Which new cartridge?

[Alain Picard]

Hello there,
I do have a new Rega P2 with a Rega Preamp (mm)... Of course de Carbon is not what I'm looking for at all.
I do listen the 70's & 80's... I do like clarity and the bass.
What you recommend?

Best!

 

[BluesWalk]

Hello there,
I do have a new Rega P2 with a Rega Preamp (mm)... Of course de Carbon is not what I'm looking for at all.
I do listen the 70's & 80's... I do like clarity and the bass.
What you recommend?

Best!

Rega just introduced some new MMs, I'm sure you can find one that's perfect for your budget and system.

 

[jrtrent]

Hello there,
I do have a new Rega P2 with a Rega Preamp (mm)... Of course de Carbon is not what I'm looking for at all.
I do listen the 70's & 80's... I do like clarity and the bass.
What you recommend?

The Audio Connection in Seattle had an interesting recommendation for the Rega P1. It used to come stock with an Ortofon OM5E, and they recommended upgrading to a Stylus 20 and replacing the felt mat with a Herbie's Way Excellent II mat. A friend of mine has used that combination on his P1 (which also had platter and belt upgrades) since 2012 with total satisfaction. He later put the same combination on an RP3. Before moving from Washington to Texas in 2021, I was frequently at his home for multi-hour music and pizza eating sessions, and that Ortofon/Herbie's combination did clarity, bass, and dynamics extremely well. On a visit to the northwest last summer, I got to enjoy hearing it again, and it remains an impressive and musically satisfying option for a Rega turntable.

 

[justjed2]

You might consider the Ortofon 2MR series. The same internals as a regular 2M, but made specifically for Rega tonearms.

 

[BluesWalk]

You might consider the Ortofon 2MR series. The same internals as a regular 2M, but made specifically for Rega tonearms.

Awesome suggestion! So many price points and choices. The 2mr Blue might be the sweet spot for your table but you could ask around here or peruse the internet about other opinions regarding the compatibility of the 2mr Bronze if it's within your budget.

Ortofon - 2MR Black MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR Bronze MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR Mono MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR Black LVB 250 MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR Blue MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR Red MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

Ortofon - 2MR 78RPM MM Phono Cartridge

The world's largest online retailer of high-end audio, audiophile music, and accessories. We specialize in vinyl records and turntables.

www.musicdirect.com

 

[Fagedabowdit]

I recently got a Rega ND3 and thought it was awesome. If you have the budget for the ND7, go for it.

 

[melofelo]

AT-95E , old version.
Upgrade with the red hyper elliptical stylus if you need a more exotic profile tip..but the standard green elliptical gives a solid sound all round.

 

[krautmaster]

For fairly cheap money I would go with the Audio Technica VM95ML-- the micro ridge stylus is fantastic. Avoid Rega carts- way overpriced and poor quality. The Exact 2's that came on both my P3 had a list price of $675, but a $150 cart sounds much better. I replaced both Exact 2 carts because they were horrible sounding- one table now has an AT-VM540ML, the other has an AT-VM95ML, both sound significantly better than the Rega carts.

 

[BluesWalk]

Hello there,
I do have a new Rega P2 with a Rega Preamp (mm)... Of course de Carbon is not what I'm looking for at all.
I do listen the 70's & 80's... I do like clarity and the bass.
What you recommend?

Best!

For your edification

Rega Nd3 & Nd5 Moving Magnet Cartridges

When the UK’s largest turntable manufacturer releases three new moving magnet (MM) cartridges, analog geeks like me can’t wait to hear them. I expressed my interest to Steve Daniels of The Sound Organization, Rega’s U.S. distribution arm, who promptly sent me two of the company’s newest MM cart...

email.avtechmediausa.com

 

[krautmaster]

For your edification

Rega Nd3 & Nd5 Moving Magnet Cartridges

When the UK’s largest turntable manufacturer releases three new moving magnet (MM) cartridges, analog geeks like me can’t wait to hear them. I expressed my interest to Steve Daniels of The Sound Organization, Rega’s U.S. distribution arm, who promptly sent me two of the company’s newest MM cart...

email.avtechmediausa.com

So when you read reviews in these "audiophile" sites/magazines you have to weed through all the glowing praise (they want to keep their jobs and keep getting free equipment to test) to find out what they are really trying to tell you, and in the case of the Nd3 & Nd5 it is not good... $675 for a "flinty" sounding nude elliptical stylus? Those cost less than $150... just more of the same overpriced poor sounding stuff from Rega. Here are some cherry picked excerpts from the review:

The stylus profile for the Nd3 is an elliptical, manmade polycrystalline diamond, while the Nd5 uses an elliptical nude diamond... It didn’t offer the last word in transparency, detail, or layering... There wasn’t the deeply layered sound stage nor the micro-level detail of an MC cart... Although the stage occasionally felt somewhat condensed and confused, the sound never lacked punch or impact... An occasional flinty quality also pervaded the treble...

 

[BluesWalk]

So when you read reviews in these "audiophile" sites/magazines you have to weed through all the glowing praise (they want to keep their jobs and keep getting free equipment to test) to find out what they are really trying to tell you, and in the case of the Nd3 & Nd5 it is not good... $675 for a "flinty" sounding nude elliptical stylus? Those cost less than $150... just more of the same overpriced poor sounding stuff from Rega. Here are some cherry picked excerpts from the review:

The stylus profile for the Nd3 is an elliptical, manmade polycrystalline diamond, while the Nd5 uses an elliptical nude diamond... It didn’t offer the last word in transparency, detail, or layering... There wasn’t the deeply layered sound stage nor the micro-level detail of an MC cart... Although the stage occasionally felt somewhat condensed and confused, the sound never lacked punch or impact... An occasional flinty quality also pervaded the treble...

I really think the OP is smart enough not to bet the farm on just what you have to say considering he's been presented with a significant number of options here besides yours which are specifically designed to work specifically with Rega tonearms instead of your "cheap" alternatives which are not. In addition, The Sound Organization has this option available https://soundorg.com/cartridge-exchange/ if the OP decides the quality and convenience of using a Rega cartridge is worthwhile or not. It should also be noted that the replacement cost of the stylus' for the cartridges you recommended are almost equivalent to the price of the brand-new cartridge. I would suggest to the OP to continue his due diligence if he hasn't decided already.

 

[Oerets]

Picking a cartridge out is let us say, one that is very personal in nature. Much like picking someone you don't know there likes, a partner. I might like a Auburn haired Brown eyed beauty and they a Blonde Blue eyed one. So as to any make models will leave that to another.
Will say on any table I own with a cartridge mount that is a fix in place, part of the arm. Requiring arm removal or careful wire removal attachment. Will replace the cart with one that the stylus can be replaced without removing the cart.

 

[twiiii]

Picking aa cartridge is like choosing a set of tires for your car or truck.. Do want tires that last long time, have great traction, turn on a dime or respond instantaneously. Or maybe you want a smooth quiet ride that you can enjoy for hours at a time. Maybe you want tires for rough off roading that will take a lot of abuse while giving great performance on high ways also. I like cartridges that are pleasant , and have extended deep bass. But, yet, have finesse. Imaging and staging are important, but you have to be an expert at aligning your cartridge to achieve all those important results. So that means you might need professional help. That also means you just don't go down to your local cheap tire shop to have your tires installed. You may need to have the geometry changed on the front end to accept these special non OEM tires.

All I can say is read read and read. Listen to a bunch of opinions taking into account what the rest of the guys have for electronics and speakers. Because like speakers which are also electro-mechanical devices, published specs are not always the answer by manufacturers. Especially if there is fine print included that you most certainly need to read and comprehend. Don't follow what your best friend always says because he may not know the good from the mediocre.

Then, too, you don't want to spend to much for a cartridge that the arm and table won't allow to perform at its best. Its all about the chain and where the weak links are in your system. As cartridges have gotten so much better over the years having old tone arms can really hamper the new cartridge capability. Especially on automatic and semi- automatic turn tables that also have a tendency to rumble and flutter a bit to much..

 

[krautmaster]

I really think the OP is smart enough not to bet the farm on just what you have to say considering he's been presented with a significant number of options here besides yours which are specifically designed to work specifically with Rega tonearms instead of your "cheap" alternatives which are not. In addition, The Sound Organization has this option available https://soundorg.com/cartridge-exchange/ if the OP decides the quality and convenience of using a Rega cartridge is worthwhile or not. It should also be noted that the replacement cost of the stylus' for the cartridges you recommended are almost equivalent to the price of the brand-new cartridge. I would suggest to the OP to continue his due diligence if he hasn't decided already.

here is the solution that I use with my Rega Arm: RigB R3 aluminum housing with Rega 3 point mount with an AT-VM540ML installed. Sounds magnificent and total together is still $250 less than a crappy Rega cartridge.

 

[BluesWalk]

here is the solution that I use with my Rega Arm: RigB R3 aluminum housing with Rega 3 point mount with an AT-VM540ML installed. Sounds magnificent and total together is still $250 less than a crappy Rega cartridge.
View attachment 3397421View attachment 3397422

Why go to all that extra effort and expense when their tonearms are already designed to work with a particular style of cartridge and the performance parameters have already been maximized? Makes no sense!

 

[jrtrent]

Picking a cartridge out is let us say, one that is very personal in nature. Much like picking someone you don't know there likes, a partner. I might like a Auburn haired Brown eyed beauty and they a Blonde Blue eyed one. So as to any make models will leave that to another.

I'm not exactly sure what kind of relationship is implied by the term partner, but I'm thinking that it involves a lot more commitment than is needed when buying a phonograph cartridge. I think it's fun to just pick any cartridge that sounds interesting, give it a try, then, when the stylus is worn out, try something else if you want to.

Will say on any table I own with a cartridge mount that is a fix in place, part of the arm. Requiring arm removal or careful wire removal attachment. Will replace the cart with one that the stylus can be replaced without removing the cart.

With my LP12/Ittok, the arm removal and reinstallation process for changing cartridges was very nearly as convenient as using a removable headshell; I found swapping cartridges on my Well Tempered a much more fiddly process. Changing cartridges on a Rega isn't too bad, but I was still very happy that it was a Shure M97xE and its easily replaceable styli that turned out to be my match made in heaven for the RP3.

When Shure quit making styli, I switched to an AT91R (which looks very similar to the Rega Carbon) that a friend had given me, and I found it very satisfying, too. I know the OP wants more clarity and bass than he's getting from the Carbon, but I have a feeling I'd be very happy with what that cartridge provides.

 

[hellhound94]

I purchased an Audio Technica AT-VM95ML cartridge about a year ago. This has to be one of my all-time favorites and I highly recommend it.

 

[UncleAng]

Why go to all that extra effort and expense when their tonearms are already designed to work with a particular style of cartridge and the performance parameters have already been maximized? Makes no sense!

Because Regas have a pre-fixed non adjustable tonearm height of 14.1 mm; and guess what? That's the height of Rega carts, just about any other brand is taller.
My AT cart is 17.2 mm.
Bottom line, they're forcing you to buy their overpriced carts

 

[jrtrent]

Because Regas have a pre-fixed non adjustable tonearm height of 14.1 mm; and guess what? That's the height of Rega carts, just about any other brand is taller.
My AT cart is 17.2 mm.
Bottom line, they're forcing you to buy their overpriced carts

Hardly forcing. They do make arm adjustment available through spacers, but even there they're far from aggressive about it, saying, "The arm should be reasonably parallel to the record surface or slightly lower at the mounting. The only time a spacer is necessary to raise the arm height is if the rear of a cartridge is hitting the record whilst playing."

On my RP3, I used cartridges with heights of 15.6mm, 17mm, and 18.2mm. None of them had the rear of the cartridge hitting the record, so I never used spacers, and all of them sounded great.

 

[krautmaster]

Why go to all that extra effort and expense when their tonearms are already designed to work with a particular style of cartridge and the performance parameters have already been maximized? Makes no sense!

because Rega Cartridges just plain SUCK