Rega Elicit MK5 Integrated Amplifier
Hear the band come in with force, while the singer's voice and individual bass notes stay clear.
Power should add impact, not hide the smaller details
A large drum hit should not bury the bass line or make a singer harder to follow. At the listening level you use in the living room, the system needs to handle both the loudest moments and the small changes in a voice.
More drive, with attention to the signal before it reaches the speakers
We chose the Rega Elicit Mk5 because it gives a full band weight and impact while keeping a singer's voice clear. It uses the discrete FET-based preamplifier design from the Aethos, together with an Alps volume potentiometer, so the design changes reach beyond the speaker-driving power stage.
The Class AB amplifier is rated at 105 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 162 watts per channel into 4 ohms. With appropriately matched speakers, that gives demanding passages room to build while bass notes and vocal changes remain distinct. We would judge those qualities at your normal listening level, not just by seeing how loudly the system will play.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Hear the bass note as well as the drum hit
On a bass-led track, listen for the pitch and finish of each bass note while the kick drum hits alongside it. The Elicit Mk5's Class AB output stage and Sanken transistors provide the drive behind its firm, controlled presentation. The point is to hear separate notes with impact, not turn every low-frequency sound into the same heavy thump.
Follow the changes in a voice as the band builds
A singer can get louder, rougher or softer within the same line, even while the rest of the band is playing hard. The Aethos-derived FET preamp handles the small signal carrying those changes before it reaches the speaker-driving output stage. The Elicit brings voices forward clearly, but it will not necessarily soften a source or speaker that already sounds sharp.
Hear the quieter passage, not just the crescendo
After a full-band track, try a familiar solo-piano recording and listen to the softer notes and changes in playing strength. The Elicit's character is energetic rather than laid-back, but its ability to keep quiet detail and space clear is just as important as its bass grip.
The Audio Two Verdict
We would choose the Elicit Mk5 when a system needs bass grip and the force of a full band without losing the changes in a singer's voice. In a larger room or with less sensitive speakers, we would check whether its output is enough for your listening distance and level. Against the Elex Mk4, we would compare through the same speakers at similar levels and listen for control, vocal texture and the way quiet passages grow into louder ones. If the source and speakers already sound aggressive in the room, we would address that match rather than assume spending more on the amplifier will make the balance gentler.
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Bass and drum hits keep their weight without merging into one sound | Class AB amplifier with Sanken output devices, rated at 105 W per channel into 8 Ω and 162 W into 4 Ω |
| Small changes in a singer's voice stay clear as the band builds | Aethos-derived discrete FET preamplifier and Alps volume potentiometer |
| MM records keep their clarity without requiring a separate phono box | Built-in moving-magnet phono stage with RIAA equalisation |
| Compatible digital sources play without another DAC on the shelf | Isolated optical/coaxial inputs, Wolfson conversion and Rega discrete line-driver circuit |
| Private headphone listening switches the main speakers off | Front headphone socket with speaker switching handled by the output mute relay |
Technical Highlights
- Amplification: Class AB; 105 W per channel into 8 Ω, 127 W into 6 Ω and 162 W into 4 Ω.
- Preamplifier: Aethos-derived discrete FET design with Alps motorised volume potentiometer.
- Analogue inputs: Four main stereo RCA line inputs, one MM phono input loaded at 47 kΩ in parallel with 220 pF, plus a separate Record input and Direct Input.
- Digital inputs: One coaxial S/PDIF and one optical Toslink; PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
- Outputs: Stereo RCA preamp output, fixed-level Record and Record Link outputs, one set of speaker terminals and a front 6.35 mm headphone socket with automatic main-speaker muting.
- Controls and power management: Solaris remote for volume, input, mute, Direct and Record functions; physical power switch, no automatic standby.
- Size and weight: 432 mm W × 82 mm H × 340 mm D, with depth including the speaker terminals; 12.5 kg.
An MM cartridge connects to the phono input. A low-output MC cartridge needs an appropriate external phono stage into a line input; a turntable already using a phono stage should also feed a line input unless that stage is bypassed. A streamer can connect through the Elicit's digital inputs or through its own DAC using RCA, so you do not have to give up a DAC you already enjoy.
The separate Record input is selected using the Solaris remote rather than the main front-panel input cycle. Record and Record Link outputs stay at a fixed level, while the preamp output provides a connection for a compatible external power amplifier or powered subwoofer. If headphones and a subwoofer will share the system, we will check how that combination mutes.
The Direct Input lets a properly configured AV processor or external stereo preamp use the Elicit's power amplifier. Direct Input bypasses the Elicit's preamp and volume control.
There is no USB audio, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth or built-in network streaming. A TV with optical output can use the DAC when set to stereo PCM; the Elicit does not decode surround-sound formats.
This is a full-width, 12.5 kg amplifier, so check the shelf width and leave room for rear plugs beyond the stated depth. Its side heat sinks need airflow: allow at least 10 cm of ventilation space around the case and do not stack other components on top.
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. That said, a system at this level is worth a conversation before you commit: we can make sure it's the right fit for your room, your source, and how you actually listen. Reach out and we'll help you get it right.