Rega carts

[ledzep]

Carbon, Bias-2, Elys-2, is there much difference between them is the price jump justifiable? Really be gonna be occasional use but still it to sound good

[DSJR]

I think hifi dave and I have lectured you enough on this, but here's my independant take on them anyway which is NOTHING to do with Dave's own opinion..

Carbon - same as/similar to the AT91 with plastic cantilever and conical tip. Mid bass to mid-midrange is sublime by any standards at 1.75g or so tracking weight and there's clean midrange and treble too with good-enough tracking. I'm about to receive a Dual 251E stylus (Jico sourced I think), which is a custom elliptical replacement with aluminium cantilever. I bought this one via William Thakker on fleabay because of the flip-down stylus guard, but cheaper versions can be got for £15 or so... More 'communicative' to me than the 'better' AT95E which everyone knows, but that's me for you!

Bias 2 - Low surface noise but used to sound thick and stodgy to me - an utterly safe cartridge to sell easily with a Rega deck. Super Bias is a tightened-up version but neither are what I'd call truthful. Great with Rega speakers and old Royd screamers All hand aligned as I remember and lovely quality diamonds.

Elys 2 - A bit clearer, carefully aligned elliptical tip and better aligned internally (I think the internals are actually slightly different as well to the Bias models), the third bolt is a good visual thing and helps alignment in a Rega deck, but I don't think it makes any difference sonically here to be honest. The latest ones have been tweaked for tauter performance, but my £150 cartridge interests are elsewhere in all honesty and my own old Elys reminds me of how much I disliked them at the time...

Exact - NOW you're talking. Still a little soft and warm balanced, but very much clearer and highly entertaining indeed in the right system There were a few issues a year or so ago, but bearing in mind the thirty year life of the model and general consistency over this time, this was a hiccup and Rega offer some of the best customer care in the business and usually take the customer's side if there's an issue.

Contrast the 'safe' balance of the Rega fixed-coil pickups with the truly wild sound of the Apheta (more Decca-like than Deccas ) and I find it hard to understand why Rega haven't re-designed their cartridges in recednt times, or at least changed the soft plastic body compound they're made with. The bass of the Carbon is in a different league to my ears and the AT body isn't so different inside to the old Linn K9 I reckon

[Graeme]

Why do you call the apheta's sound 'truly wild'?

[oldius]

I demo'd the Apheta once. It was possibly the worst cartridge I had heard in any price range.

I cannot believe that a company as able as Rega would produce something as awful as my experience with the cartridge was. I can only assume that the issue was down to system matching but, Dave's description of "wild" matches my own take on it.

[Graeme]

Thats surprising. What didnt you like about it?
I love mine, sounds amazing.
Fussy about loading though, and delicate!

[Andrew B]

I must say I like all the Regas, although I've never owned an Apheta. Wouldnt mind trying one though
Elys is a particular favourite MM of mine. I'm more of an MC fan,currently using a DL103r, but if I had to use an MM an Elys would be near the top of my list along with a P77. I must confess to being an "old school" Rega fan though. I've never heard a Rega product I've disliked, so my opinion should be seen in that context.

One last thing: I have heard a positive difference with using the third screw, but Rega carts don't like to be over tightened IMO. Maybe it depends on what tension you use. I know Rega were fussy about exact torque on these, but it's nice to experiment yourself and see what you prefer. I'm lazier nowadays though, but I used to spend ages experimenting. Must be the onset of old age

[hifi_dave]

Traditionally, Rega supplied only trained Rega dealers with the 3-point fix cartridges, because all 3 bolts should be at the correct/same tension. I have the Rega supplied torque driver for this purpose. Not sure how the cartridges can work as designed without the correct fitting..

[Graeme]

I only use 2 point fixing (diy arm) but varying torque doesnt seem to have much effect on sound to me. I do tighten them to approximately the same torque the rega torque wrench applies though. Should have got me one of them.

The main issue with fitting apheta's is the ease of which you can break the internal wiring!

Only other rega cart ive heard in my system was the exact. Was ok but prefered my goldring (1022 if i remember right) or my dl103.

Its a bit different with a 100% diy system though as everything ends up built/tuned/voiced to suit each other.

Luckily, when i got my apheta it slotted into my system perfectly.

None of this is really helping the OP though (my fault for derailing i guess), the original question probably hinges on the deffinitions of 'occasional use', 'sound good' and what budget is considered reasonable.

[hifi_dave]

Strange but true - I've just finished a comparative demo of phono stages and cartridges. The customer bought an Apheta.

I've been selling them steadily since it's inception around 4 - 5 years ago and I know other dealers are now doing the same. It's also very easy to fit with it's open, square construction and 3 bolt fix for Rega arms. As to being able to break the internal wiring - you'd have to be pretty ham fisted to do this as the internals are protected by a clear plastic cover.

[Graeme]

Yes, a clear plastic cover that if you hold when you fit the cart you can easily break the internal wiring.