Rega io Integrated Amplifier - Black

Brio Circuitry in a Smaller Box

Rega built the io by taking the amplifier stage from its Brio and putting it in a smaller, cheaper chassis. That is the whole idea. The Class A/B circuit shares its design with the rest of Rega's amplifiers, and it delivers 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

Thirty watts sounds modest until you hear what Rega does with it. Sanken output transistors do the work, volume runs through an Alps potentiometer, and a linear power supply feeds the whole thing. The io measures 180 by 68 by 290 millimeters and weighs 2.9 kilos.

The Phono Stage Is Not an Afterthought

A moving magnet phono input is built in, which matters because Rega is a turntable company first. Two line-level inputs handle everything else. That is the full input count, and it is deliberately simple: plug in a turntable and one or two other sources, and you are done.

The headphone socket sits on the front panel, and Rega drove it from the power amplifier stage through relays rather than tapping the signal path. A mini remote handset comes in the box. Rega covers the io for three years in the United States.

What You Give Up, and What You Do Not

There is no DAC and there are no digital inputs. The io is an analog amplifier, full stop. If your sources are a turntable and a CD player with analog outputs, nothing is missing. If you stream, you will need a separate DAC or streamer ahead of it.

What you do not give up is the amplifier itself. The power stage and the phono stage are the ones from the Brio, not simplified versions of them. Rega spent the savings on the chassis and the feature list, not the circuit.

Small Enough to Change Where Hi-Fi Goes

At 2.9 kilos and 180 millimeters wide, the io fits places a full-width amplifier cannot. A bookshelf, a desk, a spare room. Draw is 135 watts in use and effectively nothing on standby, so leaving it switched on costs you next to nothing.

That combination is the point. It is a proper Rega amplifier that happens to be small and affordable, rather than a small cheap amplifier that happens to wear a Rega badge.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Jason Kennedy reviewed the io for The Ear on 17 June 2020. He called it "a great little amplifier" and found that "it packs a punch that you don't get from the far more highly featured competition that exists on the market."

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

• You are building a first real hi-fi around a turntable — the moving magnet phono stage is the Brio's, so no outboard phono preamp is needed.
• Space is the constraint — 180 millimeters wide and 2.9 kilos, so a bookshelf or a desk works.
• You listen on headphones often — the front socket is fed from the power amp stage through relays, not spliced into the signal path.
• You want Rega's amplifier, not Rega's cheapest amplifier — the power and phono stages come from the Brio rather than being cut down for the price.
• If you need digital inputs, the io has none at all — the Rega Brio MK7 adds a built-in DAC with coaxial and optical inputs, plus 50 watts per channel.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

A turntable goes to the phono input, and two more analog sources fill the line inputs. Speakers connect at the back, headphones at the front. The mini remote handles the basics from the chair. That is the whole setup.

Choose efficient speakers and 30 watts goes further than the number suggests. Rega's own Kyte and the smaller bookshelf designs are natural partners.

Pairs Well With

Building a system around the io? Start here:

• Turntable: The moving magnet phono stage is already built in — browse Turntables.
• Speakers: Efficient bookshelf designs suit 30 watts best — see our Bookshelf Speakers.
• Headphones: The front socket deserves a decent pair — browse Headphones.
• Speaker Cable: Short runs and modest gauge suit a small amp — see our Speaker Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the io have a DAC or digital inputs?

The io is analog only, with one phono input and two line inputs. For digital sources you would add an external DAC, or step up to the Brio MK7.

Can I connect a turntable directly?

Yes, if it uses a moving magnet cartridge. The built-in phono stage is the same one Rega fits to the Brio, so no separate phono preamp is required.

Is 30 watts enough?

For efficient speakers in a small or medium room, yes. For large or power-hungry speakers, look at the Brio MK7 at 50 watts or the Elex MK4 at 72.

Is a remote included?

Yes. Rega supplies a mini remote handset with the io.

How big is it?

180 by 68 by 290 millimeters, and 2.9 kilos. It is roughly half the width of a standard hi-fi component.

What does the warranty cover?

In the United States, Rega warrants the io for three years from the date of purchase, or four years from shipment to the dealer, whichever comes first.

See It in Action

Steve Guttenberg on the io:

And A British Audiophile on what £420 buys:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about integrated amplifiers, phono stages, or building a first hi-fi system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.