Rega Brio Clamshell vs. Rega Brio 3

[OrphicTrench]

Hey guys, short question here, but hard to get an answer from someone with actual experience. I'm still gonna give it a shot if you don't mind.

My amp is an original Rega Brio (clamshell with green letters and leds). I'm quite satisfied with it actually, but I have a deal on a Rega 3 for a fair price and wondered: is it an upgrade or should I pass?

 

[OrphicTrench]

Some background info: I had some Rega Kyte shelf speakers and recently switched to Elac Debut 2.0. I like the bass much better and the stereo image is quite pleasing too, but I feel I lost some of the high-end detail I had with the Kytes. Also, the bass tends to be a little bit too present sometimes. Besides from those two points, and maybe some hearing fatigue every now and then, there's not much I'd like to change. I'm quite satisfied actually. The big change will be room treatment, but I'm supposed to move next month, so I'm being patient.

 

[StuartB]

If it was me, I would focus on speakers, front end, music and room. The things between the source and the speakers have less impact (unless you want a very specific sound like warm tubes or extreme definition....{read "etched and harsh" to my ears}). Personally I don't think I would go from a Brio to Brio 3 unless the first one was acting up. Good luck.

 

[OrphicTrench]

If it was me, I would focus on speakers, front end, music and room. The things between the source and the speakers have less impact (unless you want a very specific sound like warm tubes or extreme definition....{read "etched and harsh" to my ears}). Personally I don't think I would go from a Brio to Brio 3 unless the first one was acting up. Good luck.

Hey thanks for the input! I got the exact same piece of advice from a seller in a local audiophile shop I called yesterday. I'm passing on the Brio 3, and hopefully my room treatment and speaker placement will make a much more pleasant difference. Cheers.