Rega Isis-Osiris Review - Living Sound + Vision

EQU I PM ENT REPORT - Rega Isis CD Player and Osiris Integrated Amplifier
stack, I do think it may offer the next best alternative to those
two iiber-expensive world-class players, and at a substantially
lower (though by no means cheap) price. Finally, I should
mention that I used the Isis' USB input to play digital audio flies
from my computer, and fo und it to be, hands-down, the most
compelling USB DAC I've yet heard (though with the caveat
that the Isis makes no provisions for handling higher-than-CDresolution
flies).
A Few Caveats
Isis: Ideally, I wish the Isis provided coaxial S/PDIF and TosLink
digital audio inputs in addition to its USB input, and I also
wish its DAC supported high-res fIle formats. Together, these
improvements would make the player more "future-proof" and
relevant for computer audiophiles. Tube afIcionados may want to
know that there is a tube-powered version of the player, called the
Valve Isis ($9995), dlough I personally prefer what I perceive as
the purer, more focused sound of dle solid-state version. Finally,
I should mention that listeners should expect a perceptible delay
between pushing "Play" and actually hearing dle music start,
since it takes a while to fIll the Isis' large audio data buffer.
Osiris: One small ergonomic concern is that the amp's highquality
speaker binding posts are deeply recessed and shrouded
by thick, protruding chassis panels. In practice this means
there's not much maneuvering room when using beefy, spadelug-equipped
speaker cables (which, I fInd, amps of this caliber
require). Second, note dlat while the Osiris provides a power
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amp input (which can be used as a home-theater bypass), it does
not provide a variable-level preamp output (possibly because its
passive-front-end/ single-stage-amp topology does not readily
allow this).
How Good Are The Isis and Osiris, Really?
As I mentioned earlier, I approached this review with skepticism
and doubt, I suppose because-down deep-I feared Rega
might build merely "good" components for a market segment
where sonic greatness is required. But now that I've lived with
the Isis and Osiris for months and experienced their capabilities
firsthand, I see them in a completely different light. Where
once I wondered whether the Rega pieces could keep up with
established, pedigreed leaders in their class, I now fInd myself
asking whether competitors can in fact keep up widl the Isis and
Osiris. They really are that good.
For my part, I've purchased the review samples, pardy because
dley're a delight to listen to, but also because they are powerful
reviewing tools that shed plenty of light on ancillary components
with which they are used. But frankly, you should not be unduly
influenced by my purchase decision, since we all must make our
own choices in this game. Instead, my only hope is that this
review will inspire you to go out and give the Isis and Osiris
a careful and open-minded listen, and then to draw your own
conclusions. Whether you decide to embrace the Isis and Osiris
or not, I'm confIdent you'll fInd their performance eye-opening,
to say the very least. tas
CRL
Cable Research Lab