Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Aesthetix Rhea Phono Preamp by racerguy

Model:	Rhea
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	Tube-driven Phono Stage
Manufacturer URL:	Aesthetix
Model Picture:	View

Review by racerguy ( A ) on December 02, 2003 at 10:04:58
IP Address: 24.74.158.194

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The Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage is part of Aesthetix' "Saturn Series." It is a single-chassis tubed phono stage with great versatility, tremendous connectivity, and wonderful sound.
I purchased the Rhea to replace a Phonomena/BPS phono stage. The Phonomena was very versatile and dead-quiet, but lacked a bit of dynamics and "air."
The Rhea has a very large chassis - it takes up every centimeter of space on its shelf in my Zoethecus rack. While in operation its multiple tubes generate a lot of heat. This is a unit that really wants to be on the top shelf of your rack. Unfortunately I have a top-loading digital front end that needs the top shelf, so the Rhea goes in a middle shelf. With the minimum-recommended amount of clearance above it I can feel the heat it generates in the shelf above.
The Rhea has RCA connections for up to three turntables/arms. Each input is independent of the others, so that each device can have its own gain and loading settings. The Rhea has both RCA and XLR outputs (two each per channel). Power connection is via an IEC inlet that is in the exact center of the back panel.
The front panel contains a large alphanumeric display, individual status LEDs, and several soft-touch pyramidal buttons to access the various features of the unit. All functions that are accessible from the front panel are duplicated on the included remote control, and everything you would want to do with this unit is controllable from the front or via the remote. Once it's set up, there's never any reason to open it again except for tube replacement.
All the functions are micro-processor controlled; however, when not in actual use the micro-processor circuitry goes into "sleep" mode so that digital signals do not interfere with analog signals.
The unit can be placed into Standby when not in use. Standby keeps the solid-state circuitry active but turns off the tubes to lengthen their lifespan.
Gain on each input is selectable from 40 to 75!!! dB, accommodating high-output MM cartridges to the lowest-output MC cartridge. There is no provision for selecting capacitive loadings. Resistive loading on each input is selectable via 9 fixed settings from 75-47K ohms. I was able to dial-in the gain and loading for my cartridge in just a few minutes from my listening chair while playing an LP.
The sound of the Rhea is phenomenal! With orchestral music the soundstage is wide and deep, with instruments clearly delineated. The breathy sound of flutes and other wind instruments is vastly improved over my previous phono stage, and brass instruments sound even "brassier." The wonderful midrange warmth of the tubes makes even lesser rock recordings sound better, and rock drums have a visceral impact. Vocals, especially female vocals, have a clarity and sense of presence that I'd never heard before in my system. Bass is clearly defined - the bass never sounds tubby or bloated.
The few issues I've noticed are:
- The previously-mentioned LARGE chassis and heat output.
- The ground-wire lug is large and the nut is non-detachable, making it a problem to attach some ground-wire connectors. I had to cut off the connector on my Linn tonearm cable and connect the bare wire.
- At high gain levels some tube rush is noticeable.
- The power supply transformer buzzes while the unit is in Standby. The buzzing is not transmitted over signal lines, but is slightly audible from my listening position.
Overall, I think this was an excellent purchase, and will sustain my vinyl experience for quite some time to come.
Additional note: Yesterday I replaced the stock power cord with a Shunyata Taipan Powersnake. It was a substantial improvement. There seemed to be an increase in overall gain (without any settings being changed). Transients seemed even more dynamic than before. While listening to my German pressng of Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark," an album I always considered somewhat laid-back in presentation, I found that drums, guitar-string plucks, and background vocals "popped" with a dynamism that I hadn't thought possible in this old recording. The Taipan looks to be a keeper with the Rhea.

Product Weakness: Large chassis. Puts out lots of heat. Ground-wire lug is big, making it difficult to attach some types of ground-wire connectors. Slight amount of tube rush.
Product Strengths: Excellent build quality. Wonderful tube warmth and air. Accommodates multiple turntables/arms. Can change gain and loading settings on the fly, from front panel or via remote control.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Mark Levinson No. 335
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research LS25 Mk II
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn LP12/Ekos/Lingo with Benz Ruby 2
Speakers:	Magnepan MG 3.5 and Vandersteen subs
Cables/Interconnects:	Transparent Ultra and Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical/Rock/Jazz/Electronica
Room Size (LxWxH):	23 x 17 x 13
Room Comments/Treatments:	The room sucks!
Time Period/Length of Audition:	One Month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Shunyata Hydra-8 and Shunyata Power Cords
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Large chassis. Puts out lots of heat. Ground-wire lug is big, making it difficult to attach some types of ground-wire connectors. Slight amount of tube rush.
Product Strengths:	Excellent build quality. Wonderful tube warmth and air. Accommodates multiple turntables/arms. Can change gain and loading settings on the fly, from front panel or via remote control.