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REVIEW: Rega Saturn CD Player/Recorder

Model:	Saturn
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	US$2400
Description:	Single Disc w. MP3 and WMA media capability
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Model Picture:	View

Review by max_the_lab (A) on September 19, 2006 at 10:28:38 IP Address: 218.186.10.11

Add Your Review for the Saturn

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I've been living with this player now for the past one week. It replaces a Rega Jupiter 2000 which I've lived with for 5 years.

The Saturn is Rega's new flagship CDP, replacing the Jupiter, and despite their identical forms, the Saturn is a completely new design internally.

The Saturn uses the same pickup mechanism as the Apollo, but incorporates a heavier and more stable chassis, parallel DACs, a more substantial and complex power supply, and improved part quality in the form of audiophile-grade capacitors, diodes and PCBs. The Saturn's faceplate is made of die-cast aluminium instead of plastic on the Apollo, which lends an impression of solidity.

The Saturn has dispensed with the squishy footers of the previous generation players. The new footers are made of harder rubber, and mounted in chrome rings, somewhat like those on the P9 turntable.

I had a chance to speak to Roy Gandy last week while he was holidaying in the region, and he enthused about how he thought the gulf in performance between his new Saturn and Apollo was much wider than compared to the difference between the old Jupiter and Planet. To be expected, I suppose, comsidering the price differential between the Saturn and Apollo is now 2.4X, compared to 2X between the Jupiter and Planet.

I compared the Saturn to the Apollo and my Jupiter at the local dealer, and at home.

I listened to the players at the dealer over two days, with the CDPs playing through the Rega Mira 3 and Vandersteen 2CE Signatures. A wide variety of music was used, from vocals (Carol Kidd When I Dream) to small ensemble jazz (Stan Getz Award Winner) to pop (Coldplay Parachutes) and classical (Rachmaninov Piano Concertos- Stephen Hough/DSO Hyperion).

The overriding impression of my Jupiter was of a pleasant warm sounding player with some smoothing over of detail. The leading edge of piano notes in particular was indistinct. Listening to the Apollo was like the lifting of the proverbial veil, with previously unheard detail coming forth, with excellent note definition. However, compared to the Jupiter, the Apollo sounded as though some of the bass overtones were missing, leading to a somewhat lightweight-sounding presentation. This was noted especially on piano and acoustic bass pieces.

I must stress that listening to the Apollo in isolation was very enjoyable, and it was only in direct comparison to the Jupiter that the missing bass overtones and weight were noted. I can understand what the fuss over the Apollo is about, as I have not previously heard a sub-$1000 player give such a detailed, yet balanced and unfatiguing preentation.

All this did not prepare me for the Saturn, which not only restored the bass heft, but reduced the noise floor dramatically, which in turn improved the retrieval of ambient detail and solidity of soundstage images.

The PRAT factor is also improved in the Apollo over the Jupiter, but is taken to the next level with the Saturn... The Jupiter sounded ponderous compared to the Saturn! Naimees should take a long hard look at this player as a serious alternative to a Naim 5X/5i.

After bringing the Saturn home, my impressions at the dealer were reinforced. The Saturn is a MUCH better player than my five year-old Jupiter in virtually all areas, as well as bettering the mighty-mite Apollo. In fact, it is competitive with my Accuphase DP-67 which I have in another system. I have since purchased the Saturn to replace the Jupiter.

So is the Saturn worth 2.4X the cost of the Apollo? I would say in a system which can showcase the improvements, and with budget permitting, yes, the Saturn's attributes put it in another league, easily competing with players twice to thrice its price. Looking at it from that perspective, it looks like Rega have come up with another reasonably priced overachiever.

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Product Weakness:	Looks like the previous generation of players- not such a bad idea for those of us who don't want our significant other to find out about our upgrade ;)
Product Strengths:	Musicality and PRAT, combined with excellent detail retrieval.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Quicksilver M-60 or Sun SV-2A3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Lamm LL2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rega Jupiter 2000
Speakers:	Harbeth Compact 7ES-2 or Mauhorn IV/Lowther PM-7A with Hsu VTF-3 MkII
Cables/Interconnects:	Rega Quattro/Belden 89259
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	see review
Room Size (LxWxH):	20' x 11' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Sonex panels, Roomtunes, heavy drapes and carpets
Time Period/Length of Audition:	One week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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