Poll: Do you use a Rega or a 3rd party cartridge on your Rega turntable?

I have used both Rega and others on my Rega decks. I presently use a Rega Exact 2 on my RP6 and love it. I prefer it to the Dynavector 10x5 on a Rega table.

 

Rega planar 3 + rb300 + goldring 1042

 

Planar 3 + RB300 + AT33EV
In the 15 year life of the TT, it has had an Ortofon OM10, then a 40 mk2 stylus (twice I think), Denon DL110, 2M Bronze (didn't like). Have had the AT for about 6 months now & really like it.
Never had a Rega cart.

 

Nick - curious why you didn't like the 2M Bronze?

 

Can you elaborate on what you prefer most on the Exact 2 compared to the 10x5?

 

Rega P25 with a Shure V15VxMR, Jico sas

 

I have used a 10x5 on a Rega P3-24, Rega P5, Clearaudio Concept and Well Tempered Simplex. To my ears the 10x5 sounds like having a loudness contour on all of the time. It's like the garish look of someone who wears too much makeup or the smell of someone who wears to much cologne. It sounds like the tone color is oversaturated. I replaced the 10x5 with an Ortofon 2M Blue on my Well Tempered and much prefered the presentation even though it was not quite smooth enough for me. The 2M Bronze has now replaced the Blue and it is like a breath of fresh air compared to the 10x5. Clean and clear with just right amount of tone and detail.

On my RP6 the Exact is more subtle about the detail it brings to the table than the 10x5 or the Ortofon. The Exact has a wonderful midrange which is best tested with the human voice where to me it's better than either the 10x5 or the Bronze. The bass is a bit heavy handed but I always enjoy a full bottom, especially when it has as much subtle detail as the Exact has. The detail is heard as much as felt...visceral. The RP6 and Exact seem like they are made for each other...oh yeah they are.

 

Two Rega turntables, both with Rega cartridges. Happy vinyl listening.

 

Two Rega turntables, both with Rega cartridges. Doesn't get simpler than that.

 

Yeah 95 bucks and you can raise the height of the arm up to 3.5mm. if the height of the arm is 25mm, then raising it off the base 3.5mm is akin to raising the profile 14%. in engineering terms, the arm just became 14% less stable in its ability to maintain its position and 14% more susceptible to the acoustic effects of noise and vibration.

 

Yeah 95 bucks and you can raise the height of the arm up to 3.5mm. if the height of the arm is 25mm, then raising it off the base 3.5mm is akin to raising the profile 14%. in engineering terms, the arm just became 14% less stable in its ability to maintain its position and 14% more susceptible to the acoustic effects of noise and vibration.

 

Rega RP6 + Exact 2 + GT Subplatter + White Belt =

 

Thanks for the reply. It is a very clear and understandable description. Getting the right cartridge is the hardest thing. Most of the time, you have to buy them sound unheard and the mistakes are expensive...

 

RP3 with AT 150MLX. The Elys 2 the table came with distorted terribly much of the time. Had I known (sounded good at the dealer) I would have saved 200 bucks and bought the RP3 sans cart. The Elys reproduced bass well, though.

 

if you've got the GT subplatter by all means try the a23 Standard or Hommage mat...

 

I forgot that I added a Herbie's Way Excellent mat.

 

Yeah, but in non-engineering terms the arm became more susceptible to pointless commentary.

John K.

 

I found it very resolving, but just didn't find it relaxing to listen to. In my system it was too bright - maybe needed some additional loading. I went to the AT after this (my first LOMC) and it just sounded right straight away.

 

Yep! I got some loading resistors in parallel with the inputs on my Rega Fono pre-amp. It tamed it down.

 

RP1 with a Nagaoka MP110 cart. Came with an Ortofon Om5e.

 

Rega Planar 2 with a vintage Audio Technica AT 115e cart. I got the cart around 10 years ago when I bought an old - but rather good - Yamaha late '70s TT. I loved the sound (barely any IGD) and it sounds just as good on the Rega. As long as I can get the original AT stylus - just bought a NOS one - I'll continue to use the AT cart.

 

On my P25, I have used a Zu Denon 103, a Dynavector 17D3, and currently a Dynavector 10x5.

 

Dynavector 10x5 now with a Soundsmith retip on my P3-2000. Had the original before that for many years.

 

Used previously Ortofon (came in deck when it was sold to me) then replaced with Grado Black which I switched to my replacement RP2, I now have a brand new RP3 and have Rega Elys 2 on it.

 

RP3, M97xe/Jico SAS, Denon DL-110