Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
Rega Elicit MK5
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers 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
PRE-AMP CIRCUITRY: lifted directly from Aethos (the next model up); Alps volume potentiometer (vs the controversial microcontrolled volume in Elicit-R). MM phono stage same as previous Elicit but with Aethos pre-amp upgrade — Rega notes a marked improvement.
INTEGRATED DAC: Wolfson WM8742, 24-bit/192kHz, opt+coax inputs only. No USB/DSD/Bluetooth.
Competition record
Assessed against 19 rivals across the sixty systems: 1 head-to-head won, 59 lost.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- low-level clarity ×6
- tonal body ×6
Who it comes up against
NVA S80 Stereo
8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Audiolab 9000P
5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden ANV 50
4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Leema Hydra II
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Audio Note P1 SE
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino V12
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
Chord ULTIMA 6
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
Longdog Audio P6100M (pair)
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure 3510
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Sugden A21 Signature
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
warm-ish organic tones with detail in abundanceHead-Fi A21SE Signature review
Leak Stereo 230
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Leak Stereo 230 keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Creek 4040A
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Creek 4040A keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gains most on bass control.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
bass grip... powerful, agile and preciseWhat Hi-Fi? 2022
Quad Artera Stereo
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
Rega io
0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Rega Elicit MK5 takes the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Rega Elicit MK5 is the weaker integrated amplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
What the reviewers said
Elicit MK5 with Class A/B + extensive features Rega Elicit MK5 + What HiFi· Timing precision
bass grip... powerful, agile and precise What Hi-Fi? 2022· Bass control
taut, punchy and clear What Hi-Fi? 2022· Transient attack
explicit midrange... clear yet nuanced What Hi-Fi? 2022· Presence & articulation
slightly forward and brightly lit What Hi-Fi? 2022· Harmonic texture
How it scores
Voice
- Presence & articulation 76 from listening evidence
- Harmonic texture 70 from listening evidence
Rhythm
- Transient attack 76 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 76 from listening evidence
- Physical impact 64 from specification
- Bass extension 64 from specification
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 72 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from specification
- Tonal consistency 72 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 105.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 162.0 |
| power class | AB |
| damping factor | 50.0 |
| line inputs | 5 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 196.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 10.0 |
| has phono | True |
| phono mm | True |
| phono mc | False |
| phono mm gain db | 40 |
| phono mm load | 47kΩ + 220pF |
| pre out | True |
| pre out level v | 0.76 |
| pre power separable | true_break |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | True |
| frequency response hz | 10/85000 |
| thd pct | 0.007 |
| dimensions mm | 432/82/340 |
| weight kg | 12.5 |
| integrated dac | True |
| notes |