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Rega Exact2

Bobbyjack

Bobbyjack

Member
I have an opportunity to pick up a new Rega Exact 2 for about half price. Just wondering what I might expect out of my current setup with this cart. I'm running a Thorens TD-160 Super with a Grace 707 tonearm. The rest of my system consists of a Marantz 2325 and Nestorovic 5AS Speakers. The TT came with a Sumiko Pearl when I bought it a couple of months ago and I have been looking to upgrade. Thoughts? I'm sure there a several carts I could go to, just wondering if this sounds like a good combo, or any reason I should stay away....

Thanks
Creg
 
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Bobbyjack said:
I have an opportunity to pick up a new Rega Exact 2 for about half price. Just wondering what I might expect out of my current setup with this cart. I'm running a Thorens TD-160 Super with a Grace 707 tonearm. The rest of my system consists of a Marantz 2325 and Nestorovic 5AS Speakers. The TT came with a Sumiko Pearl when I bought it a couple of months ago and I have been looking to upgrade. Thoughts? I'm sure there a several carts I could go to, just wondering if this sounds like a good combo, or any reason I should stay away....

Thanks
Creg
Click to expand...

Grace 707

"ultra light weight semi-integrated pick-up arm."

The type of cartridges best suited to this tone arm are the "high compliance" ones. :)

Some examples:

Shure V15 xx

Ortofon OM 30 or 40

AKG P25MD/35

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/grace/g-707.shtml
 
Without a lot of experience with the Sumiko, I have had an Exact some years back. IMHO, you're proposing a step sideways. This isn't a problem, necessarily, if you're out to experience and experiment.

If, however, you're looking to step forward, I'd suggest considering an upgraded phono preamp rather than the one in the Marantz. Run it into the AUX input on the receiver. The other thing to do is spend some time ensuring the angular alignments of the existing cart is optimized - no cost there except time!

If you're out for an improvement in carts, however, I've been _very_ impressed with the Ortofon Bronze. I did have to dink (a technical term!) with the VTA on the Mitsubishi LT-20 get dial it in, however.

Cheers,

David
 
Thanks for the responses. David, did you have an exact 2? Most of the questions I've seen come up for this cart seem to be asking if they should go with the Exact 2 or a 2M Black but these are mostly Rega guys with Rega arms on Rega TT's..... it's the reason I was considering it in the first place. The other question was what Balifly brought up which was the compliance of all of these carts (Exact and 2M), these seem to be somewhere between medium and high compliance and I was wondering how they would perform with the 707 MK3 tonearm. The other reason I was thinking of the Exact was that the Sumiko is in the same compliance range and seems to work OK. The main reason I was looking to change was to put a new stylus on my vinyl (not knowing the condition of the Sumiko) and upgrade at the same time. I know that dollars do not a cartridge make but the Sumiko is a $100.00 cart and the Rega lists for $600, that combined with the 2M Black comparison leaves me wondering about it being a sideways step.

Thanks again,
Creg
 
Another thing to consider is that the stylus on the Exact is NOT user replaceable; the stylus on the Black is.
 
Rega designed the Exact2 for their own tonearms, which have effective mass in the range of about 11 grams. It is also designed for their alignment with the 3-bolt installation and the fixed tonearm height. I'd pass on a deal for one unless it's for a Rega turntable and tonearm. Just my opinion, though. Also, Rega's UK prices have always been lower than US prices. Deals on a Rega cartridge relative to the US list price can always be had from foreign sources.
 
Thanks to all who answered, as much as I wanted to get it I decided to pass on the Rega. I guess I'll keep looking for a better match for my system, probably going to end up with a vintage cart and a new stylus at some point. This forum is a great resource for newbie's like me. :)
 
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