Rega Aos MC Phono stage

Rega Aos MC Phono stage

Name: Rega Aos MC Phono stage
Brand: Rega
Price: 3700.00 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

$3,700.00

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The AOS is a dedicated no compromise fully adjustable moving coil pre-amplifier using a circuit design based heavily on Rega's award-winning Aura reference MC phono stage. Housed in a custom made Rega half width case, the Aos will deliver exceptional definition and greater realism to all of your recordings, bringing your favourite vinyl to life.

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Specifications

Input Load: - 70, 100, 150, & 400Ω

Capacitive Load: - 1000, 4300pF

RIAA Accuracy (100kΩ output load): - Better than ±0.2dB 65Hz to 70kHz

Frequency Response: - 17.5 Hz (-3 dB) to 100 kHz (-0.2 dB)

THD: - 0.03%

Input Sensitivity: - 69.3 dB (Gain Setting I), 63.5 dB (Gain Setting II)

Power consumption in Standby: - 0.4W

Power Consumption: - 20W

Dimensions (WxHxD): - 220 x 80 x 330 mm

Weight: - 2.9Kg

The Aos MC has perfect timing and delivers the musical goods in a compelling fashion

The Ear

Pure Analogue

The Aos is an “all analogue amplifier” with no digital control circuitry. The fully aluminium case screens the internal circuit from any stray RFI signals. Rega designers have avoided including any unnecessary components or circuits that may degrade the signal path. The Aos incorporates many innovative design ideas including a self-adjusting servo control which compensates for any variations in ambient or operating temperature.

First Stage

The first stage is a symmetrical, complementary class A amplifier, using Linear Systems ultra-low noise FET (Field Effect Transistor) transistors. The use of FET transistors ensures there is no bias current flowing in the cartridge coil so as not to upset the delicate magnetic geometry of the cartridge. The input circuit configuration also alleviates the use of any coupling components between the cartridge output and the input stage FET transistors, which would degrade thesound. The complementary ultra-low noise FET transistors are carefully graded and matched for optimum performance. This stage drives the passive high-frequency part of the RIAA equalisation stage.

Second Stage

The second stage is a symmetrical, class A, differential amplifier with a common base driver stage; this is also used as the active amplifier in the low-frequency part of the RIAA equalisation stage.

Who is this for?

The Rega AOS MC is designed for serious vinyl listeners who want high-end moving coil performance without stepping all the way up to a flagship reference phono stage. It’s aimed at enthusiasts building a refined analogue system where cartridge quality is already high and the phono stage becomes a critical part of the musical chain.

It’s particularly well suited to low-output moving coil cartridges and high-quality turntables where resolution and timing accuracy are already strong. Adjustable loading and gain settings allow precise matching to a wide range of MC cartridges, making it flexible enough for both Rega and third-party designs.

What is the Rega Aura MC Phono Stage designed to do?

The Rega Aura is Rega’s flagship moving coil (MC) phono stage, designed to extract the maximum performance from high-end moving coil cartridges. It provides ultra-low-noise amplification and precision equalisation to preserve every detail contained in a vinyl recording.

Is the Rega Aura compatible with moving magnet cartridges?

No. The Aura is designed exclusively for moving coil cartridges and does not support moving magnet (MM) cartridges. It is intended for serious vinyl systems using high-performance MC cartridges.

What makes the Rega Aura different from other phono stages?

The Aura is a fully analogue, fully discrete design with no integrated circuit amplification in the signal path. Rega developed it to deliver exceptional transparency, dynamics, and musical realism while maintaining extremely low noise levels.

What cartridges is the Rega Aura designed to work with?

It is optimised for moving coil cartridges, including Rega’s own Apheta and Aphelion ranges, but it can also be configured to work with many other high-quality MC cartridges from other manufacturers.

Does the Rega Aura offer adjustable loading and gain settings?

Yes. The Aura provides multiple gain and loading options, allowing users to optimise performance for different moving coil cartridges and achieve the best possible cartridge-to-phono stage match.

Why is cartridge loading important?

Correct loading helps a moving coil cartridge perform at its best by optimising frequency response, dynamics, and tonal balance. The Aura's adjustable settings allow fine-tuning for maximum performance.

How quiet is the Rega Aura?

The Aura is designed with an extremely low noise floor, making it particularly suitable for low-output moving coil cartridges. This allows delicate musical details and low-level information to emerge from a silent background.

What type of construction does the Aura use?

The Aura features a robust aluminium casework design with carefully separated internal circuitry and power supply sections. This helps minimise interference and maintain signal integrity.

Does the Rega Aura use digital processing?

No. The Aura is a completely analogue design. All amplification and RIAA equalisation are performed in the analogue domain without digital conversion or signal processing.

Can the Aura reveal improvements from better cartridges and turntables?

Yes. The Aura is sufficiently transparent to expose the benefits of higher-performance cartridges, tonearms, turntables, and downstream electronics. It is designed as a long-term reference component.

What systems does the Rega Aura work best in?

It is best suited to high-end and reference-level analogue systems where vinyl playback quality is a primary focus. It pairs particularly well with premium turntables and moving coil cartridges.

How does the Aura compare to entry-level phono stages?

Compared to entry-level designs, the Aura offers substantially lower noise, greater dynamic range, superior resolution, and a more natural presentation. It is built to reveal the full potential of premium vinyl playback systems.

Is the Rega Aura suitable for future system upgrades?

Yes. Its performance level is high enough to support significant upgrades in cartridges, turntables, amplifiers, and speakers without becoming a limiting factor.

What type of music benefits most from the Aura?

The Aura performs exceptionally well with all genres, but listeners often notice particular benefits with acoustic, jazz, classical, and vocal recordings where subtle detail, space, and micro-dynamics are important.