Rega Saturn. Is it really a giant killer?

Saxo,

I had the Apollo for about 6 mos. Used pretty often. Im sure it had well over several hundred hours on it by the time I'd had enough of it. My first one had some of the well documented early "glitches" of the programming computer, the dealer took that one back, and the one I had for ~6 mos was without issue.Just not to my liking. Im just not a big fan of Rega stuff.

The more I research these players, the more I find that bothers me. In Stereophile's review, March 2007, p. 27, Tellig quotes Rega's owner: "With the given technology we had to build it as inexpensively as possible." Now, that's a mouthful. It's $1,000, not $300. It really gets me that these manufacturers have to make the maximum profit possible. Now I understand why the unit has a tiny transformer and lacks some in the bass department. Man, can't you spend the extra $5 or $10 for a larger transformer? A plastic faceplate?

Maybe this is why some audiophiles are choosing to turn to Chinese brands, like Shanling and others, because they want something for their money, and not just the bare minimum. In the end, this doesn't help the company's image or popularity. If the parts, chassis and mechanism are all made as "inexpensively as possible", owners discover this and it turns them off to the company. It seems the sonics of this player that have merit are due mostly to the new chipset that is used. Rega had the fortune of discovering this company and convincing them to use Rega as a beta tester for the chipset. In turn, Rega gets to buy the chipsets. Rega, give the customer more for their money. Even the Saturn uses the same transport, chipset, and chassis, with the exception of a metal faceplate, but costs 2.4 times more. Hardly giving the consumer his money's worth either.

You can read my review of the Saturn on Dagogo.com

Are you worried about it breaking because of the parts or how it sounds? Rega cdps don't break and sound great.

I compared the Apollo and Saturn and the Saturn was better in the bass and more detailed and refined. It was noticeable. That said, the value was in the Apollo unless the rest of the system is already somewhat bright.