I have a Rega Apollo that I purchased around 2020. It's truly an exceptional sounding piece. The difference between it and my other CD players is amazing. Even ones with external DACs of recent vintage.
Mine had a maddening lack of error correction. CD's had to be flawless, or they would not play. While the Apollo did an admirable job of approximating analog smoothness, my Marantz cd-6007 is much more impactful and vivid. It also has error correction and costs at least 30% less than. my apollo did. I sold my apollo.
Very interesting review 👌 I'm happy with my Audiolab 8200 Cdq in my main system and a Marantz Cd 63 mk ii Ki signature edition in a second system. About a year ago I had to replace the laser transport mechanism in the Marantz, it was easier to do than I thought. Working perfectly now. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your channel.👍 Jim🏴🙂
Hey Jim, thanks for the continued support! 😀 I figured you were going to get a kick out of this video. I did enjoy the Planet, but I feel perhaps Rega's newer offerings may be more my style.
I may be the odd one out, but with top-loading CD players especially, I really like to see the drive located centrally, not either to the left or the right side of the player. Probably some OCD on my part...
I bought this player in the late nineties and I still use it today. I've tried a few newer models but have found nothing that really improves on the sound of the Rega. Certainly not for sensible money. Roy Gandy, the owner of Rega, said at the time that he wouldn't make a CD player until he could make one that sounded like a true Rega product so your assesment of the sound balance is correct. I love this player. Good to see someone else coming to the party. Did you get the remote with it? You need this to access the track select and programming functions.
This totally mirrors my journey. I also wanted a top loading CD player with a digital output and so I bought the Planet 2 and have paired it with an external DAC: sounds terrific.
Good morning from Toronto yes I would love a top loading CD player in particular I had the opportunity to use for a week the Krell CD transport back in the day and it was amazing but Time moves on, and I’m still rocking my 30 year old Denon, good components and quality build never go out of style take care great video as always
I really like the look of the Rega players, especially the Rega Jupiter. Since all my Cd players now have issues I have been trying to decide to repair or replace.
I also owned a cd player of the 90s and i find a huge difference in the dac compared to modern ones, any recent basic dac has more detail, imaging and wider scene. I would keep the Rega as a transport because the design is so cool and add an external dac like your Denafrips or even a recent Rega dac, if you want the most Rega-like experience
While waiting for a warranty replacement on my Cambridge Audio CXC, I found a Rega Apollo for $100. It does indeed have a optical out. Wow. Needless to say, my CXC is sitting new in the box in my closet.
Personally, no I didn't see that much of a difference, but I personally enjoy the Rega due to the top loading mechanism and some of the more aesthetics.
Vintage stuff is awesome. I'm not sure if this era is considered vintage yet but there are alot of great speakers from the early to mid 2000s that you can get for really good prices. Alot of the flagship stuff competes extremely well with todays overpriced gear.
Thank you for the video. I have the same player but mine is playing for about 10 seconds than stops. debating if it's worth takin it to a repair shop. it does look good just siting there. It was great watching the video and reading everyone's comments. I greatly appreciate your time.
I have a Rega Planar 8 turntable, a Rega Aria MK3 phonostage, and a Rega Ania cartridge. Overall, I have been pretty impressed with Rega as a company. About a year ago, I upgraded my CD game and bought a AudioLab 6000CDT which I've been very happy with because it plays my compromised CDs perfectly. However, I've been wondering about going "all in with Rega" for synergistic and aesthetic purposes and picking up a Rega CD transport and perhaps eventually a Rega Aethos amp.
@@redstarwraith You have no need to explain anything to me or anyone else 😉,plz don't put your system or your money situation down my friend. I'm in the same boat money wise. You have a better system than lots of people in this hobby, including mine. We can only do what we can do. 😉 Good to see you are a fellow cat lover, we have three and a dog 😉. Happy listening.🎶🎵 Jim 🏴🙂
My Sony UBP700 supports SACD and CD over HDMI. I have a Yamaha TSR700 to handle to handle the rest. I have the Animals 2018 SACD and it sounds amazing. I hope the Aja SACD from analogue productions is not delayed to long.
@@audioarkitekts you won’t regret it mate. I’m looking at getting a streamer soon and you have connections on the CD player to use it as a DAC as well which I thought was useful
I am curious - what is the DAC setup in the Planet? Is the analog output section discrete? What is the power supply? Maybe you can take a look inside, for us?
I have owned one of these but recently sold it. Quality of the CD player, yes, I agree with that, I think it plays well despite its age. been in a cupboard for a very long time and I cleaned a bit at home and then I found it. And yes it played just as well now so when it was put away I like the design and it weighs quite a bit but I didn't have a remote control i liket it...
I just started looking for dedicated CD transports without DAC, and I hate front loading disc contact, even with pads. That soft material there just irks me, and don’t want anything touching the disc unless I’m gently pressing it onto a top spindle. Not even the rim of the disc. This narrows my choices down to tray or top load, and the latter is preferred. Weren’t a lot of choices to begin with under $600.
This is really a tale of two DACs. I really feel the transport makes a relatively small contribution to the way a cd sounds. I use an older Oppo ( a tear comes to my eye whenever I remember they are no longer in the disc playing business ) as a transport, strip the audio out of the hdmi output and send it to my Terminator Plus DAC via I2S. Sounds great, but I reckon 95% of that sound is down to the DAC.
I can definitely agree. The DAC is making most of the difference. However, the way they made the output stage sound on this unit was underwhelming to say the least.
I respectfully disagree. I have a Rega Apollo (last model) connected to a Hegel H120 both via Coax and unbalanced RCA. It sounds great, full bodied and natural sound. However, the sound is identical using the internal DAC of the Rega (Wolfson) or the Hegel (AKM). You can hardly notice the change in input. However, I can immediatly notice when I connect a Yamanha SACD/BD player to the same amp, so different transport, same DAC. Love the Apollo, much better than a Pionner Elite I had before. Don't buy this idea that it's all about the DAC, although DACs matter. Cheers
@@audioarkitekts It's cool, at least to my eyes. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued last year, but it's very easy to find for sale, either new or used. I had it in a shelf of a wood rack, the same where I keep the Hegel, and would get really hot. I think this is mostly due to the output stage being Class A, if I'm not mistaken. Then I moved it to the top of the rack and it's good now. That's when its small form factor and the top drawer come in handy and sleek looking.
My Planet has been my CD player for 20 years now. Paired with a Scott 299 tube amp and Klipsch Forte's. Been very happy with it but for heady rock the dynamic range compresses and it gets a bit fatiguing. Almost too laid back. Would like try something different in the
I love Rega as a company- love my p3/ Elex R, and i personally find value in those products for myself. However, it is important to remember the cd player you are reviewing is far more expensive in North America than in the Uk- once taxes, etc. Has been applied. The Accolades in the UK are well desrved considering its budget status / service agreement there. The safe sound it provides is generally true of budget gear. Im not even sure this model is still being produced now? I would think a fairer comparison would need to be in the 300 to 500 market here in North America- maybe on the top end, Marantz 5 or 6 series cd players. I could see its merits as a transport, but why bother when you could get real transports here for less that would do much better in that service? I love my cds, but even i cannot argue that digital solved many issues inherent in cd mechinisms with non- physical media solutions, which are ultimately as good if not increasingly better and less expensive.
It's descendant (?), the Rega Apollo not in production for a while and getting harder to find. I just saw a review of most current Rega Saturn on another YT channel from UK. Two commenters on the noted issues with the APOLLO, bigger one (than some outer plastic), one said was 'cheap Sanyo transport.. had to buy transports to put aside.." to extend it's life for years. I could spend for one of the ProJect CD boxes if I had to replace that vintage Denon I have.
An honest review. It's a cool unit. I miss mine and wish I had kept it as a piece of history. Buuuuuut let's be honest it has no where the fidelity of more modern post 2000 CD players. Well thats my opinion. I find Yamaha CD players just as warm, but more reliable and better sound than the Rega- even the ones from the 80's.
I owned an original Rega Saturn and liked it's sound , but was discouraged by it's problems that are common amongst used Rega cd players. Everything from taking a long time to initialize to it being very picky about discs it would play, skipping tracks, skips in the middle of songs. Ultimately I believe some of this comes down to Rega's choice of utilizing a custom chipset with custom software. It has it's own set of quirks that are annoying and not much of anyone outside of Rega or a tech very familiar with Rega's custom nature can help you and if they do, it's going to cost $$$$
is physical media dying due to that that good quality machines are not produced and if the are they are to expensive for people that want to get into the market ?????????????????
Why discussion in 2023 when it's not available.. plz do not take otherwise.. I didn't get ur point to this video..thank you.. for rest more good videos stereo system
I have a Rega Apollo that I purchased around 2020. It's truly an exceptional sounding piece. The difference between it and my other CD players is amazing. Even ones with external DACs of recent vintage.
Me too. Love it
I can't wait to get my hands on one.
Mine had a maddening lack of error correction. CD's had to be flawless, or they would not play. While the Apollo did an admirable job of approximating analog smoothness, my Marantz cd-6007 is much more impactful and vivid. It also has error correction and costs at least 30% less than. my apollo did. I sold my apollo.
@@scottlowell493 So far, I've only had one problem with a CD not playing, but it's good to know that the Marantz is a good option 🙂
Marvelous player! Has all the warmth and "analog" qualities of vinyl, and is very musical.
Very interesting review 👌
I'm happy with my Audiolab 8200 Cdq in my main system and a Marantz Cd 63 mk ii Ki signature edition in a second system. About a year ago I had to replace the laser transport mechanism in the Marantz, it was easier to do than I thought. Working perfectly now.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into your channel.👍
Jim🏴🙂
Hey Jim, thanks for the continued support! 😀 I figured you were going to get a kick out of this video. I did enjoy the Planet, but I feel perhaps Rega's newer offerings may be more my style.
@@audioarkitekts you're very welcome Mike, your channel deserves to be bigger. 👌
Jim 🏴🙂
@Jim's Rega Turntables mods +hifi jukebox someday I hope!
I may be the odd one out, but with top-loading CD players especially, I really like to see the drive located centrally, not either to the left or the right side of the player. Probably some OCD on my part...
I agree with you. It's probably why they made it center for the Planet 2000
I bought this player in the late nineties and I still use it today. I've tried a few newer models but have found nothing that really improves on the sound of the Rega. Certainly not for sensible money. Roy Gandy, the owner of Rega, said at the time that he wouldn't make a CD player until he could make one that sounded like a true Rega product so your assesment of the sound balance is correct. I love this player. Good to see someone else coming to the party. Did you get the remote with it? You need this to access the track select and programming functions.
No remote unfortunately. I am scouring the internet to find one!
@@audioarkitekts Sorry, you can't have mine.
Count me also in, since yesterday :)
This totally mirrors my journey. I also wanted a top loading CD player with a digital output and so I bought the Planet 2 and have paired it with an external DAC: sounds terrific.
Good morning from Toronto yes I would love a top loading CD player in particular I had the opportunity to use for a week the Krell CD transport back in the day and it was amazing but Time moves on, and I’m still rocking my 30 year old Denon, good components and quality build never go out of style take care great video as always
I really like the look of the Rega players, especially the Rega Jupiter. Since all my Cd players now have issues I have been trying to decide to repair or replace.
The used market has many options!
Wow! That thing is cool. I have never heard of the Rega CD player. I was born in 1957 so I'm vintage too. LOL
I also owned a cd player of the 90s and i find a huge difference in the dac compared to modern ones, any recent basic dac has more detail, imaging and wider scene.
I would keep the Rega as a transport because the design is so cool and add an external dac like your Denafrips or even a recent Rega dac, if you want the most Rega-like experience
I do want to try a newer Rega DAC, and I totally agree with you, I do want to keep it for the design.
Very cool CD players and very well built prices will increase on these old school gems
While waiting for a warranty replacement on my Cambridge Audio CXC, I found a Rega Apollo for $100. It does indeed have a optical out.
Wow. Needless to say, my CXC is sitting new in the box in my closet.
Rega Apollo for $100?! Holy cow that's a screaming deal!!!!
Was it "that" much better? I'm close to pulling the trigger on a CXC or the Audiolab 6000CDT. I might hold off now :)
Personally, no I didn't see that much of a difference, but I personally enjoy the Rega due to the top loading mechanism and some of the more aesthetics.
Vintage stuff is awesome. I'm not sure if this era is considered vintage yet but there are alot of great speakers from the early to mid 2000s that you can get for really good prices. Alot of the flagship stuff competes extremely well with todays overpriced gear.
Agreed! The used market is where it's at!
Thank you for the video. I have the same player but mine is playing for about 10 seconds than stops. debating if it's worth takin it to a repair shop. it does look good just siting there. It was great watching the video and reading everyone's comments. I greatly appreciate your time.
I have a Rega Planar 8 turntable, a Rega Aria MK3 phonostage, and a Rega Ania cartridge. Overall, I have been pretty impressed with Rega as a company. About a year ago, I upgraded my CD game and bought a AudioLab 6000CDT which I've been very happy with because it plays my compromised CDs perfectly. However, I've been wondering about going "all in with Rega" for synergistic and aesthetic purposes and picking up a Rega CD transport and perhaps eventually a Rega Aethos amp.
Nice system 👌
Jim🏴🙂
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox Thank you. It's a modest system, but I am a man of modest means.
@@redstarwraith You have no need to explain anything to me or anyone else 😉,plz don't put your system or your money situation down my friend. I'm in the same boat money wise. You have a better system than lots of people in this hobby, including mine. We can only do what we can do. 😉
Good to see you are a fellow cat lover, we have three and a dog 😉.
Happy listening.🎶🎵
Jim 🏴🙂
That's a great system. Perhaps the Apollo is in your future to complete your Rega set!
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox Jim, do you have any experience with Rega amps? If so, what's your opinion?
My Sony UBP700 supports SACD and CD over HDMI. I have a Yamaha TSR700 to handle to handle the rest. I have the Animals 2018 SACD and it sounds amazing. I hope the Aja SACD from analogue productions is not delayed to long.
I am glad companies are still making SACD players
I bought a Saturn R last year as my Naim CD5x stopped working and couldn’t be repaired. I’m well pleased. You should give one a try
I would love to take a Saturn R for a spin 😉
@@audioarkitekts you won’t regret it mate. I’m looking at getting a streamer soon and you have connections on the CD player to use it as a DAC as well which I thought was useful
I am curious - what is the DAC setup in the Planet? Is the analog output section discrete? What is the power supply? Maybe you can take a look inside, for us?
I was looking online for more tech specs but it seems like there is very little information about this player. Perhaps I will have to open it up!
I love my first Generation Rega Apollo
I have owned one of these but recently sold it. Quality of the CD player, yes, I agree with that, I think it plays well despite its age. been in a cupboard for a very long time and I cleaned a bit at home and then I found it. And yes it played just as well now so when it was put away I like the design and it weighs quite a bit but I didn't have a remote control i liket it...
I just started looking for dedicated CD transports without DAC, and I hate front loading disc contact, even with pads. That soft material there just irks me, and don’t want anything touching the disc unless I’m gently pressing it onto a top spindle. Not even the rim of the disc. This narrows my choices down to tray or top load, and the latter is preferred. Weren’t a lot of choices to begin with under $600.
This is really a tale of two DACs. I really feel the transport makes a relatively small contribution to the way a cd sounds. I use an older Oppo ( a tear comes to my eye whenever I remember they are no longer in the disc playing business ) as a transport, strip the audio out of the hdmi output and send it to my Terminator Plus DAC via I2S. Sounds great, but I reckon 95% of that sound is down to the DAC.
I can definitely agree. The DAC is making most of the difference. However, the way they made the output stage sound on this unit was underwhelming to say the least.
I respectfully disagree. I have a Rega Apollo (last model) connected to a Hegel H120 both via Coax and unbalanced RCA. It sounds great, full bodied and natural sound. However, the sound is identical using the internal DAC of the Rega (Wolfson) or the Hegel (AKM). You can hardly notice the change in input. However, I can immediatly notice when I connect a Yamanha SACD/BD player to the same amp, so different transport, same DAC. Love the Apollo, much better than a Pionner Elite I had before. Don't buy this idea that it's all about the DAC, although DACs matter. Cheers
@@vitorgoncalves6289 I would like to test the latest model of the Apollo, it's design is enough for me to want to own it.
@@audioarkitekts It's cool, at least to my eyes. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued last year, but it's very easy to find for sale, either new or used. I had it in a shelf of a wood rack, the same where I keep the Hegel, and would get really hot. I think this is mostly due to the output stage being Class A, if I'm not mistaken. Then I moved it to the top of the rack and it's good now. That's when its small form factor and the top drawer come in handy and sleek looking.
It’s an inherently musical player and elegant industrial design.
My Planet has been my CD player for 20 years now. Paired with a Scott 299 tube amp and Klipsch Forte's. Been very happy with it but for heady rock the dynamic range compresses and it gets a bit fatiguing. Almost too laid back. Would like try something different in the
Very seldom do you see a top loading CD player - unless it's on a boombox. I have seen a few front loading CD players in the early years.
Good player .. also worth thinking about is the Naim CD3.5 .. a good working unit can be got for under £400 and is a great player !
I agree, a step up from the Rega I think, except if one prefers a somewhat softer sound signature.
I love Rega as a company- love my p3/ Elex R, and i personally find value in those products for myself. However, it is important to remember the cd player you are reviewing is far more expensive in North America than in the Uk- once taxes, etc. Has been applied. The Accolades in the UK are well desrved considering its budget status / service agreement there. The safe sound it provides is generally true of budget gear. Im not even sure this model is still being produced now? I would think a fairer comparison would need to be in the 300 to 500 market here in North America- maybe on the top end, Marantz 5 or 6 series cd players. I could see its merits as a transport, but why bother when you could get real transports here for less that would do much better in that service? I love my cds, but even i cannot argue that digital solved many issues inherent in cd mechinisms with non- physical media solutions, which are ultimately as good if not increasingly better and less expensive.
It's descendant (?), the Rega Apollo not in production for a while and getting harder to find. I just saw a review of most current Rega Saturn on another YT channel from UK. Two commenters on the noted issues with the APOLLO, bigger one (than some outer plastic), one said was 'cheap Sanyo transport.. had to buy transports to put aside.." to extend it's life for years.
I could spend for one of the ProJect CD boxes if I had to replace that vintage Denon I have.
I picked up a mint condition. Apollo player a few months ago. Needed the money so I sold it for nearly double what I paid but really regret it!
I want to try the Apollo so badly!
@@audioarkitekts it was in pristine brand new shape with all the original packaging and Remote. I was a fool for selling it.
CD-ripping and local streaming to a DAC. Now, that's a transport, not these jurassic machines.
An honest review. It's a cool unit. I miss mine and wish I had kept it as a piece of history. Buuuuuut let's be honest it has no where the fidelity of more modern post 2000 CD players. Well thats my opinion. I find Yamaha CD players just as warm, but more reliable and better sound than the Rega- even the ones from the 80's.
PS1 is the best top loader and it's under $100.
I have one and do like it quite a bit.
Toslink used to be limited to 96k, I don't use it unless there's no choice
I owned an original Rega Saturn and liked it's sound , but was discouraged by it's problems that are common amongst used Rega cd players. Everything from taking a long time to initialize to it being very picky about discs it would play, skipping tracks, skips in the middle of songs. Ultimately I believe some of this comes down to Rega's choice of utilizing a custom chipset with custom software. It has it's own set of quirks that are annoying and not much of anyone outside of Rega or a tech very familiar with Rega's custom nature can help you and if they do, it's going to cost $$$$
I totally got stuck to my Naim CD2.
I have heard great things! 👍
CD2 has the TDA1543A chip 👍
I used to have a cd2, now have a CD3 modded by Avondale.
@@johnshore3095 both are based on a Philips TDA1541(a) chip, de CD3 being the slimline budget model.
I have one of these and would never sell it.
That is good to hear!
get a cambridge audio for
about $340 and be done with all the hair splitting.
is physical media dying due to that that good quality machines are not produced and if the are they are to expensive for people that want to get into the market ?????????????????
I'd say that is a huge reason yes
Does it have CD Text capability?
Why discussion in 2023 when it's not available.. plz do not take otherwise.. I didn't get ur point to this video..thank you.. for rest more good videos stereo system
Maybe try reading this videos description, the answer is there 😉
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox
Sure sir... 😊
@@tejkarangehlot4741 I hope I didn't offend you? As that wasn't my intention.
Happy listening 🎵🎶
Jim🏴 from Scotland 🙂
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox no way at all 🙏
@@tejkarangehlot4741 Thank you for taking the time to reply, it's very much appreciated. 👍
Jim 🏴🙂