REGA ISIS VALVE

i heard once the isis ( non valve) vs the cdx2/xps2.  i found the naim quicker and better articulated.  But not night and day.  For music with rythm, dynamics, urgency, the naim is better.  And it was not the cds3....

For classical, soft jazz, vocals...the isis valve must be interesting.

Isis good into Osiris and Rega RS10s at my dealers. Didn't make me want to switch though. (I cannot remember if the Isis was valve or solid-state).

C.

I heard the valve version and non valve version into an Osiris and prefered the non valve one, maybe with a valve amp it would have been the other way round. I’ve also heard the non valve one into Naim and with Naim amps, 282 level, I’d take the CDX2/555 over the isis, let alone a CDS3. The rega stuff times in its own way, not the Naim way the leading edge is missing. Naim into Rega works better. The Rega DAC into a 552 is surprisingly good though so maybe the Isis will run better into a 552 than a 282.

Took me a couple of tracks to realise the standard Isis was on another level to my CDX2/XPS2/Hi-Line (I've not heard the valve version). The only thing the Naim had over it was a bit of extra pace but a better interconnect for the my Isis. 

The Isis reveals so much more texture and tone, the Naim sounded Grey in comparison. It's also beautifully finished  and built like a tank! 

Each to their own though...

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

Many thanks for the replies guys!

Any experience with using the USB input for computer audio?

I auditioned the solid-state Isis for about a week when it first came out.  A very convincing presentation, good PRAT in the Rega style, but I felt it glossed over some musical nuances compared to the best Naim CD players.  However, the USB input was just poor, it seemed like an afterthought-- I could never recommend it.

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

You don't have to believe my ears as you'll never hear through them anyway! 

Mine's the solid state version. Never had chance to listen to the valve Isis. 

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

You don't have to believe my ears as you'll never hear through them anyway! 

Mine's the solid state version. Never had chance to listen to the valve Isis. 

Probably the meaning of « i believe you » in english is different from «  Je te crois «  in french.

I enjoyed the rega jupiter in the past, great cd player for the price.  The top loading was cool !

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

You don't have to believe my ears as you'll never hear through them anyway! 

Mine's the solid state version. Never had chance to listen to the valve Isis. 

Probably the meaning of « i believe you » in english is different from «  Je te crois «  in french.

Exactly the same meaning, except that in English, perhaps there is a greater range of irony, sarcasm, and other attempts at humour hidden behind the words;-)

aht posted:

I auditioned the solid-state Isis for about a week when it first came out.  A very convincing presentation, good PRAT in the Rega style, but I felt it glossed over some musical nuances compared to the best Naim CD players.  However, the USB input was just poor, it seemed like an afterthought-- I could never recommend it.

Pretty much my findings with the SS Isis vs. CD 555. Very good for the money. Never tried the USB.

ChrisSU posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

You don't have to believe my ears as you'll never hear through them anyway! 

Mine's the solid state version. Never had chance to listen to the valve Isis. 

Probably the meaning of « i believe you » in english is different from «  Je te crois «  in french.

Exactly the same meaning, except that in English, perhaps there is a greater range of irony, sarcasm, and other attempts at humour hidden behind the words;-)

in french, it is a polite expression to say that a person don’t really disagree with him or her.

French Rooster posted:

ChrisSU posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

rackkit posted:

French Rooster posted:

i had not the same experience with isis vs cdx2 / xps2. The electronics were nac 252/ nap 250. The textures and tones were very similar for me, with the solid state isis.  Perhaps the isis valve is more refined , but i didn’t heard it.   Moon 750 is also on the same level.

Rega is still producing the isis and the isis has an usb imput to use the dac inside with other stuff.  So it is a real advantage vs a cds3 non produced since several years.   But personally i would go for a second hand cds3, in good condition. 

I had a 282/SC2/250.2/Allaes at the time I first listened to the Isis. Now running 252/300/SL2s and it sounds great. 

I believe you Rackkit, i don’t say you are wrong. I just heard differently.    Was it isis valve or solid state ?

You don't have to believe my ears as you'll never hear through them anyway! 

Mine's the solid state version. Never had chance to listen to the valve Isis. 

Probably the meaning of « i believe you » in english is different from «  Je te crois «  in french.

Exactly the same meaning, except that in English, perhaps there is a greater range of irony, sarcasm, and other attempts at humour hidden behind the words;-)

in french, it is a polite expression to say that a person don’t really disagree with him or her.

That’s what’s great about having choice, we hear things different, have our own preferences for how we want to listen to music.

It’s a broad church and everyone is welcome!  

Amen Rackkit!