Which new cartridge?
- Thread starter Alain Picard
- Start date
I've read that on some Rega models the lid won't close if you have spacers.
Just another attempt to make your listening pleasure a PITA !!
Why didn't you buy a Technics or one of those crappy AT turntables made by Hanpin? Not like Rega turntables cost chump change you know, oh, maybe you know better than the people who designed the thing. Yeah!
My ears sure know better than the folks who slap together their crap sounding cartridges... You are too invested in Rega to realize they can and do make some junk just like everybody else... run along now I'm done you your trolling (and blocking you so I don't have to waste anymore of my time on your drivel)
I recall reading about that lid issue before, too. I searched a bit and found some information about the discontinued Rega adjustable spacer, which included settings for 2mm, 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm. The RB301 mentioned was the stock tone arm for the Rega P3-24, "it is recommended to remove the lid when using the 4mm and above setting as the balance weight may contact the lid. A smaller diameter tungsten weight is available from your Rega dealer for use with the RB301 to solve this issue."
Of course, as I pointed out before, Rega discourages even their current 2mm spacer unless the rear of your cartridge is hitting the record surface as it plays. I never had that issue with any of the cartridges I used on my RP3, including ones taller than your 17.2mm AT.
I bought a Rega RP3 because it sounded better to me than any other turntable anywhere near its price range. It lacked conveniences like a removable headshell for quicker, easier cartridge changes, push button speed changes, and easily adjustable azimuth and VTA. But, of course, I knew all those things before I bought it, and my pleasure was in the sound quality it offered at its price point. We all need to choose the compromises we can live with.
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I bought a new Planar 3 in 2021 with Ania MC cart. Sold it a month later.
Yes, it was compromised compared to my Heybrook TT2 with at that time OC-9ML
I like Rega tone arms (RB300 and above)- very rigid/sturdy plus they balance easily and track well, they just need a good cartridge, which is not their own. The rest of the table is "Meh", but with a decent cartridge they do sound great.
I recall some of your posts about that purchase and comparison. Seems to me you had some pretty complimentary things to say about the Rega setup once the Ania had some break-in time on it:
"Rega Planar 3/Rega Ania: The Ania is more laid back than the OC-9ML with a sweeter upper mid-range, excellent on choral music, classical orchestras where it presents a more coherent sound stage and doesn't try to dissect all the individual instruments and/or vocals as the OC-9ML tries to do. It's simply more musical and pleasing with this type material. Better air around females vocals in general but considerably more with Norah Jones and Alison Krauss. Cymbals sheen is also more convincing than the OC-9ML whether it be rock or jazz (not more detailed but more realistic aurally)."
You liked the Heybrook/AT-OC9ML better, especially after giving it a tune-up it hadn't had for a few years, but from your description, the Rega was also providing some very enjoyable music. Of course, when I bought my RP3, Heybrook had been out of business for about 15 years, and I might not be attuned to the same things you are when comparing hifi components. For me, musical involvement is all about basics such as tempo, rhythm, dynamics (including the sometimes subtle dynamic shadings in a run of notes), and being able to easily follow melody and harmony lines. The RP3 did those things better than the competition that was available to me to hear.
Yes, the Planar3/Ania was very pleasing but not as revealing as my current setup (after it was tuned up)
twiiii
Lunatic Member
Now my second answer to this question. If you want a bright super clean hi end then try the MM Ortofon Bronze, Few Friends have had them in the past. O thers have vrious Denon's which I prefer for their smooth sound. The 301's and 110's. Personnally I would try the new Dynavector 10 X 5 with the Shabita stylus. I prefer the more refined 20 series with the fine line or micro ridge profile my self. There is always the 17 series and the XX series if you have money to burn and a great MC pre-amp. I am not in favor of SUT's. I hope you have a rumble free quiet TT because the Dynavectors will reveal irritating noises, if you don't.
I would advice to look only for cartridges with micro ridge stylus. It really does not matter how good is cartridge, if it has elliptical or spherical stylus. Even Ortofon TOTL "Nude Replicant 100" r/R 5/100 r5 is too big. Micro ridge small radius is between 2&3 microns.
The competitors for Rega cartridges are cartridges from other manufacturers, not Hanpin or Technics turntables. If Rega cartridges used on Rega turntables have noticeable shortcomings, and according to quite a lot of people they do (including some build quality issues), it's reasonable for those people to consider other, better, or cheaper alternatives.
There are companies that stake their entire reputation on their cartridges. Rega isn't one of them, nor is there anything inherently special about their carts or turntables in terms of synergy. A Rega tonearm is just a tonearm: in other words, like any tonearm, it can be fitted with a cartridge from a different manufacturer.
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Depends on what you like. I've been completely happy with elliptical styli, such as on the Stanton 681EEE Mk III and Shure M97xE, but ever since both of those were discontinued I've found happiness with conicals. As Art Dudley once opined, "Record lovers who enjoy the extra shimmer, sparkle, detail, and air brought to the listening experience by elliptical or more radical stylus profiles have nothing to be ashamed of: those choices are sonically and musically valid. But I continue to prefer the spherical experience—to me, it emphasizes musical content over air, allowing instruments and voices to sound more substantial, and music to sound, overall, less fussy than with other tip types." At present, I have an ATN-XP3 stylus on an AT-VM95 body, and though it's only been a couple of weeks, I'm absolutely loving it!
If you like distortion and ability to correctly reproduce only first track of LP it is up to you. For each his own
Adamo0926
Active Member
I had the ND5 and upgraded to the ND7....both fabulous sounding cartridges but the ND7 is on another level. Gorgeous sounding cart and an A+ tracker as well.
My suggestion would be to listen to one yourself before trashing it.
Getting another Rega cart is never going to happen for me - I had two of their previous "premium" Exact II cartridges and both were absolute garbage. Their RB330 tonearm is damn nice though, sounds magnificent with a good cart put on it. Perhaps you should try an AT-VM540xML cart so you can see how good a Rega can sound.
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Adamo0926
Active Member
You are probably right about the Exact cartridges, but I can't comment on that since I have never heard them. However I did read in one review the the new ND cartridges make the Exact cartridges sound "crude". So that review would support your statement. All I'm saying is the the ND cartridges are a completely different animal from the Exact cartridges and should not be judged by people that have never heard them.
I would never trash any piece of equipment that I have not heard be it speakers, amps, or whatever. But that's just me. And even if I had heard something and didn't like it someone else might love it. That's because any reviews by anyone are purely subjective. Some people love Klipsch speakers, others can't stand them.
The bottom line is that whatever sounds fabulous to your own ears is all that matters. So if I ever say that a piece of equipment is not good, that means it's not good IN MY OPINION. It means it didn't sound good TO ME. Others may love it for their own reasons and if they love it, that's great for them.
But my point is this, that if you ever are going to give an opinion about a piece of equipment at least give it the courtesy of listening to it first.
The Rega ND7 cartridge is the best cartridge I have heard to date and I absolutely love how it sounds and tracks, IN MY OPINION.
The bottom line is that whatever sounds fabulous to your own ears is all that matters.
Exactly !
Exactly !
Adamo0926
Active Member
I like reading all opinions on here. I don't just pick one out and think that's the Bible truth. All have value in my eyes. I think you state a good case for certain equipment and it seems to me you have plenty of knowledge and experience listening to cartridges. But I think you should be a little more shall we say, benevolent, when you give your opinion....lol. I think making blanket statements about a manufacturer based on one of their products that you didn't like is not the way to go.
It would be like trashing a great restaurant just because you ordered one entree that you didn't find appetizing.
I'm also a fan of the Ortofon 2M cartridges (except the 2M Red, but that's a bargain cart anyway). I had a 2M Blue on my Thorens TD-145 and liked it lot. I still have my friends Thorens TD-147 with a 2M Blue on it as well. The ND cartridge that compares with the 2M Blue when it comes to the stylus type is the ND5. So I have heard both and feel I can comment on how they sound.
Bottom line, to me, the ND5 is a better sounding cartridge. From what I have heard, Ortofon cartridges have a bit more sizzle in the high frequencies. Which I actually like on some recordings but it can border on becoming a bit harsh on other recordings. The ND5 is way smoother but doesn't lack in detail and clarity. And the low end is much better on the ND5 than the 2M Blue. Both track equally well.
The ND7, which has the nude fine line stylus, does everything the ND5 does but does it better. Thus the ND7 far outshines the 2M Blue, as it should. The comparable Ortofon to the ND7 would be the 2M Bronze, which I have yet to hear. So I can't make a comparison between the ND7 and the 2M Bronze. But I can probably assume the 2M Bronze has a little more sizzle in the upper frequencies as well since that seems to be an Ortofon 2M series characteristic. If I were to purchase my friend's TD-147, I would immediately have a 2M Bronze put on it because I now realize the enormous benefits of having a fine line stylus as opposed to an elliptical. Especially when it comes to tracking.
I am sure that there are many wonderful cartridges out there in every price range that I have never heard, as it obvious would be impossible to hear them all. Which is why I come to forums like this so I can read the experiences that people have had with equipment I have yet to hear.
I have an Ortofon Concorde Music Bronze cart (nude fine line stylus with 2.0 gram VTF) that I now use on my old Marantz 6200. It has a lot more power (6mV output) than my AT carts (3mV output) and it picked up more surface noise on my SL-1200GR2, so I had to have the records as spotless as possible before playing. With its long body it fits the short arm on the Marantz 6200 (99mm spindle to pivot distance) better than any other cart I've tried: Sure and AT carts all ending up being overly angled in the headshell so much trying to align them that I had either inner or outer groove distortion. With the Concorde it plays wonderfully.
