Quote:
Originally Posted by VicAjax /forum/post/0
i listened pretty extensively to some two-dozen different speaker models in the $1000 range, as well as some speakers above that, to give me a sense of what i should expect.
the Regas weren't even on my radar originally, because while i knew about them, i didn't think they were available for audition here in nyc. and i almost didn't make it down to the hifi shop where i heard them.
the R5 (and their smaller sibling, the R3) were unique for me in that, when the music came on, i knew within 4 bars that i was going to love them. i still spent nearly two hours listening... mostly going between the R3 and R5 to decide between the two.
the word i use to describe them to people is "groovy." they just had the beat and the timing that made me want to dance. after "groovy," the word that comes to mind is "clarity." they're tight, fast and detailed without being analytical. (what the Brits call "PRaT")
the bass leans toward musical over impactful. you can hear each kick bass thud and double bass string pluck, which i think is what helps give it that great sense of rhythm. it doesn't have that lushness that some warmer speakers exhibit, but that's not my preference. if you prefer that, you might find the R5 a bit too tight and crisp.
i chose the R5 over the R3 because, while the R3 is probably more appropriate for my room, i preferred the deeper extension of the R5 and wanted to make a somewhat future-proof purchase. i would've been thrilled with the R3 as well, though... especially for their unbelievable price (although your price for the R5 is less than what i would've paid for the R3).
what i really love about them is that i actually preferred them over speakers that were out of my price range, including the B&W 700 series, the Audio Physic Yara Evolution, the Paradigm Studio 60, Snell, Vienna Acoustics, Focal and ML.
a couple of things i don't love:
- the cabinet is not as heavy as i'd like, although the speakers certainly don't sound like they suffer from resonance issues. if they had, i wouldn't have bought them.
i did audition the Montiro Audio RS6, and judging from the reviews i presumed that i'd probably get them. they sounded nice and clean, but didn't have the sense of timing and musicality that the Regas have.... at least to my ears.
i have a pretty particular taste in the sound i like. i knew what i wanted, but didn't think i'd find it in my price range. and i listened to A LOT of speakers for a LONG time.
if i hadn't found the R5, i probably would have ended up ordering a pair of Ohm Acoustic MicroWalsh Tall to try out, because nothing else i listened to within my budget satisfied me. the Regas were the last speakers i auditioned, and before walking into the shop i had pretty much decided that i wouldn't be buying any of the speakers i had auditioned.
in short, i LOVE the R5.... they are the absolute best purchase i could have made for my budget and my taste.
