I was reading about the Rega Mira since I'll be auditioning it on Wednesday. I'm going to ask to listen to the R7 speakers as well as the R5. The R7 can be bi-amped. So can the R5, but Rega says there is no advantage to it on the R5. Apparently it is advantageous for the R7. Bi-amping sounds like connecting two amplifiers to a set of speakers, which is something I've never heard of doing before, so I'm trying to get an idea how that's done. I think the rest of my questions relate.

I came across this paragraph in the description of the Mira integrated amp that I would hope someone can help translate for me.

"The Rega Mira 3 is a 60 Watt integrated amplifier with full flexibility within the range. It has a Pre-amplifier output and Power amplifier input. The gain of the power amplifier is 28dB for full output, and thus enables the amplifier to be expanded to drive Bi-amplifier or active speaker systems (Sub Bass etc). It can also drive multiple speakers if required or be part of a high performance AV system."

My questions:

How is a pre-amplifier output used? What about the power-amplifier input?

There is a comment in the description of the Maia 3 amplifier that says it is a bi-amp upgrade for the Mira integrated amplifier. What does this mean, and how does that relate to the pre-amplifier output or power-amplifier input on the Mira?

I hope you'll pardon my ignorance about audio equipment. I'm trying to learn about it. If it is more convenient to just point me to another resource that covers these kinds of basic questions, that would be fine too.

I listened to the Rega P3 with Elys MkII cartridge and the P5/Exact combo. They were connected to a Rega Mira integrated amp and Rega R5 speakers. The P5 clearly sounded better with cleaner sounding bass, especially. However, the high frequencies seemed somewhat muffled with both turntables, and I figured I need to listen to them on another setup.

I then listened to both turntables on a Linn amp and some other speakers... er, I don't recall what they were now. (Edit: I remember now. They were Linn Ninka.) Well, I was auditioning the turntables, not the speakers, but these other speakers let me hear the differences in the two turntable/cartridge combos better. Those differences may well be masked beyond recognition on my amp and speakers, but it was a useful exercise anyway to help me decide which turntable would fit in better with my ultimate intentions.

I bought the Rega P5 with Exact cartridge. They didn't have a new cartridge in stock so they'll have to get one for me. It should only take a couple of days. I'll pick up my TT on Friday.

I've spun through a couple dozen of my favorite albums that I haven't heard in so long; a variety of albums from Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, Maynard Ferguson, Randy Crawford, David Sanborn, John Klemmer, Gil Scott-Heron, Michael Franks, Al Jarreau, Jethro Tull including my brand new 200 gram Aqualung. I'll be sampling more of my old rock albums next, and I'm heading out to Half-Priced Books today to flip through their huge selection of used vinyl.

I'm really happy with my P5. I am in heaven, at least until the urge to upgrade my speakers and amp to something better hits me.