Rega Saturn. Is it really a giant killer?

Kehut, you said you didn't warm up to the Apollo. Could you describe what you heard?

The review you were referring to is Tellig's recent review in Stereophile on both players. He was inconsistent in that review, as first he said there wasn't much difference, but then later said there was a considerable improvement. Oh, well, can you trust reviewers anyway? Especially when they make decisions based on headphone listening?

Stereotimes.com has a review. Search their archives to read it. It is quite complimentary.

Check out another bangup review on audioasylum.com.
www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/12/129458.html

The reviewer is a vinyl guy and he thinks it is the first digital player that brings this much musicality to digital.

New pieces often get hype that later turns out to be overstated. Wonder whether that is the case here or not.

Thanks, Kehut. Was the Apollo burned in enough? I know you said, "over some time", but if that was say, 50 hours, maybe it wasn't enough.

I also went to Audioreview.com and read the reviews there by owners. Some were glowing, others were not. I'm glad I went there though, because more than one person said the plastic faceplate and the overall finish was kind of cheap looking. And that the hinged lid didn't inspire confidence either. Curious what others think of these things.

The more I research these players, the more I find that bothers me. In Stereophile's review, March 2007, p. 27, Tellig quotes Rega's owner: "With the given technology we had to build it as inexpensively as possible." Now, that's a mouthful. It's $1,000, not $300. It really gets me that these manufacturers have to make the maximum profit possible. Now I understand why the unit has a tiny transformer and lacks some in the bass department. Man, can't you spend the extra $5 or $10 for a larger transformer? A plastic faceplate?

Maybe this is why some audiophiles are choosing to turn to Chinese brands, like Shanling and others, because they want something for their money, and not just the bare minimum. In the end, this doesn't help the company's image or popularity. If the parts, chassis and mechanism are all made as "inexpensively as possible", owners discover this and it turns them off to the company. It seems the sonics of this player that have merit are due mostly to the new chipset that is used. Rega had the fortune of discovering this company and convincing them to use Rega as a beta tester for the chipset. In turn, Rega gets to buy the chipsets. Rega, give the customer more for their money. Even the Saturn uses the same transport, chipset, and chassis, with the exception of a metal faceplate, but costs 2.4 times more. Hardly giving the consumer his money's worth either.

With all due respect to Mr. Schroder, he is a reviewer, and many of us have come to distrust reviewers after finding the product isn't what they say it is. I'm not saying that is the case here, but I don't know.

It seems the consensus here is that the bang for the buck is in the Apollo for the price difference. Also there are a few people who don't seem to like the Rega. Without having it in my system, I guess it will be hard to know, since everyone doesn't have the same opinion here.

There seems to be some consensus that the Saturn has a more natural treble and better bass. But then people are divided as to how much better the Saturn is. Some think it is not worth 2.4 times the price, and could live with the Apollo. Others think there is a significant difference.

There was only one person who found it to sound congested, with no dynamics, and boring. Interesting differences of opinion. Thanks for your thoughtful responses, and any further ones are welcome.