About The Rega Kyte Speakers
Become immersed in the stunningly natural sound of the Kyte loudspeaker system. Meticulously designed to deliver the true Rega sound at an affordable price. Using Rega's own ZRR high frequency unit and a handmade pair of Rega MX-125 mid/bass drivers, this compact bookshelf speaker is designed to complement any hi-fi or audio system.
Experience the true voice of Rega components with the all new Kyte loudspeaker system. The Kytes are meticulously hand assembled in house using Rega's unique design phenolic resin cabinet. Internally they feature ceramic plates and carefully engineered cross bracing developed to make the cabinet extremely stiff. This prevents unwanted resonances interfering with the accurate output of the drive units and directly improves both dynamics and the bass performance from the speaker. The Kytes are easy to position and are supplied with an optional foot to allow for various positioning giving the user greater flexibility. A custom designed stand mount adaptor is available (sold separately) to allow use on a wide variety of third party stands.
Rega fans out there will know that Rega have always questioned the marketing and science surrounding turntables. Experiments and research have allowed them to debunk most commonly held beliefs and use real engineering to produce world beating sound quality at sensible prices. However, the loudspeaker market is very different because a valid scientific and engineering discipline exists which in turn has created hundreds of competitors in the loudspeaker marketplace. The success of many loudspeakers depends on powerful marketing, eye watering advertising budgets (of which Rega spends zero) and financial inducement to retailers. The funds that most loudspeaker companies would spend on marketing, Rega has put it all into research and development to achieve a totally unique cabinet construction housing their own high frequency unit and bass/midrange driver (incorporating a four layer voice coil). Rega even manufacture and wind the crossover components in house, making this a true Designed & Made In The UK affair.
So why phenolic? Historically the accepted perception of a loudspeaker was a rectangular shaped wood veneered cabinet to complement household wood furniture.
The market has always demanded loudspeakers to be furniture and since the 90's European manufacturers were left with the choice of Far Eastern manufacturing or inflated prices for home built wooden cabinets. However, recent times have seen the world change styling perceptions and there has been a wholesale investment in modern moulding shapes and the use of functional materials. Injection moulded plastic loudspeaker cabinets are not new but flexible moulded plastic has been reserved for the PA world or small desktop loudspeakers where convenience and portability were a priority over sonic performance. This more recent domestic acceptance of non-wood functional cabinet shapes has allowed Rega to achieve a long term dream. They have made a massive investment into injection moulding of stiff thermoset phenolic resin and collaborated with a British company to achieve it. The natural stiffness of phenolic resin is a big advantage which has been further enhanced with ceramic plates and a complex internal cross brace structure. This unique cabinet construction has been achieved at one third of the price of other British made quality loudspeakers.
Rega Kyte Speaker Reviews
"Chequered Flag. This is not very scientific at all, but the Rega Kytes are one of the most enjoyable small speakers I've had the pleasure of listening to in a long time. Many small, inexpensive speakers sacrifice overall sound quality for a single aspect of reproduction. The Kyte is such an overall high achiever, with a level of balance usually reserved for much more expensive speakers. Even after hours of constant listening, this is a speaker you will never tire of.
I could go on and on about this track and that track, but you really need to hear these speakers for yourself.
Much like that rare automobile that has a perfect balance of braking, acceleration and handling, these speakers offer everything a music lover will appreciate. Excellent bass response, smooth yet defined treble and a very refined midrange. Nothing sounds forced, nothing sounds lacking. The Kytes completely deliver Rega's promise of making reasonably priced hifi gear that sounds great. There is a level of graininess and cloudiness that nearly every budget speaker has, that is completely absent with the Kyte, even powered by a vintage receiver. This level of refinement makes them sound much more expensive then their price dictates.
Normally we don't do this kind of thing, but with mid-October only six weeks away, we'll let you in on a secret. We will be awarding the Kytes our Budget Product of the Year Award in issue 109. They are more than just an exceptional value. If I were starting my hifi journey again from scratch, I'd buy a pair in a heartbeat. I may buy a pair anyway, just because they are so damn cool." Tone Publications
"Little Feat's Long Distance Love is a sumptuous production and suits this speaker down to a tee in a tonal sense but you also get to hear the beauty of the singer and the song, as ever with Rega the hardware is there for the music first and foremost. This should be the case with all hi-fi gear but it seems easy for engineers to get side tracked by aspects of the process that undermine the crucial connection that music provides, this is not the case here.
The Kyte's aesthetics will inevitably be as significant a factor in their popularity as their sonic capabilities and it will be interesting to see how well a public that loves shiny boxes will take to their matte finish. However the Kyte is a capable speaker that can bring out the emotional intent and musical skills of pretty much everything you play, add in Rega's unique lifetime guarantee and they look like excellent value to us." The Ear
"Initially I missed the apparent extra detail available from other loudspeakers I had on hand. An hour later the almost complete lack of listener fatigue from the Regas convinced me of their 'rightness'.
They don't start bugging you with any unnecessary 'tizz' when using them as background music speakers. Maybe when listening to them with more care, sitting right in front of them there is just a smidge less excitement in the mid and top than my preference. But the bass! It's not so much that there is more than any other loudspeaker of a similar size, but what is there is extended and super tuneful. It lacks any woodiness or other aspect of performance in that region that might be caused by enclosure resonance. Rega have definitely struck gold with the performance of their unusual enclosure design. So balanced is the overall sound quality I struggle to point to or mention any particular example of either their excellence or lack there of. Perhaps to sum up I will employ the much over used term – musical. But they are! The timing in the bottom, the reality in the mid, and the lack of bling added to the sound makes for a very enjoyable fatigue-free listen. They are very competitive at this price level. They will embarrass much more expensive loudspeaker with some of their skills." Hi-Fi And Stereo
Our Take On The Rega Kyte Speakers
Nice rectangular cabinet – check. Wood veneer finish – check. Off the shelf drivers – check. Run of the mill crossover – check. Yes folks, it looks like we have all the ingredients of a typical bookshelf speaker at this price point. Must be made in China too, huh?
Well, actually none of the above is true. Let's try this again with a Rega take on things. Nicely sculpted shape to make the speaker look sleek and modern – check. Custom designed phenolic resin cabinets with unique ceramic plate & cross brace construction to avoid any resonances – check. Custom Rega Mid/Bass and High Frequency drivers for accurate reproduction of all frequencies – check. Crossover components manufactured and wound in-house to complement the drivers – check. Designed & Manufactured in the UK by proud British people – check.
So, we have something of a rarity amongst loudspeakers, from the cabinet to the drivers to the crossover to where it's designed & manufactured. And the result is extremely pleasing on the eye and the ear. As Tone Publications said in their review: "Chequered Flag. This is not very scientific at all, but the Rega Kytes are one of the most enjoyable small speakers I've had the pleasure of listening to in a long time. Many small, inexpensive speakers sacrifice overall sound quality for a single aspect of reproduction. The Kyte is such an overall high achiever, with a level of balance usually reserved for much more expensive speakers. Even after hours of constant listening, this is a speaker you will never tire of." We couldn't agree more. Maybe you should check them out for yourself?
Main Features & Specifications
- Custom designed phenolic resin cabinets
- Unique ceramic plate & cross brace construction
- Handmade MX-125 mid/bass driver
- Rega designed ZRR high frequency tweeter
- Bass reflex design, rear ported
- UK designed & manufactured
- Stand mount adaptor available (sold separately)
- Lifetime Warranty against manufacture defects
- Design: 2 Way, 2 Driver Bookshelf/Stand Mount Speaker
- Enclosure Design: Bass Reflex, Rear Ported
- Cabinet Construction: Thermoset Phenolic Resin
- Screw On Rear Foot: Supplied with each speaker
- Impedance: Nominal 6 Ω
- Sensitivity: 89 dB
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 – 80 Watts
- High Frequency Driver (Tweeter): Rega ZRR
- Mid/Bass Driver (Doped Cone): Rega MX-125
- Finish: Satin Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 188 x 325 x 232mm
- Weight: 3.73kg each
- Manufacturer's Warranty: Lifetime Warranty against Manufacture Defects. This warranty does not cover wear and tear.
- Learn more about Rega
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE