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Rega AOS MC

Phono stage

Relative price

typical

Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Two-stage all-analogue (vs Aura's three-stage) — first stage paralleled FET compound pair drives passive HF RIAA; second is symmetrical Class A differential that handles LF RIAA actively.

Half-width casework matches Aria/Neo aesthetics. Auto-standby after ~1 hr inactivity (defeatable).

Competition record

Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 55 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • rhythmic grip ×25
  • quietness at rest ×9
  • bass weight ×8
  • depth of bass ×8
  • tonal body ×8
  • low-level clarity ×4

Who it comes up against

Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC

14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.

With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

RIAA tracking within +/-0.2dBSPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.2dB (manufacturer)

Naim NVC TT MM/MC

14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic

Against the Intimate brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on rhythmic grip.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl

8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

dual-monoMusical Fidelity M8x Vinyl press record

Rega Aura Reference MC

7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference

Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII

3 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC

3 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Whest Audio 60Se Pro

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Cyrus Classic PHONO

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

RIAA tracking within +/-0.2dBSPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.2dB (manufacturer)

Whest Audio TITAN Pro II

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Michell Apollo + Muse PSU

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega AOS MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

What the reviewers said

AOS MC phono with Apheta-tier voicing Rega AOS positioning (Apheta-derived)· Micro-dynamic resolution
exceptional separation PROXY: Rega Aura (The Ear; AOS = Aura-derived)· Spatial resolution
low-level detail PROXY: Rega Aura· Micro-dynamic resolution
honest, even-handed PROXY: Rega Aura· Presence & articulation
RIAA tracking within +/-0.2dB SPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.2dB (manufacturer)· Tonal body

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 72 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 72 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 72 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 73 from listening evidence

Specifications

mm capableFalse
mc capableTrue
mc gain db63.5/69.3
mc load resistance options ohm70/100/150/400
mc load capacitance options pf1000/4300
riaa accuracy db0.2
thd pct0.03
input overload mv9.6/4.9
rumble filterFalse
output level mv200
output impedance ohm500
balanced outputFalse
dimensions mm220/80/330
weight kg2.9
power consumption w0.4/20
psu externalFalse
notes