Cart match for a rega RP6

[madspec]

Hi all !

Well, don't know what I did but the cantilever on my Exact 2 is bent...Tried to realign everything but it's a no go, sounds like dog poo.

So I guess I have to buy myself a new cart, I really like the Exact II but at that price range, I'll try something else.

Now, I know that matching the cart with the tone arm is a pretty good idea, I have a Rega RP6 with the RB300 arm. I tried to calculate with some outta space formulas but I just keep screwing everything up so I need some advice.

I have in mind 3 choices, first one is a Nag MP500, then the Ortofon Black and the Hana ML. My phono stage is a Project Tube Box SE II that can handle both MC and MM carts. There is no way for me to listen to the combos so I have to go out on a limb here and make a choice, and on that price range, I don't want to make a bad one.

What would you go for, I need options and input on what you guys would do, I'm no expert.

Thanks !

 

[Crab33]

Although you've no way of listening to your candidate cartridges, in order to get decent advice you should indicate what type of sound you're seeking, especially when you're spending that kind of money.

The RB300 arm has an effective mass of 11.5g, so is borderline medium/low-mass. You'll probably be OK with any of your candidates, as they are all medium-compliance or a step into high-compliance. Try using the Vinyl Engine resonance calculator (https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php?eff_mass=11.5&submit=Submit). Note that the dynamic compliances of Japanese cartridges are measured at 100Hz and need to be converted to a measurement at 10 Hz to use this calculator - the rule-of-thumb is to multiply the dynamic compliance by 1.75.

I have quite a few cartridges but nothing in that price domain, the nearest being the Goldring 2400 (made by Nagaoka) which is nicely balanced and refined with a slightly mellow tone. The up-market Nagaoka cartridges have a lot of fans. You should be careful about the Ortofon as there is a note on the Ortofon website about the 2M cartridges being too tall for Rega turntables and needing spacers to raise the arm-height - they don't mention it for the Black but they do for the Bronze (https://www.ortofon.com/ortofon-2m-bronze-p-325-n-1579), which is the same size and shape.

Have you looked at youtube reviews of cartridge reviews? This guy's videos are good, although he only goes as far as the 2M Bronze, MP-200 and Hana EL.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNKJ_uFheEftryRCvbmfNg

 

[bang4buck]

Depending on how many hours you have on that stylus, you may want to look into having it repaired. I'm happily listening to an Exact that I picked up cheap because the cantilever was snapped. Fixed it myself with a little piece of cactus thorn and super glue.

Former forum member Needlestein comes to mind for a job like this. Easily contacted on other forums where he's still posting.

 

[johnjhazel]

Although you've no way of listening to your candidate cartridges, in order to get decent advice you should indicate what type of sound you're seeking, especially when you're spending that kind of money.

The RB300 arm has an effective mass of 11.5g, so is borderline medium/low-mass. You'll probably be OK with any of your candidates, as they are all medium-compliance or a step into high-compliance. Try using the Vinyl Engine resonance calculator (https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php?eff_mass=11.5&submit=Submit). Note that the dynamic compliances of Japanese cartridges are measured at 100Hz and need to be converted to a measurement at 10 Hz to use this calculator - the rule-of-thumb is to multiply the dynamic compliance by 1.75.

I have quite a few cartridges but nothing in that price domain, the nearest being the Goldring 2400 (made by Nagaoka) which is nicely balanced and refined with a slightly mellow tone. The up-market Nagaoka cartridges have a lot of fans. You should be careful about the Ortofon as there is a note on the Ortofon website about the 2M cartridges being too tall for Rega turntables and needing spacers to raise the arm-height - they don't mention it for the Black but they do for the Bronze (https://www.ortofon.com/ortofon-2m-bronze-p-325-n-1579), which is the same size and shape.

Have you looked at youtube reviews of cartridge reviews? This guy's videos are good, although he only goes as far as the 2M Bronze, MP-200 and Hana EL.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNKJ_uFheEftryRCvbmfNg

The guy with the videos, Ian ?....he seems to like Nagaoka cartridges better than just about everything else. Is he biased or is he correct ?

 

[DavidTT]

I've watched quite a few of his videos (HiVyNyws on youtube) and I'm ambivalent about them. Whatever Nagaoka MP series cartridges do in his equipment, and for his ears, seems to be can't-miss, because he praises (hyperbolically) every MP-series cart he tries.

He also goes so far over the top in his love for the Schiit Mani that I become skeptical, truth be told. I don't think there is a phono pre that he has reviewed that he doesn't compare negatively to the Mani. I've read many Mani reviews and none have been as over the top as his. If the Mani were a woman, he'd marry it.

However, it's hard to fault a guy who takes the time to buy all of that gear and to post detailed videos about consumer-level equipment. I appreciate the fact that, unlike goofball Fremer and the cork-sniffing Stereophile crowd, he doesn't waste the viewer's time with 'tests' of $15,000 cartridges and the like. He does a nice job with equipment that the average hobbyist might be interested in, but is no sort of expert in my mind, but rather an affluent and helpful fellow hobbyist who works hard to make those videos. I've arrived at enjoying his videos but using them as just one data point in considering my own buys.

The guy with the videos, Ian ?....he seems to like Nagaoka cartridges better than just about everything else. Is he biased or is he correct ?

 

[johnjhazel]

I've watched quite a few of his videos (HiVyNyws on youtube) and I'm ambivalent about them. Whatever Nagaoka MP series cartridges do in his equipment, and for his ears, seems to be can't-miss, because he praises (hyperbolically) every MP-series cart he tries.

He also goes so far over the top in his love for the Schiit Mani that I become skeptical, truth be told. I don't think there is a phono pre that he has reviewed that he doesn't compare negatively to the Mani. I've read many Mani reviews and none have been as over the top as his. If the Mani were a woman, he'd marry it.

However, it's hard to fault a guy who takes the time to buy all of that gear and to post detailed videos about consumer-level equipment. I appreciate the fact that, unlike goofball Fremer and the cork-sniffing Stereophile crowd, he doesn't waste the viewer's time with 'tests' of $15,000 cartridges and the like. He does a nice job with equipment that the average hobbyist might be interested in, but is no sort of expert in my mind, but rather an affluent and helpful fellow hobbyist who works hard to make those videos. I've arrived at enjoying his videos but using them as just one data point in considering my own buys.

I agree with all of your post. There must be some members here that can compare the same cartridges as Ian and give us their findings. Does an inexpensive Nagaoka really beat out an expensive Ortofon or Hana moving coil ? Is his Schiitt Mani MC stage not up to the task ? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL.

 

[stratokaster]

The biggest issue you're likely to encounter is tonearm height. If the cartridge is lower than the Rega cartridge you can use a spacer, but if it's significantly higher, it may not even clear the platter.

 

[johnjhazel]

Ortofon Quintets are very tall. PIA to mount on a Rega TT with a hinged dustcover. Rega carts are 14mm tall. Check the height of any cartridge being considered.
Adding a 2mm spacer to the base of a Rega tonearm on a Rega TT with hinged dustcover should be no problem.

 

[sqlsavior]

Yes, be prepared to use spacers under the tonearm for Shibata, Micro-Ridge, or any other fine-line styli on a cartridge that is taller than the Rega cartridge. I think fine-line styli are a distinct improvement when the VTA is right, so get used to the idea, and order the spacers with the cartridge, would be my recommendation.