Rega Ela MkI vs. MkII

Hi Mike,

Its been way too long since I heard a pair of MK1's and with totally different kit,so I am not able to offer a "fair" evaluation between MK1 and 2.

But,a little background info may be useful.

The MK1 had the "fluting/Chamfering" on the front running all the way top to bottom.I seem to remember that Rega decided to change this for structural integriry reasons....(?)

The MK2 effectivly came in two versions,both had the fluting on the top half of the cabinet only,the earlier versions had centre-offset tweeters,the later versions were symetrical.

I believe that,on the MK2's the drive units and internal electronics were exactly the same and that the changes were effectivly cosmetic. (possibly something to do with the availability of the speaker carcus? )

It would possibly be better to understand the MK2 as Mk2 versions "A" and "B".

Around the same time as the change between MK2 A & B there was a change from a three point stand to a Four point stand.(customer requests ?)

I myself have a pair of the MK2 "A" and "Andy H" who lives eight doors away from me has the MK2 "B"

I can discern no differences,(or so very little as not to matter to me) their sonic "signatures" seem pretty much identical.

They are perhaps a little "lean",but VERY FAST and agile and revealing....I think that they are excellent speakers and like them LOTS !

To the best of my knowledge,the above is correct,but I am prepared to be corrected !

...You could always try ringing REGA themselfs,if you do,please can you correct any of the above that I have got wrong.( I do like to know these things)

Regards

Chris

Just had the dem, and came away rather disappointed. The dem was far from ideal- Audio Analogue pre/power plus a Sugen CDP.

I was expecting a very mean, lean machine but they turned out to be less involving and softer sounding then my current Juras, albeit with much more coherent bass. To my surprise, they didn't have those spike "legs" that the MkII have, in fact they didn't have any spikes at all.

Also, I thought they were mirror imaged, but these pair had the tweeter both on the right side? The serial numbers were consecutive so I guess that's how they are.

I get a feeling these speakers will be at the shop for awhile, as the gentleman had to blow the dust off them when I came in. I'll sleep on it, or wait to hear the Ela 2000 I suppose...

Thanks,

Mike S

Hi Rob,

They were MkIs I believe; nowhere on the speaker did it specify MKII.

The funny thing is there were 2 small holes on each side of the speaker where the bars may have connected, but the holes were clean so I figured the MkI didn't some with spikes. Now that you mention this perhaps the bars were never fitted by the original owner?

I agree that the speker should have sounded better. The dem electronics didn't help, plus I had a feeling that perhaps the speakers were a bit too old and "tired"?

I'll keep my eye out for another pair; preferbly Mk IIs. Unfortunately, they're next to impossible to find in Canada.

Thanks

Mike S

Rob,

Thanks for clarifying. Chirs's info on the Mk1 chamfering make more sense now.

Not too sure what you mean by "Mk1s were handed so I'm sure you heard the later version".

What were the bottom bars made of? Perhaps I could craft my own and stick some spikes on or just put the speaker on cones.

Now that I know the bars are missing, I can ask the dealer for a deeper discount.

Thanks,

Mike S

P.S. Interesting that Flat Response magazine declares the A&R E77 better then the P77. I have both, and the P77 is far superior to me. I wonder what they were hearing?