridge, washing machine, micro-wave, etc,etc)

Hmm,...for me this could be the reason to dissmiss the Rega. :(

At 195W at idle, you would expect Class A output with 2A quiescent current per channel and a burning hot sensation on its lid.

...unless it is 195W max during operation.

Andrew

At 195W at idle, you would expect Class A output with 2A quiescent current per channel and a burning hot sensation on its lid.

...unless it is 195W max during operation.

Andrew
My bad. The Rega doesn't get hot at idle, so it must be its maximum consumption then... Alco, perhaps contacting Rega directly would clarify. I would hate that you decide against a wonderful amp based on presumptions here.

Thanks Andrew

Jan

Thanks Jan & Andrew,

I just sent a mail to the Dutch distributor for Rega to clear things up. :)

Not quite. As I explained to Alco in the Brio R thread, the Brio is biased into class A, so the 195 watts would be its idling consumption and not its maximum.

Jan

It would be too hot to touch if this was the case, 195w is a hell of a lot in idling.

I also just sent an email to a Rega dealer regaring the Brio R's power consumption and to my surprise I got a reply within 20 minutes! (didn't realize that the shop was still open)

The owner of the shop told me that all amps, including the Brio R consume more power when music is played loud. (makes sense)
Also that any amp has a peak power consumption when switched on, because it has to reload the capacitors.
(I hope that's the right translation, as English is not my native language)

He continued to say that once the amp is warmed up (within a few minutes) it won't use that much electricity, and he reassured me that it wouldn't be any problem leaving the amp on 24/7, to be sure that it sounds best at all times. :)

I also just sent an email to a Rega dealer regaring the Brio R's power consumption and to my surprise I got a reply within 20 minutes! (didn't realize that the shop was still open)

The owner of the shop told me that all amps, including the Brio R consume more power when music is played loud. (makes sense)
Also that any amp has a peak power consumption when switched on, because it has to reload the caps.
(I hope that's the right translation, as English is not my native language)

He continued to say that once the amp is warmed up (within a few minutes) it won't use that much electricity, and he reassured me that it wouldn't be any problem leaving the amp on 24/7, so be sure that it sounds best at all times. :)

Yup.

I use a Brio R, with RP3, Saturn, DAC and Rs3s. Brilliant system.

I use a Brio R, with RP3, Saturn, DAC and Rs3s. Brilliant system.
That sounds (and looks) like a lovely system indeed, Chris. :)

Have you compared the Brio R to other amps ?

My bad. The Rega doesn't get hot at idle, so it must be its maximum consumption then... Alco, perhaps contacting Rega directly would clarify. I would hate that you decide against a wonderful amp based on presumptions here.

Thanks Andrew

Jan

Someone with a Kill-A-watt could measure conclusively and get a power figure. If I end up with a Brio-R, I'll measure it.

As you may remember Alco, I had a 555, 552/300 system and after that a Lyngdorf TDAI 2200.

I actually enjoy the Rega system more than either of those, which will irritate a few here no doubt!

Chris, are you using the DAC for Saturn or other duties ?

As you may remember Alco, I had a 555, 552/300 system and after that a Lyngdorf TDAI 2200.

I actually enjoy the Rega system more than either of those
Blimey,...that's quite an announcement, Chris! :)

btw,...you won't happen to have a nice systempic of your lovely Rega setup, do ya ? :) ;)

I fully understand his enjoyment, the Lyngdorf hifi didn't impress me at all.

The Naim stuff, lower priced is fine (never heard mentioned) but Rega seem to have found the trick and very affordable

Full range of speakers and decent priced CD-players
This is a thing you can't exact say from Naim

Chris, are you using the DAC for Saturn or other duties ?

Both. I have the Saturn wired for both analogue and digital output as I am assured by Rega that this has absolutely no detrimental effect of the sound quality. To my ears some discs sound better through one or the other, although the differences are not massive.

I shall also use the DAC with a streaming device as soon as I find one that sounds good and which I can afford!

Blimey,...that's quite an announcement, Chris! :)

btw,...you won't happen to have a nice systempic of your lovely Rega setup, do ya ? :) ;)


I know it sounds mad but I can only speak as I find. I do run everything through the Isotek Titan that I originally bought for my Naim system, and I have a REL R305SE wired in via the speaker terminals, as I already had it. That said, I love the musicality of this Rega system more than I can tell you. For less than £500 the Brio R is an absolute bargain.

It all sits on a Quadraspire XL.

Was the Isis/Osiris better? Of course, but far more expensive than I can afford at the moment. This system just thrills me every time I play it, no matter what genre I am playing.

I'll post some pic later.

I fully understand his enjoyment, the Lyngdorf hifi didn't impress me at all.

The Naim stuff, lower priced is fine (never heard mentioned) but Rega seem to have found the trick and very affordable

Full range of speakers and decent priced CD-players
This is a thing you can't exact say from Naim

Don't get me wrong, I still think Naim makes some great electronics, but nothing to compare pound for pound with this Rega set up I currently own and certainly nothing in their current speaker ranger rings my bell, whereas the RS3s just work brilliantly in my 16 x 12 room, driven by the Brio R.

As you may remember Alco, I had a 555, 552/300 system and after that a Lyngdorf TDAI 2200.

I actually enjoy the Rega system more than either of those, which will irritate a few here no doubt!

It may irritate loyal Naim owners, especially current reference level 555 and 552/300 users, though I am not bothered for a bit although I am a Naim user myself. I can totally understand your situation, though others who often correlate sound quality with cost will not share the same notion.

May I ask what speakers are matched to the Brio-R in your system that you feel is more enjoyable than the 552/300 Naim based system that you had previously?

Okay, just saw your post. The Rega RS3s are used with the Brio-R, and this small system sounds better than the 555, 552/300 system that you owned previously. May I ask what speakers were used with the top-level Naim gear that you previously owned?

Okay, just saw your post. The Rega RS3s are used with the Brio-R, and this small system sounds better than the 555, 552/300 system that you owned previously. May I ask what speakers were used with the top-level Naim gear that you previously owned?

Yes I had Audiovector Mi3 Avantgarde Arretes. Lovely speakers.

I am not denigrating the Naim system - it was excellent. But for a fraction of the cost I am getting incredible musical pleasure from my current set-up.
I think Rega really understand system synergy.