Moving Moving Magnets
Rega's new cartridge line boasts increased flux capacity
"Imagine ripping the diamond off a $6,000 cartridge and putting it on a moving magnet."
Bryce, our Rega rep, was standing with some Upscale customers in front of an all-Rega rig that was, at that moment, channeling Muddy Waters in an eerie, reincarnatory way. Bryce was pointing to the Rega Aphelion 2 cartridge and explaining, in his droll manner, how Rega had managed to incorporate the Aphelion's fine line nude diamond tip in the $795 Nd7 that he described as "the best moving magnet cartridge Rega has ever made."
The Nd7 (pictured above) is the top of a new range of moving magnets that replaces the familiar cheery blue of Elys and yellow of Exact (the first "real" cartridges for so many of us) with these very grown-up looking MM carts that use, perhaps for the first time ever, neodymium magnets.
Bryce describes the sound as "more articulate" than the previous MM models, with the Nd7 nipping at the heels of Rega's entry-level moving coil, the Ania. In addition, the Nd range intentionally doesn't offer replaceable styli, for the same reason that Rega's beloved tonearms don't have too many adjustments.
The new Nd3 replaces the familiar blue Elys 2 as Rega's entry-level moving magnet cartridge.
As soon as you have adjustability or replacability, says Bryce, "you have a fracture in the signal chain." Rega prefers to create a tightly bonded mechanical transfer system and offer excellent replacement support. "Even if you accidentally rip out a stylus," said Bryce to a customer at the event, "that body is worth something—you can send it in and get a discount on the replacement. Talk to these lovely people here." Meaning, of course, us, your ever-supportive dealer.
The rig behind Bryce was an expression of some of the very best that Rega has to offer. A Rega Naia turntable with Aphelion 2 cartridge, Rega Aura phonostage and Aethos integrated amp through Focal Scala Utopia EVO speakers. The Analogue Productions pressing of Folk Singer by Muddy Waters was transduced, as mentioned earlier, to an almost hallucinatory reality of slack steel strings and the sense that if you peered around the clustered people, you'd see McKinley Morganfield himself seated at the front of the room.
Read on to see why you should be at our next in-store event.
 |
 |
 |
|
Rega ND3 $345 |
Rega ND5 $675 |
Rega ND7 $795 |
So Many Reasons to Be at Our Events
On September 5, we hosted a small, enthusiastic group of customers at Revolution 9, our in-store analog event. At one point, when Garth Leerer, representing Clearaudio, Hana, and DS Audio, asked people in the listening room to raise their hands if they had a turntable, everyone did. "That's the point that I say, 'My work here is done', and walk out," joked Garth later, but of course what that meant was that we had people who were excited to come out and see what's possible. But our events aren't just for enthusiasts already down the audio path. We are most excited to meet complete beginners who know they want good music and have no idea where to begin. In this way, Upscale Audio is the antithesis of the stereotypical snobby hi-fi store. You'll find that industry reps share this excitement.
Ken Bowers demos our Clearaudio, Hana, Manley, Pathos, and Fyne system in Demo Room 2.
A splendid time was had by all at Revolution 9, our analog in-store event.