Rega Kyte Bookshelf Speakers - Pair

Rega's Only Bookshelf Speaker, Molded From Phenolic Resin

The Kyte is the one bookshelf speaker Rega makes. It pairs Rega's own ZRR tweeter with a handmade MX-125 bass-mid driver in a cabinet molded from phenolic resin rather than wood. Rega assembles the Kyte by hand at its factory in England and sells it only as a pair.

Rega announced the Kyte as part of System One, an all-Rega starter system with the io amplifier and the Planar 1 turntable. Rega's argument is simple. The money most speaker companies spend on marketing went into the cabinet, the drivers and the crossover parts the company winds itself.

Why a Plastic Cabinet

Phenolic resin is a stiff thermoset plastic. Rega molds the cabinet from it, then adds ceramic plates and an internal cross brace. Rega says the result is far stiffer than a wooden box at this price. The drivers, not the cabinet, make the sound. A rear port loads the bass.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

Rega quotes 89 dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Power handling is 80 watts per channel, given as a guide. Rega does not publish a frequency response for the Kyte. Each cabinet measures 12.8 inches tall, 7.4 wide and 9.1 deep with the rear foot fitted, and weighs 8.2 pounds.

Those numbers make the Kyte an easy speaker to drive. Rega's own 30-watt io amplifier was designed around it, and any integrated amplifier from 30 watts up will do. eCoustics warned against pairing it with a cheap receiver, and suggested the Brio for a larger room.

Placement and Finish

The Kyte has a matte finish rather than veneer. A screw-in rear foot tilts the speaker back slightly on a shelf, and Rega sells a stand adaptor for standard speaker stands. Rega covers the Kyte with its lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, which is rare at any price.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Jeff Dorgay of TONEAudio made the Kyte the magazine's 2021 Budget Product of the Year: "Excellent bass response, smooth yet defined treble and a very refined midrange. Nothing sounds forced, nothing sounds lacking."

He added: "If I were starting my hifi journey again from scratch, I'd buy a pair in a heartbeat." The review appeared in September 2021.

Jason Kennedy of The Ear, September 14, 2021: "The Kyte's strength lies in its midrange speed and coherence, it can deliver decent bass for the box size." He tied its value partly to the lifetime guarantee.

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want a British-made speaker at an entry price — hand-assembled in England, with Rega's lifetime warranty
• You own or want a Rega system — the io, the Brio and the Planar turntables were designed to play with it
• You have a small or medium room and a modest amplifier — 89 dB sensitivity and 6 ohms make 30 watts enough
• You value midrange and timing over deep bass — three reviewers described its speed, coherence and pacing before anything else
• You want a wooden cabinet and deeper bass — the Polk Reserve R200 has a 6.5-inch woofer and a published 39 Hz response

How Do They Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier to the binding posts on the back of each speaker, red to red and black to black. These are passive speakers, so nothing plugs into the wall. Rega suggests 80 watts per channel as a ceiling, and 30 is a comfortable floor.

Set the Kyte on a shelf with the rear foot fitted, or on stands with Rega's adaptor. TONEAudio used 24-inch stands. Leave a few inches behind the rear port, and angle each speaker toward the listening seat.

Pairs Well With

What completes the system. These are the categories most Kyte owners shop next.

• Rega io integrated amplifier — 30 watts and a phono stage, the amplifier Rega built the Kyte to match
• Rega Brio MK7 integrated amplifier — the step up, and eCoustics' pick for a larger room
• Rega Planar 1 turntable — the third piece of Rega's System One
• Rega Kyte stand adaptors — to mount the Kyte on standard speaker stands

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Kyte sold as a pair?

Yes. The price is for two speakers. The rear feet are included; the stand adaptors are sold separately.

How much power do they need?

Rega gives 80 watts per channel as a guide and notes it depends on the amplifier. With 89 dB sensitivity and a 6 ohm load, a 30-watt integrated like the Rega io is enough for a small or medium room.

Do I need a subwoofer?

Rega does not publish a frequency response, so judge by the reviews. TONEAudio heard excellent bass for the size and The Ear called it decent. For film or a large room, add a subwoofer.

Can I put them on stands?

Yes. Rega's stand adaptor bolts to the base and fits standard speaker stands. On a shelf, screw in the supplied rear foot instead, which tilts the speaker back slightly.

What is phenolic resin?

A hard thermoset plastic that does not soften with heat. Rega molds the whole cabinet from it and stiffens it further with ceramic plates and a cross brace, which the company says keeps cabinet resonance out of the music.

What is the warranty?

Rega covers the Kyte with a lifetime limited warranty against manufacturing defects, the same warranty it gives its turntables and amplifiers.

See It in Action

Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophiliac, on the Rega Kyte:

Smart Home Sounds reviews the Kyte with a sound test:

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