About The Rega Elex MK4 Stereo Amplifier
The Elex MK4 is a high performance stereo integrated amplifier designed to deliver the purest musical performance. Housed in a brand new case to match the rest of the Rega range, the MK4 builds on previous Rega designs using their multi-award winning class A/B power amplifier circuit which delivers an impressive 72W per channel into 8Ω loads (90W into 6Ω). New rear connectivity options are available with the Elex MK4 now including a Rega DAC circuit with two digital inputs and a high quality headphone output conveniently located on the front panel.
Bringing Your Music To Life: The Elex MK4 is capable of driving difficult loudspeakers with ease and will integrate perfectly into any audio system by offering a wider range of connectivity options. In addition to the line level, digital inputs and a high quality moving magnet phono stage, you will also find Pre-out and Record Out functionality alongside a headphone output. Special attention has been paid to the selection of key audio components. Discrete circuitry, high quality relays, polypropylene capacitors and Sanken output transistors are used throughout the design.
Amplification Circuit: Rega's engineers have re-engineered the entire Elex circuit board to optimise performance. MK4 builds on previous Rega designs by using their multi-award-winning Class A/B power amplifier circuit to deliver a powerful 72W per channel into 8Ω loads. This power is provided by a quiet multi-stage linear power supply whilst supply rails for digital and analogue sections are galvanically isolated.
Digital Circuit & DAC: The DAC is based closely on the hugely successful Rega DAC-R circuit. The galvanically/optically isolated digital inputs utilise a Wolfson S/PDIF receiver IC to provide exceptional detail and clarity from any connected source. Output is provided by a Wolfson DAC and Rega designed discrete line-driver circuit. Rega's engineers have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the analogue side of the circuit is not affected in any way by the introduction of digital inputs.
MM Phono Stage: A high performance Rega designed integrated moving magnet (MM) phono stage is carefully built into the circuit. The RIAA equalization has been split into two stages to minimise interaction. Polyester capacitors have been used in the signal path and polypropylene capacitors are used in the RIAA equalization circuits.
Headphone Output: Rega have taken great care to incorporate the headphone socket on the Elex MK4. This has been configured such that the speaker switching is performed by the output mute relay to avoid obstructing the signal path ensuring no loss of performance when it is not in use.
Custom Case: The new custom case design and construction brings the Elex MK4 in line with the rest of the Rega range and provides improved heat dissipation by using the entire case as an ultra-efficient heat sink.
Protection: The Elex MK4 includes Thermal Cut-Out, short circuit protection and DC protection to prevent the risk of damage from excess heat, excessive currents or short circuits.
Rega Elex MK4 Review
"The way the Rega handles music – delivering it as a cohesive whole rather than individual elements – is effortlessly done. We struggle to focus on particular strands or frequencies to critique, and instead are content listening to track after track and marvelling at how the Rega turns its hand to every song. It simply doesn't impose itself on the music.
One of the things we love about the Elex Mk4 is the way in which it delivers vocals in such an elegant way: articulate and nuanced, every intake of breath revealed, with all the emotion behind the lyrics and the intent of the song clearly communicated. Whether that's Tom Waits' gravelly-toned rumbles, Lizzo's sparkly attitude or Brandi Carlile's powerful singing – the amplifier translates it all without any embellishment. This is an amplifier that cuts right through to the heart of the music." What Hi-Fi? Five Stars
Our Take
The Elex has been one of our favourite amplifiers at this price for quite a while now. With the introduction of the MK4 the Elex has been taken to the next level with the inclusion of a DAC with two inputs and a full sized 6.35mm headphone output on the front panel. But fear not the sound has not been compromised in any way. In fact Rega have gone to extreme lengths to not only isolate the new digital circuitry from the analogue but has also redesigned and upgraded the amplifier section so it sounds even better than before. Great news.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Stereo Integrated Amplifier & DAC
- 72 W per channel into 8 Ω / 90 W into 6 Ω
- High quality moving magnet phono stage
- High performance Rega DAC circuit for digital inputs
- 2 x Digital inputs - 1 x optical and 1 x Co-Axial
- Headphone output
- 4 Line level inputs
- New custom design case
- Thermal Cut-Out
- Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects
- Amplifier Output
- 72 Watts per channel into 8Ω
- 90 Watts per channel into 6Ω
- Headphone Output
- No Load: 11.3V
- 300Ω: 8.1V
- 54Ω: 3.6V
- 32Ω: 2.4V
- THD+Noise
- Line Inputs: Typically 0.005% at 1kHz
- Preamplifier Output: Typically 0.002% at 1kHz
- Frequency Response
- Phono Input: 15Hz (-3dB) to 65kHz (-3dB)
- Line Inputs: 10Hz (-1dB) to 65kHz (-3dB)
- RIAA Accuracy: Better than ±0.5dB 100Hz to 20kHz
- Input Sensitivity
- Phono Input: 1.6mV load 47k in parallel with 220pF
- Line Inputs 2-5: 164mV load 10k
- Power Amplifier Gain: 31.6dB
- Output Sensitivity
- Record Output: 164mV
- Pre-amplifier Output: 625mV
- Digital Inputs
- Input D1: S/PDIF Isolated 0.5V 75Ω Co-axial
- Input D2: S/PDIF Optical Toslink
- Supported Sampling Rates: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz
- Supported Bit Depths: 16 to 24 bit
- THD+Noise (DAC Output from Tape Out): Typically 0.004% at 1kHz
- Included Accessories: Remote Control, 2 x AAA Batteries, Power Cable
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to a Premium Power Cable for better performance
- Finish: Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 432 x 82 x 340mm
- Weight: 11kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 3 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE