Интегральные усилители — Rega ELICIT MK5

The Elicit MK5 is a stereo integrated amplifier made by Rega Research in England, combining a Class A/B power section, an MM phono stage and a DAC for two digital inputs. Rega rates it at 105 W per channel into 8 ohm, 127 W into 6 ohm and 162 W into 4 ohm.

Key specs that matter

Input 1 is the MM phono stage, loaded at 47 kohm in parallel with 220 pF with 2 mV sensitivity, and inputs 2 to 5 are line level at 196 mV into 10 kohm. A coaxial S/PDIF input (0.5 V, 75 ohm, isolated) and a Toslink optical input take 32 to 192 kHz at 16 to 24 bit. There is also a record loop with a record output link, a pre-out at 760 mV and a direct input at 760 mV into 50 kohm, with power amplifier gain of 31.6 dB. Line bandwidth runs from 10 Hz at -1 dB to 85 kHz at -3 dB, while the direct input reaches 12 Hz at -0.5 dB to 95 kHz at -3 dB and the phono input 15 Hz to 85 kHz at -3 dB, with RIAA accuracy better than plus or minus 0.5 dB from 100 Hz to 20 kHz. THD+N is typically 0.007% at 1 kHz via the line inputs and 0.004% at the preamplifier output. Headphone output is 11.5 V unloaded, 8.1 V into 300 ohm and 2.4 V into 32 ohm. The case measures 432 x 82 x 340 mm including terminals and weighs 12.5 kg, or 14 kg packed, and consumption is 375 W at 1 dB below clip.

Engineering and use context

The preamplifier uses the same discrete FET circuit as the Aethos, with an Alps volume potentiometer that is motorised for the remote. Discrete circuitry, relays, polypropylene capacitors and Sanken output transistors are used throughout. A Wolfson S/PDIF receiver IC handles the galvanically and optically isolated digital inputs, and a Wolfson DAC feeds a discrete line driver designed by Rega. The digital and analogue supply rails are kept galvanically isolated from each other. The amplifier has no power management function because the bias current needs to reach a stable temperature, and heat leaves through heat sinks on both sides. Thermal protection temporarily disables the output or power if the unit is overdriven, then restores normal operation once it cools.

Pairing

The speaker terminals are intended for 4 to 16 ohm loads, and sustained use below 8 ohm makes the unit run warmer. The direct input bypasses the preamp and volume control, letting an external stereo preamp drive it, or letting an AV processor use it to power the front pair in a multichannel setup. The pre-out can feed at least five power amplifiers or subwoofers.

Alternatives

The Rega Aethos is the integrated amplifier whose discrete FET preamplifier the Elicit MK5 shares.