Digital Drive: REVIEW: Rega Saturn CD Player/Recorder by dth31

Model:	Saturn
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	US$2400
Description:	Single Disc w. MP3 and WMA media capability
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Model Picture:	View

Review by dth31 on May 28, 2007 at 13:55:22
IP Address: 70.181.179.230 Add Your Review
for the Saturn

I'm going to start out by saying unequivocally: I was and am a vinyl-lover. I used to be a digital-hater, but not anymore. I have seen (and heard) the light (and sound). The Rega Saturn has shown me that digital can sound as good as (in it's own way) as vinyl, if even it does not sound like vinyl.

I grew up loving music, live and amplified. However, about 20 yrs ago, I bought a new Yamaha CD player, some CDs, and over the next 1-2 years pretty much quit listening music. I never dreamed it was due to the CD player. I thought it was just because I was too busy.

We moved into a new, larger house about 10 yrs ago, and that was my excuse to unpack the stereo system. I listened to it a few times, and then pretty much quit. Just didn't enjoy it.

Then a bit of luck: our basement flooded during a hurricane, and we had to throw away a lot of things that got wet. I know, that doesn't sound like good luck, but hand with me for a moment! Although it didn't get wet, I decided to throw away my old (still unpacked) turntable and LPs since I never listened to them.

Whoa! Was I surprised. Music sounded good again. Around that time I also happened to buy a Stereophile and read, for the first time, that there was a controversy about digital vs analog. No controversy for me, the CDP had to go.

I was back into audio. Wadia 850 CDP, Bryston monoblock amps, Magneplanar 3.6 speakers. Appealed to my head, but not my heart. Was fatiguing and not particularly enjoyable to listen to. Bought a CAT tube preamp--some improvement, but still fatiguing. There was a residual hardness, harshness that wouldn't go away and that made listening joyless.

Bought a used VPI TNT Jr and BIG improvement compared to the Wadia. Started listening to a lot of music again, but still something was missing.

Fast forward to my most recent system, prior to buying the Saturn about 8 months ago: 300B monoblock amps, tube preamp, VPI TT and Wadia 850. Even in an all-tube system, I still couldn't listen to the Wadia. Rarely listened to it, and then only if it was something I didn't have on vinyl.

Then I read a review on the Saturn. I knew that digital had improved a LOT over the last few years and was hopeful that the Saturn could change my mind about digital, but given my previous experience, I had extremely low expectations. Why did I buy the Saturn given my expectations? I sold my Wadia for the purchase price of the Saturn.

Dan Muzquiz of Blackbird Audio let me audition a Saturn and I literally could not believe my ears. This was definitely NOT the digital sound I was used to. The digital hardness and harshness was nowhere in evidence. Natural, believable musical detail in abundance. But even more than the sound, was the way it made MUSIC. Individual instruments are in the room, and you can focus on them if you want to, but they also don't call undue attention to themselves--they are just part of the music. Voices sound real. A lot like live music. There was a "wholeness" and ease to the music that was hard to describe. Your body just wanted to relax, sit back and enjoy the music. Everything just seemed to fit together in a cohesive whole. This was definitely NOT digital as I had known it. I wanted to listen to it all the time!

I decided not to post a review immediately, because there is always the "new toy" phenomenon. Many times equipment that pleases on a first listening becomes displeasing over time with more prolonged listening and I still had doubts as to whether the Saturn would continue to please over the long run.

I am happy and somewhat surprised to say that the Saturn continues to please, now 8 months after the purchase. If anything, the Saturn has only gotten better. I would estimate that over 90% of my listening is to the Saturn.

The last thing I would say is that the Saturn does not sound like vinyl. Vinyl has a liquidity that is pleasantly addictive to listen to, but probably not real. Even though the Saturn sounds great, I don't think anyone would mistake it for good vinyl. The Saturn is digital done well. REALLY well. It builds on the strengths and eliminates many of the weaknesses of digital, to the point that it is a very enjoyable alternative to vinyl, even for an admitted vinyl-lover and (old) digital-hater.

Highly, highly, highly recommended, even to digital-haters!

Product Weakness:	None that are meaningful to me.
Product Strengths:	Sounds much like real music. Natural musical detail in abundance. No hardness or harshness, even with prolonged listening.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: DIY HiFiSupply Lady Day II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audio Note Kits M3 Signature
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI Super Scoutmaster, JMW9
Speakers: Bastanis Prometheus II with Gemini tweeter and powered subs
Cables/Interconnects: Ven Haus silver with Eichmann bullets
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Orchestral; Classic rock
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	DIY HiFiSupply Lady Day II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Note Kits M3 Signature
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Super Scoutmaster, JMW9
Speakers:	Bastanis Prometheus II with Gemini tweeter and powered subs
Cables/Interconnects:	Ven Haus silver with Eichmann bullets
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Orchestral; Classic rock
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner