The Rega Brio Mk 7 now comes with an onboard DAC.
Rega = turntables? Yes. But not always.
Talk to some of the long-time audio nerds in our office, and you'll find they have a special place in their hearts for Rega amps, specifically the Brio. This half-chassis powerhouse is famous as a scrappy overperformer, bringing all of Rega's energy and engagement to a product that—surprising to a lot of people—is not a turntable.
Rega calls the Brio Mk 7 a "masterclass in dynamics", and looking at the photo below, you can see where this current-swinging ability begins: a toroidal transformer that is far larger than anything you'd normally see in a product this size. The result is 50 watts per channel into 8 ohms, which doesn't sound like a lot only to people who have not experienced amplifiers from the likes of Naim, PrimaLuna, and Pathos, just to name a few brands that claim "real watts" not inflated test watts that nobody wants to actually listen to.
The Brio's current-swinging ability starts with a large toroidal transformer.
On-Board DAC and Phono
If the Brio were a reference product, we'd be less than enthused about it having a built-in phonostage and DAC. But as a $1,000 integrated amplifier, it's either going into an audiophile's bedroom or office system, or into the home of a true music lover who does not have the desire or budget for reference-level gear. In these cases, simplicity is just as important as sound quality, and at this price point, it is perfectly alright to have onboard digital conversion and cartridge amplification.
If you're considering a digital source, we have some great streamers from Arcam and Cambridge Audio. And for a turntable, we, of course, recommend the Rega Planar series. Consider the Planar 2 if you're on a budget, but jump to the Planar 3 for that match made in rock 'n' roll heaven. Meet the Rega Brio Mk 7.