I'm am so very glad to report, dear readers, that Rega have an absolute winner on their hands with their Planet 2000 CD player. It was back in 1997, the dawn of the audio webzine, and of @udiophilia.com, that I gave a negative review, very negative in fact, of the original Planet CD player. The words in that review were not penned lightly and gave me no pleasure relating to our readers. As I wrote then, I am an admirer of Rega's founding father, Roy Gandy and his innovative products, an opinion that has remained unchanged. He has been, and possibly always will be, an analog man. It was this preference, I fear, that led the design team astray with the initial Planet - they attempted to replicate the essence of analog in a digital platform, and betrayed both formats. Yet, reviewers were falling over themselves in adoration, while we at Streetsville central received many irate and insulting emails over our dissenting opinion. They did nothing to change my mind nor has the passage of time.

With the Planet 2000, the fellows at Rega continue the visuals so brilliantly conceived for the original Planet. Retained is the top-loading mechanism (reminiscent of a loading dock from some forward-looking science fiction comic) replete with spinner and self-weighted closing. Still fabulous. This time, however, the loader crowns a fairly standard rectangular case. Resting on four of Rega's typical 'squishy' feet, the lightweight box sports an attractive fascia, with an easy-to-read, large LED window, Stop, Play and Skip buttons. The Rega Solar Wand remote looks after all the other functions. It is a joy to behold and could not be easier to use. I have complained in reviews of some very expensive CD players about the poor quality of their remotes - manufacturers could learn a lot from the design and aesthetic beauty of the Rega remote. As such, the Solar Wand will grace your coffee table.

As usual with Rega product 'manuals', Mr. Gandy lets us in on only a few of his secrets. The information offered is Rega standard issue - we are on a 'need-to-know' basis! Improvements to the original Planet are noted: 24 bit Sigma Delta TC40 DACs and a larger power supply with separate supply feeding the digital section, quality Evon brand film and non-polarized electrolytic capacitors in the circuit path, and an improved Sony CD mechanism. The rear of the unit sports Toslink and coax digital outputs with a detachable AC cord. Happily, Rega have just launched their website - as filler, we may get some more information, but do not hold your mouse. Gandy's proof is in the listening, not the reading, and with the new Planet, the Planer series of turntables, his cartridges and slightly less so with his amps and speakers, the proof is completely substantiated. The sounds are representative of quality high-end products at prices that will make your accountant blush. For the most part, you get what you pay for in the high-end. Upon hearing this gem, I was very excited for prospective buyers; a real high-end product at an inexpensive price. I must admit to some trepidation when placing the first CD. Could we have another Rega digital dud? Happily, no! Gone was the listless and rounded sound that betrayed the original Planet, replaced with a richly detailed presentation, allowing all the benefits of fine digital recordings to the fore. What a relief! My original Planet assessment hoped that the brilliant Rega design team would get a second kick at the can.

The Planet arrived during the time I had the wonderful Metronome Technologie CD-1V tube CD player in for an extended audition. At US$3200.00, this piece of French audio couture should sound good. And it did. The Planet 2000, while not quite as sweet or dignified as the CD-1V, did conjure similar magic and even approached the great Cary CD303 in quality, only bowing down in sophistication of tonal presentation and bass extension.

Penderecki's Symphony No. 3 (Naxos 8.554491) is as dynamic as orchestral music gets; the Planet 2000 went out of its way to give me the full experience - pounding percussion, spiky woodwind and blazing brass. All this in a realistic soundstage with excellent imaging and very little smear. Cymbals retained much of the shimmer imparted by the Metronome CD-1V and bass instruments were clear and defined. Powerful dynamic contrasts (the slight lack of which was my one small quibble with the French player) were full and to the max on the Rega. Bravo!

Many acoustic pop and jazz CDs sounded very refined and detailed. I listened to two especially good recordings, Lori Lieberman's Home of Whispers (Pope Music PM1005-2) and Toots Thielemans' Brasil Project Volume 2 (Private 01005-82110-2). A unifying presence in these recordings is Paulinho Da Costa, one of the finest percussionists on the freelance scene. The Planet 2000 painted his gentle triangle and cymbal strokes with delicate beauty, and the sounds were heard (thanks to two fabulous but different recordings) in a real space accompanying singers and other instrumentalists in a very musical way.

Depth and true-life timbre are but two cues elevating the Rega to special status. It rocks and rolls, too. Pearl Jam's Binaural (Epic 63665), a raucous but musical CD developing grunge to its near-zenith, sounded with exceptional dynamics. The Rega was able to unravel the complex, and very loud, lines offered by Mr. Vetter and company, while the DAC hinted at the almost unmusical presentation of it all. The energy came through loud and clear; the importance of the Jam's exercise, I guess?

It was with classical recordings, however, that the Rega Planet 2000 wowed me the most. As mentioned, depth and timbre, two important tenets of outstanding classical recordings, highlighted the beauty of so many CDs. Unfortunately, artificial timbre of acoustic instruments seems to be the first casualty of cheaper products, lending a synthetic quality to the mid-fi proceedings. The inexpensive Rega really shone in this department. The clarinet of Alessandro Carbonare on a recent sampler from harmonia mundi sounded reedy and gorgeous when playing a fantasia on Verdi's Rigoletto. The clarinet can so often sound like a clavinet if the overtones and reed quality are not captured. The recording and playback did not disappoint. Large scale forces such as the previously mentioned Penderecki and a classic '63 Karajan/BPO/Beethoven 9 (DGG 447 401-2) were heard with everything in their proper place. The bass on these two recordings, while not in the Decca/Montreal Symphony class, does expect the section to be used as foundation. The Rega helped the gentlemen of the Berlin Philharmonic find their rightful place.

As I listened carefully to the tales the Rega told, it spoke strongly of the benefit of fine tube equipment and slightly less so of solid state. Coupled with the outstanding solid state Rowland Concentra integrated and the Audio Research D300, the Rega sang and sang, yet without the totally balanced sweetness imparted to it by the fabulous Audio Research VT100 Mk. II. This wonderful tube amp had the Planet 2000 really singing. Vocals from Christy Baron on I Thought About You (Chesky JD152) were wonderful; the voice is up front sharing the stage with Cliff Korman's super piano playing, and just behind, the sibilant cymbals, drums and resonant bass. Problematic recordings such as the low powered Ives Symphony No. 2 (Naxos 8.559076) and cavernously recorded Une Flute a L'Opera (DGG 445 822-2) were tamed with this powerful combination. To be sure, the Audio Research amplifier has been showered with praise from the audio press for its tonal balance, this superb quality helping the Planet 2000 in significant ways. But even under the less than ideal musical conditions with the Elnika tube amp, these recordings had spring and step - lively stuff, and saying much for the qualities inherent in Mr. Gandy's digital dynamo.

Most reviewers in our business dislike writing negative comments about products and recordings, the results of which are someone's creative toil. Opinion, however, is our business, and we at @udiophilia.com (unlike others in our shared cyberspace) do not shy away from the courage of our convictions. And so, with the greatest conviction (and with a big smile), I heartily encourage all audiophiles to seek out a Rega dealer and hear the Planet 2000. It is most worthy of your serious consideration.

Digital: Cary CD-303 CD player, Metronome Technologie CD-1V 'Signature' Tube CD player
Preamplifier: Audio Research SP9 Mk. II
Power Amplifiers: Rowland Concentra integrated amplifier, Audio Research D300 power amplifier, Audio Research VT100 Mk. II, Elnika Edgar TP 101 tube integrated amplifier
Loudspeakers: Anthony Gallo Acoustics’ Nucleus Solo
Cables: Interconnects: Audioquest Emerald, Kimber PBJ, Wireworld Polaris III, Synergistic Research Loudspeaker: van den Hul M.C. The Sky-Line Hybrid
Accessories: Black Diamond Racing Cones (Nos. 3 and 4), Target wall shelf and stand, Seismic sink, BBC boards.