Rega - io Integrated Amplifier

Rega’s entry integrated: 30 watts a side, a proper moving magnet phono stage and a headphone output, in a case the size of a hardback book.

The io is the smallest and least expensive amplifier Rega makes, and the notable thing about it is how little has been left out. It has a high specification Rega moving magnet phono stage built in — not an afterthought, an actual Rega phono stage — a front-mounted headphone output with real drive, and a redesigned mini remote handset in the box.

Power is 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and Rega states it shares its amplifier stage with the Brio above it. Phono input sensitivity is 2.1mV at 47k ohms in parallel with 220pF; the two line inputs take 210mV at 47k ohms.

The phono stage is a moving magnet design. Rega’s manual notes it can also be used with specifically high-output moving coil cartridges, but it is not an MC stage and should not be bought as one — a low-output moving coil will need an outboard stage.

Two other things to know before cross-shopping it against the Brio: the io has no DAC and no digital inputs at all, and Rega publishes no 4-ohm power figure for it, unlike the models above.

Features

• 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms, sharing its amplifier stage with the Brio
• High specification Rega moving magnet phono stage built in
• Front-mounted headphone output with a dedicated circuit
• Two line-level inputs
• Redesigned mini remote handset supplied
• Compact 180 x 68 x 290 mm case, 2.9kg
• Made in England with a Lifetime Limited Warranty

Specifications

• Type: Integrated amplifier with moving magnet phono stage
• Power Output: 30W RMS per channel into 8 Ω, both channels driven
• Power into 4 Ohms: Not published. Rega quotes the 8 Ω rating only for the io, unlike the Brio and Elicit
• Line Inputs: Two, at 210mV sensitivity into 47k Ω
• Phono Stage: Built-in Rega moving magnet stage. Rega’s manual notes it can be used with specifically high-output moving coil cartridges, but this is an MM stage and a low-output MC will need an external phono stage
• Phono Input Sensitivity: 2.1mV at 47k Ω in parallel with 220pF
• DAC: None. The io has no digital inputs — the Brio above it adds them
• Headphone Output: Yes, front mounted. No load 8V; into 300 Ω 5.7V; into 54 Ω 2.4V; into 32 Ω 1.6V
• Remote Control: Supplied — redesigned mini handset with two AAA batteries
• Dimensions: 180 x 68 x 290 mm (W x H x D)
• Weight: 2.9kg
• Power Consumption: 135W normal; 0W off
• Model Name: Rega styles this product lowercase as “io”. It is not an acronym and is not IO
• Origin: Made in England. Rega Research Ltd, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
• Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty against confirmed manufacturing defects. It excludes wear and tear and parts considered consumable, and Rega states that unauthorised modification or failure to follow its guidelines may invalidate it
• Not Published: Power into 4 ohms; THD; signal-to-noise ratio