11/27/12

Rega Planet 2000

May 2001

TheRegaPlanet2000CDplayer
AnthonyKershaw
I'mamsoverygladtoreport,dearreaders,thatRegahaveanabsolutewinneron theirhandswiththeirPlanet2000CDplayer.Itwasbackin1997,thedawnofthe audio webzine, and of @udiophilia.com, that I gave a negative review, very negative in fact, of the original Planet CD player. The words in that review were not penned lightly and gave me no pleasure relating to our readers. As I wrote then, I am an admirer of Rega's founding father, Roy Gandy and his innovative products, an opinion that has remained unchanged. He has been, and possibly alwayswillbe,an analog man. It was this preference, I fear, that led the design team astray with the initial Planet they attempted to replicate the essence of analoginadigitalplatform,andbetrayedbothformats.Yet,reviewerswerefalling overthemselvesinadoration,whileweatStreetsvillecentralreceivedmanyirate andinsultingemailsoverourdissentingopinion. They did nothing to change my mindnorhasthepassageoftime. With the Planet 2000, the fellows at Rega continue the visuals so brilliantly conceived for the original Planet. Retained is the toploading mechanism (reminiscent of a loading dock from some forwardlooking science fiction comic) repletewithspinnerandselfweightedclosing.Stillfabulous.Thistime,however, the loader crowns a fairly standard rectangular case. Resting on four of Rega's typical 'squishy' feet, the lightweight box sports an attractive fascia, with an easytoread, large LED window, Stop, Play and Skip buttons. The Rega Solar Wandremotelooksafteralltheotherfunctions.Itisajoytobeholdandcouldnot be easier to use. I have complained in reviews of some very expensive CD players about the poor quality of their remotes manufacturers could learn a lot from the design and aesthetic beauty of the Rega remote. As such, the Solar Wandwillgraceyourcoffeetable. AsusualwithRegaproduct'manuals',Mr.Gandyletsusinononly a few of his

www.audiophilia.com/hardware/planet2000.htm

1/4

11/27/12

Rega Planet 2000

secrets.TheinformationofferedisRegastandardissuewe are on a 'needtoknow' basis! Improvements to the original Planet are noted: 24 bit Sigma Delta TC40 DACs and a larger power supply with separate supply feeding the digital section, quality Evon brand film and nonpolarized electrolytic capacitors in the circuit path, and an improved SonyCDmechanism.TherearoftheunitsportsToslink and coax digital outputs with a detachable AC cord. Happily, Regahavejustlaunchedtheirwebsiteasfiller,wemay get some more information, but do not hold your mouse. Gandy's proof is in the listening, not the reading, and with the new Planet, the Planerseriesofturntables,hiscartridgesandslightlylesssowithhisampsand speakers, the proof is completely substantiated. The sounds are representative of quality highend products at prices that will make your accountant blush. For themostpart,yougetwhatyoupayforinthehighend.Uponhearingthisgem,I was very excited for prospective buyers a real highend product at an inexpensive price. I must admit to some trepidation when placing the first CD. CouldwehaveanotherRegadigitaldud?Happily,no!Gonewasthelistlessand rounded sound that betrayed the original Planet, replaced with a richly detailed presentation,allowingallthebenefitsoffinedigitalrecordingstothefore.Whata relief! My original Planet assessment hoped that the brilliant Rega design team wouldgetasecondkickatthecan. The Planet arrived during the time I had the wonderful Metronome Technologie CD1VtubeCDplayerinforanextendedaudition.At US$3200.00, this piece of Frenchaudiocoutureshouldsoundgood. And it did. The Planet 2000, while not quite as sweet or dignified as the CD1V, did conjure similar magic and even approached the great Cary CD303 in quality, only bowing down in sophistication oftonalpresentationandbassextension. Penderecki's Symphony No. 3 (Naxos 8.554491) is as dynamic as orchestral musicgetsthePlanet2000wentoutofitswaytogive me the full experience pounding percussion, spiky woodwind and blazing brass. All this in a realistic soundstagewithexcellentimagingandverylittlesmear.Cymbalsretainedmuch of the shimmer imparted by the Metronome CD1V and bass instruments were clear and defined. Powerful dynamic contrasts (the slight lack of which was my onesmallquibblewiththeFrench player) were full and to the max on the Rega. Bravo! ManyacousticpopandjazzCDssoundedveryrefinedanddetailed.Ilistenedto twoespeciallygoodrecordings,LoriLieberman'sHomeofWhispers (Pope Music PM10052)andTootsThielemans'BrasilProjectVolume2(Private0100582110 2). A unifying presence in these recordings is Paulinho Da Costa, one of the finestpercussionistsonthefreelancescene.ThePlanet2000paintedhisgentle triangle and cymbal strokes with delicate beauty, and the sounds were heard (thanks to two fabulous but different recordings) in a real space accompanying singersandotherinstrumentalistsinaverymusicalway. DepthandtruelifetimbrearebuttwocueselevatingtheRegatospecial status. Itrocksandrolls,too.PearlJam'sBinaural(Epic 63665), a raucous but musical CDdevelopinggrungetoitsnearzenith,soundedwithexceptionaldynamics.The Regawasabletounravelthecomplex,andveryloud,linesofferedbyMr.Vetter

www.audiophilia.com/hardware/planet2000.htm

2/4

11/27/12

Rega Planet 2000

andcompany,whiletheDAChintedatthealmostunmusicalpresentationofitall. TheenergycamethroughloudandcleartheimportanceoftheJam'sexercise,I guess? Itwaswithclassical recordings, however, that the Rega Planet 2000 wowed me the most. As mentioned, depth and timbre, two important tenets of outstanding classical recordings, highlighted the beauty of so many CDs. Unfortunately, artificialtimbreofacousticinstrumentsseemstobethefirstcasualtyofcheaper products, lending a synthetic quality to the midfi proceedings. The inexpensive Regareallyshoneinthisdepartment.TheclarinetofAlessandroCarbonareona recent sampler from harmonia mundi sounded reedy and gorgeous when playing afantasiaonVerdi'sRigoletto. The clarinet can so often sound like a clavinet if theovertonesandreedqualityarenotcaptured.Therecordingandplaybackdid notdisappoint.Largescaleforcessuchasthepreviouslymentioned Penderecki and a classic '63 Karajan/BPO/Beethoven 9 (DGG 447 4012) were heard with everything in their proper place. The bass on these two recordings, while not in the Decca/Montreal Symphony class, does expect the section to be used as foundation. The Rega helped the gentlemen of the Berlin Philharmonic find their rightfulplace. AsIlistenedcarefullytothetalestheRegatold,itspokestronglyofthebenefit of fine tube equipment and slightly less so of solid state. Coupled with the outstanding solid state Rowland Concentra integrated and the Audio Research D300, the Rega sang and sang, yet without the totally balanced sweetness impartedtoitbythefabulousAudioResearchVT100Mk.II.Thiswonderfultube amphadthePlanet2000reallysinging.VocalsfromChristyBarononI Thought About You (Chesky JD152) were wonderful the voice is up front sharing the stage with Cliff Korman's super piano playing, and just behind, the sibilant cymbals, drums and resonant bass. Problematic recordings such as the low poweredIvesSymphonyNo. 2 (Naxos 8.559076) and cavernously recorded Une FluteaL'Opera(DGG4458222)weretamedwiththispowerful combination. To be sure, the Audio Research amplifier has been showered with praise from the audio press for its tonal balance, this superb quality helping the Planet 2000 in significant ways. But even under the less than ideal musical conditions with the Elnika tube amp, these recordings had spring and step lively stuff, and saying muchforthequalitiesinherentinMr.Gandy'sdigitaldynamo. Mostreviewersinourbusinessdislikewritingnegativecommentsaboutproducts and recordings, the results of which are someone's creative toil. Opinion, however,isourbusiness,andweat@udiophilia.com(unlikeothersinourshared cyberspace) do not shy away from the courage of our convictions. And so, with thegreatestconviction(andwithabigsmile),Iheartilyencourageallaudiophiles to seek out a Rega dealer and hear the Planet 2000. It is most worthy of your seriousconsideration.

Planet2000CDplayer ManufacturedbyRegaResearchLimited 119ParkStreetWestcliffonSea,Essex,EnglandSS07PD web:http://www.rega.co.uk/ Price:US$950.00CDN$1395.00 Sourceofreviewsample:CanadianDistributor

www.audiophilia.com/hardware/planet2000.htm

3/4

11/27/12

Rega Planet 2000

AssociatedComponents Digital:CaryCD303CDplayer, MetronomeTechnologieCD1V'Signature'Tube CDplayer Preamplifier:AudioResearchSP9Mk.II PowerAmplifiers:RowlandConcentraintegratedamplifier, AudioResearchD300 poweramplifier, AudioResearchVT100Mk.II, ElnikaEdgarTP101tube integratedamplifier Loudspeakers:AnthonyGalloAcousticsNucleusSolo Cables:Interconnects:AudioquestEmerald,KimberPBJ,WireworldPolarisIII, SynergisticResearchLoudspeaker:vandenHulM.C.TheSkyLineHybrid Accessories:BlackDiamondRacingCones(Nos.3and4),Targetwallshelfand stand,Seismicsink,BBCboards.

Copyright2001@udiophilia.com

www.audiophilia.com/hardware/planet2000.htm

4/4