Another great video Phil. Thanks. I upgraded to a P3 / Exact from an old used Pioneer which I fitted a Goldring E3 to. The old TT died on me but the Goldring E3 was a game changer on my old TT and I really loved it. The Exact is lovely too though ❤
On my p3 I use Goldring 1006. I love it! Lush and full bodied sound, with good detail and a remarkable sound stage. I previously had the Nagaoka mp-110 which is a fantastic cartridge itself, but the G1006 is definitely a worthy upgrade. Sugden optima phono, Creek evolution 100a, Linton heritage.
Regarding the Audio Technica cartridges, the AT-VM95ML (micro line stylus) is the best value in the range in my opinion. The sound is more refined and detailed than the elliptical models and with lower inner groove distortion and it lasts longer (1000 hours versus 300 hours!). The Shibata is perhaps better than the ML in the bass department but the ML has the superior treble and is arguably better overall. If funds are limited I doubt you will find a better cartridge than the AT-VM95E for less an £50 and you can always upgrade the stylus later when funds permit.
I replaced my old Technics P mount turntable this year with a Rega Planar 2 and had quite a few P mount cartridges left over. One of the cartridges was a new old stock Audio Technica Spectrum Series 445 with a nude elliptical stylus complete with a universal headshell adaptor. I found the tonearm on my Planar 2 had now problems accommodating the cartridge installed in it's half inch adaptor and it seems to be a good match for the high compliance stylus tracking at 1.25g as per specification. It sounds really nice through my Rega IO amp.
I would recommend a good arc protractor and either a Baerwald geometry or a Lofgren geometry to get better performances from those cartridges. It’s worth shimming the arm just to get the benefits of better SRA, although cheaper phonostages tend to mess up the sound given half a chance. The differences between the cartridges would be more apparent once they are presenting their styli more precisely and the roughness on inner groove tracking should be tamed. Rega owners are spoilt for choice at your shop. Great advice.
Great video, and wish you’d posted it some time ago! My quandary had been the question of spacers…I’d come to resent my P3 due to perceived difficulty in changing cartridge and my great dislike of the Elys 2 that came fitted; I had even thought of getting a Technics. Anyway, I said sod it and took the plunge and bought an audio technica at‑vm95ml. Fitted it in minutes without issue, no spacer required. Really pleased with it, and reckon that the sound is improved by 20%. I’d previously been using a P1 with the performance pack / Bias, and preferred it to the P3 with the Elys 2! Maybe it’s just me….however if buying a P3, I’d buy it cartridge free, and, as you say, you need not worry about spacers.
I really like this demonstration, and lecture on the various phono cartridges that are preferred for the Rega Planar turntable! A valuable, very relevant topic. Thumbs up. I have purchased a new Goldring E2 MM cartridge a couple of months ago; and very recently bought the E3 Stylus. I was planning on maybe mounting the Goldring E2 on a used Harman Kardon T25 belt drive in good condition that I adjusted. An Audio Technica AT70 MM is mounted now with a new stylus. HOWEVER, now that I've watched your demonstration video on the "best for a Rega Planar 3", I may decide to mount it on the Rega turntable, instead. On the Harman Kardon T25 I very recently I replaced the AT70 MM with the Denon DL-80A Moving Coil cartridge. For now I have a new Audio Technica AT95E MM (original version, not VM) on my Rega Planar 3. Thank you for a valuable, and informative demo video on a preferred cartridge for a Rega turntable. Forgot to add; Rega Planar is an Odd, used mostly a plinth from maybe 1982. Previous owner drilled a large tonearm post hole with 3 small holes closer to the centre spindle whereby I had to install a Linn Basik Plus Tonearm, used in good condition. I had to remove the Cue Lever assembly; then had to bend the U shaped Armrest upward a bit because very close to the end of play the tonearm could be lifted by the Cue Lever anymore.🔉🎵🎶
The original AT-95e is a very good cartridge, that's why it lasted so many years, I still have mine though my regular cartridge is a Nagaoka MP-110, which sounds amazing. I still use the AT-95e from time to time though 🙂
I do not understand the bad reviews of the Elys. It is not the last word in detail and resolution but it sounds very natural and musical to me. I am using the original Elys that came with my Planar 3. I will give serious consideration to upgrading (probably to the Exact) when the Elys wears out but I am in no rush to do so. If you wanted to buy an Ortofon 2M series cartridge for the Planar 3, go with the Bronze. The Planar 3 is worthy of a much better cartridge than the 2M Red.
I still have my other cartridges because it may depend on the condition of the vinyl record you're playing where you may want to switch to another cartridge, even one with a conical stylus due to pressing quality or wear and tear 🙂
I have a Rega P6 with an Nagaoka MP110 ... running through a Brio and Tube phono pre amp ... absolutely stunning for Jazz and EDM ... for the money ... superb!!
I’ve got the Nag, the E3 and the AT, and my favourite is the Nag. Brilliant cart for the money, you’d have to get the 2m bronze to get the same performance.
I think the Goldring has Audio Technica parts in it; the engine, stylus, etc. I love the AT-VM95E; it's a complete steal for the money. I also have the NE and SH styli for it and use the SH for difficult recordings where the elliptical just doesn't work well, especially towards the inner grooves.
I wasn't crazy about Rega cartridge. I found it had a lot of sibilance. So I purchased a nagaoka mp200 and it all went away. Then I purchased a nagaoka mp500 and it got even better..!!!!! I think Nagaoka gets it right 👍👍👍
I have a macintosh ma 252 and I don't like the amps phono stage. So I purchased an ifi phono preamp. Which I found to be much better to my ears with my Rega p6. Now I love my vinyl. The Nagaoka mp500 is definitely better than the mp 200. But the mp 200 is a great cartridge.
It'll be some time before i upgrade my cartridge, but is there a prescribed style of mount I would need to look for (i.e. my dead Technics SL-5 required a P-mount)? I bought my P2 the past spring (had the original carbon replaced with an AT-VM540ML) and added a Fono MM Mk2 a couple months ago because I had to crank the volume on my AVR when the TT was hooked into the phono input...game changer!
I had the new Rega P3 fitted with Rega blue and power / speed control box . I’ve just changed over to Rega starting point for the MC cartridge fitted and swapped to Rega MC Preamp and it’s transformed my full system. What a difference its made.. the Rega Blue was good for a starting point. But let’s not forget sound is personal and different to all of us at the end of the day? If it works for you then stick with it . Because there’s some great cartridge’s out there and you don’t need to spend big money .
I tried the 2M Red in my P3, it sounded horrible. I'm currently running the Nagaoka MP110, which is lovely. It's ability to track difficult grooves is something special and it seems a good match for the rest of my system. I haven't used a spacer, it works fine without. In fact it's so good I haven't felt any urge to upgrade it :)
Help, recently purchased a MP 110 for My rega p3 But after several days the needle is almost touching the vinyl Surface provoking noise, what would be the problem ? Weight? i adjusted 1.7 and nothing, any sugest???
@@eduardozelada717 I'm sorry, I don't know - I've not had this problem. On mine the stylus is well clear of the vinyl. Unless the stylus is faulty, all I can think is maybe you have put a very thick mat on the platter, so the cartridge is at a steep angle and the back of the stylus is very close to the vinyl?? Maybe if you post a photo on one of the hifi forums they will be able to help.
Last year, I changed to a Goldring1042 after my Exact's mileage reached around 600hrs on my Planar 3. G1042 did seem to have a somewhat higher noise floor and in midrange it was a bit less detailed to my years but its overall sound somehow felt more 'breathing'. I didn't risk fiddling with spacers, which sadly proved fatal when I played an unusually thick record, playing which deformed its cantilever around its 400hr service (when I lifted the queing level at the end of the record, it basically didn't lift off and was still playing deadwax and by removing the stylus by hand I trashed it😶) , so I had to go back to my old exact and now my dilemma is doublefold: get a spacer to avoid such debacles caused by short distances from stylus to record and what atylus should it be. Less adventurous part of me leans towards new exact, since in practice, it proved to be the most durable
Hi. Found your video very interesting and decided to try the goldring E4 on my rega planar P3. However, after installation, it appears the catridge sits on my record. Found out that the catridge is 3mm taller than the original Elys 2. Any advice to install this properly? Tks.
Quite the opposite regarding AT-VM95ML vs AT-VM95SH actually. The Micro-line stylus is the one that tends to sound brighter. The Shibata is warmer sounding, as it's slightly richer in the lower register. Regarding the treble performance I think its misleading the say the ML has a superior performance, it's just that it has a different performance. More bright and in your face treble isn't better, it is just different. All down to personal preference when it comes to choosing between those two. And system matching obviously, if your gear is generally dull sounding of course the ML stylus will work better as it will liven the treble a bit. In my case the Shibata is the clear winner, not only because I generally prefer richer bass response but also because the last thing my system needs is a slightly brighter sounding cartridge.
My Groovetracer Reference subplatter and Delrin platter arrive in the next two weeks.. in transit as I type this. I can't wait! So tempted to replace the Elys2 with the Exact but want to test it against a few other carts to be sure...
I used the ortofon 2M red on my planar 3 without spacer and after 3 month the needle broke, I contacted Ortofon and they told me to use a spacer, since then no problems anymore
I’m pretty sure that the generator assembly inside that big plastic body on the Goldring E series is actually the same as used in the Audio Technica VM series.
I believe it is based on the VM95, allegedly tweaked, but I don't know how much. I had an E3. Pretty good. And a modest step up from the AT95e I had. I replaced it with a VM540-ML which is much better.
@@cheshireaudio different stylus profiles and the body moulding could account for that. Have a look at the back of the cartridges, the plastic moulding around the pins, and the small amount of the metal casing around the generator assembly on the e3, I reckon you’ll find some similarities.
Very informative thank you,i've just upgraded to a P3 which came with the Elys 2,i'm very happy with the playback,don't have anything to compare it with mind but i am really enjoying returning to my vinyl after years of digital only music
When your paying £175 for a cartridge like the elys2 it's not to be sniffed at. The suble differences you think you can hear mostly will be psychological to justify paying more for a dearer one. 5 years ago you could buy a whole turntable,/record deck ( for example ) Sony pslx300usb that you could transfer albums to music files for that price of one cartridge and be happy. I was. I love my rega planar 3 2017 turntable but is it £475 better?. No. Its psychological snobbery. Be honest with yourselves.
Please could you do recommendations for Rega Plannar 2? I have the stock Rega Carbon installed at the moment but looking to upgrade. Many thanks and thanks for another great video. 👍
Rega red is the next one up then blue , but just as I said in this post use your ear to tell you what’s good for you because anyone can spend big money so ask your local dealer for a recommendation or help and have a listen to one or two before buying. Good luck?
@@anthonydaley278 I ended up gettin the Audio-Technica AT-VM95MLwhich I have for a few months now. The sound is incredible. I think this might be as good as it gets now until I upgrade my rega 2 to a 3.
I find that using the Rega three-point mounting sets them further back on the headshell than using two bolts and the Rega protractor. I'm sure there's a good reason...
I have rega P6, and ortofon bronze, phono stage aria 3, rega aethos amp, and xavian speakers… doubd very nice… and wonder what if i change to black 250 LVB ? anyone tried ? Thanks
The Elys isn’t a bad cartridge and probably meets it’s design aims of sounding good in any system but plays things a bit “safe”. The original Rega R100 was based on an Excel body (the same as the A&R P77) not a Supex body (I have a R100 and a few A&R’s). I’m also not a fan of the 2M Red nor the blue (would take a Goldring 1006 in preference to the blue). Interestingly the Goldring E series are modified VM95’s making the AT versions better value. The VM95ML works well in the Rega arms. The Nagaoka MP-110 is a fun cartridge that provides a better sense of the venue acoustics than most and I think outperforms the Elys despite being a bonded tip.
Hi Phil, I’m dieing yo buy my first turntable. I have a couple of vinyl albums and I’m buying more but, as yet I can’t play and listen to them. I’ve been thinking of a Rega and the P6 has my attention at the moment, but I’m told that it’s a bit too expensive, I’m paying too much for a first record player? So it may be back to the drawing board for me. I watch all your vids and value your openness and knowledge so wondered what you think I might do, for the best. Speakers next ha ha!
@@cheshireaudio on the basis of many positive reviews, I purchased an brand new E3 to fit to my Rega P3, Rb330, neo psu combo. Sadly I have an issue with the sound of the E3 cart which is suffering from seemingly incurable sibilance. As an audiophile of 30 years plus experience who has previous experience of selling premium audio in the Home Counties during the 90’s & 2000’s, this issue is doing my head in! I have set the tone arm weight and balanced as per the user guide, set the anti skate and tracking weight as per Goldring’s instructions, performed the usual checks i.e. spirit level check & cartridge alignment with my trusted protractor used over numerous TT’s over the years. I have run the cart in for approx 20 hours at the time of this comment. I have also tried locating the cartridge further back on the headshell and re-aligning to see if this helps. But still the problem persists. I have also tried connecting the P3 directly to the phono stage of the amp to rule out the phono stage being faulty, but the issue was still present. Is the E3 perhaps at the lower end of compatibility with the 330? Perhaps too demanding with its 2.0g requirement? I have nothing but good experiences with Goldring carts in the past going back to a 920 igc so this disappointing. Help!
@@cheshireaudio thank you for your reply. Apologies I missed it earlier. I am going to try a 1006 and see what happens. I also have a trusted at95e which I know is good from a previous RB250 installation if all else fails!
I have the nagaoka mp 110 on my p3 and it sounds brilliant with NO spacer ,its much better than the elys that came fitted .Just cant get a new stylus for the nag at the moment.
I have a 1985 blue rega planer 3 with an Origin live modified rb250 tone arm fitted with a Dynavector 10x5 cartridge (elliptical stylus) I am using a 1mm spacer and it sounds very good. I am thinking of upgrading the cartridge to the later version ( Shibata profile stylus) as mine is getting old. Does anyone know what phono stage would suit the rather low output of this cartridge?
I have a 10x5 Dynavector on my Planar 3. Sounds very good. It is high output and so a moving magnet phono stage is OK. I think the high ouput moving coil cartridges have been developed so they can be used with MM phono stages. Rather surprised with your comment that your is low output. Are you sure?
@@andrewhicks8249 what I am trying to say is that it’s low output compared to a moving magnet cartridge. So you have to turn the volume up more. A typical mm cartridge can deliver 4mv or more and my Dynavector delivers 2.4mv into the pre-anp
@@robertskelton3510 OK. Understood. I'm using a Moon 110LP (not current update) and sounds good with my Dynavector. If you are planning a cart update have you looked into Soundsmith with Peter Ledermann's alternative approach to the usual moving magnets and moving coil. Much lower moving mass in their carts so better tracking and sensitivity/detail etc. I have one and wouldn't look anywhere else. Best wishes.
I have a bit of a complaint (not to you personally) but on all Rega guys on YT. If I had a Rega Planar 1,2 or 3 there are loads of suggestions on cartridges on YT. But I have a Rega Planar 6 and there are hardly any catridge suggestions for it on YT. Why is that? I heard there maybe a new MM cartridge coming out this year, but I would love to know what else would work well with my model. Any suggestions would be very welcome, and thanks for your great channel. "Complaint over".
Surely the P3 could take any cartridge even a Lyra Atlas and give you a good sound? Why is there a hesitance to put even a £1500 cartridge on the P3? Is there much of a difference like for like with same cartridge on the P10? I.e. isn't it the cartridge itself that makes the biggest difference all else equal?
Decks and arms have limitations... the P3s weak point is its plinth, stored energy there blurs low end detail... most of the benefit if a high end cartridge would be lost... a high end cartridge would sound better, but not worth the outlay ... better deck with budget cartridge at the same price would usually be better ... turntable hierarchy goes motor/plinth then arm then cartridge in importance...
@@cheshireaudio Intetesting, assuming you may want to go for an MC eventually, on that basis which model in the rega lineup offers the best value proposition with declining marginal gains thereafter?
I have a P3 with speed box and upgraded Rega 6 plinth /bearing and tango sub-plat with Rega MC preamp and first MC cartridge fitted , Rega amp with focal aria 906 speakers . Sounds great?
Missed a big one. Audio Technica VM530EN or VM540ML. Lovely neutral sounding cart that tracks like few others. Has a wider soundstage than the equivalent VM95. I wouldn't recommend the Ortofon 2M. I've never got them sounding right on a Rega.
Io non terrei mai un TT senza cappa, la Rega un tempo all'acquisto non era compresa, ora è in dotazione, ma i ragazzi la tolgono addiritura. Fabioo '961 15/12/2021 h. 04,14
Personally i think all those cartridge are not so different, if you want a step up try cartridges in the range of Rega Exact then you will get a better sound. In the lower price class it is all a bit the same, there is a little bit of sound difference but that is not that big improvement.
No way id buy any cartridge with a non-replaceable stylus, its a trap. I dont buy that making the stylus non - replaceable makes a huge difference in sound especially with the great cartridges available that all have replacable cartridges, just my opinion of course. I like the idea on Audio Technica VM cartridges you can keep the same cart. and upgrade the stylus - brilliant idea in its price range - it allows swapping out for say a 78 stylus or a stylus you want to use on records that you dont want to use your best stylus on etc and of course it allows for upgrading to higher end stylus profiles, and all this without touching the cartridge mount and having to re-align it etc. I have an ATVM95 and im very pleased with it, darn good cartridge for not a huge amount of money and again you have 5 options or more to change the stylus, a very nice engineering feature. Another feature thats not sound oriented but very appealing in setup is the body of the cart. has the brass threads already in it, so no fiddling with microscopic nuts, just thread the screws in from the top align and done, brilliant - why has no one else thought of this simple yet oh so handy idea-??
OMG what a load of nonsense 😂 Especially the VM95 comments, probably best listening to the SH before declaring it bright and needing a better body, the ML is red not purple and that's the brighter one btw, just for clarity.
I'm a little confused here , how can you break in a cartridge , I've got a couple of diplomas in electronics and it amazes me when people say the electronics need breaking in.I don't think equipment needs breaking in I just think you acclimatise to the sound .I used to be into high hi fi in the 80,s and back then it was full off pretentious clowns who used big words to describe musical sound and baffle everyone with their bullshit .Reminds me of art critics when they say a painter who lived in the 1800,s was going through his dark period when he painted a particular painting and tries to convince you that he knew the painters state of mind or worse still wine critics who say you can taste things in the wine that no one else can , utter bullshit pretentious clowns.I visited a hi fi shop a while back and the salesman was trying to convince me these Linn speakers were the nuts and I just wasn't getting it , until I went in his basement store room and there was about 10 pairs stacked ceiling high .Now I get it , he needed to shift a lot of units . But getting back to the cartridge can someone please explain how you can run in a cartridge please ....I can understand speakers sounding different over time because the material that flexes the speaker may become more flexible over time but not components. Even heard people stating you can run in speaker cable but its only electrons running down a cable .Theres only one expert in the world of hi fi and that's yourself, your ears are unique to you .And the sad part of all this is , when you're old old enough to buy really high end hi fi you cant appreciate it because your ears have deteriorated due to age , its laughable really.Hi fi would be a lot more accessible to every generation if it wasn't for a lot of the pretentious people out there who think they are self proclaimed experts .It seems to me that a lot of people out there spend their lives trying to tweak this and tweak that to get the best possible hi fi than just simply enjoying the music ....Rant over and don't take this the wrong way and I'm not trying to be pretentious , I'm just interested in how things can be run in and my college lecture couldn't explain to me so please be my guest.
You are entitled to your opinion, of course, however, you might want to keep an open mind on some things. Firstly, I celebrated my 60th birthday this year and whilst I’m sure the highest frequencies are not as prominent as they once were, my ability to hear the differences between components is greater than ever, as I know what I”m listening for. I regularly tweak my gear by replacing cost constrained components, fitted as standard, with less compromised, well respected ones. This includes capacitors, resistors, opamps, inductors (inside speakers) and connectors. Each time there has been a change, sometimes marginal, sometimes really obvious. In most cases, there has been a change during the initial listening period, which you would dismiss as me becoming used to the sound. My explanation would be that the components are being subject to the flow of electric current for the first time and it would seem perfectly logical that the heat generated would alter the electrical properties somewhat. After the run in period, the components settle to a new slightly different steady state. As regards the Linn speakers, I agree, if you couldn’t raise any enthusiasm for them, then they clearly weren’t for you. However, another way to look at a dealer carrying plenty of stock might be that they sell well and the factory lead time is long. The dealer would need to keep a reasonable stock level to avoid disappointing his customers. Anyway, I wish you joy of your system as I enjoy mine, almost every day. I’m happy that all my tweaking has made that enjoyment all the greater, I recommend you try it sometime. Or perhaps you already have. Do you use the basic cables that came in the box or have you succumbed to the delights of better cables?
@@markcarrington8565 I don't share your opinion on the system running in and the components having electricity running through them for the first time , there is no scientific evidence behind your explanation . And thicker speaker cables can carry more current and I get the fact that different materials used to make speaker cable can make electrons flow better , but paying stupid amounts on speaker cable is utter madness .
@@cheshireaudio Sorry I wasnt referring to yourself it was someone who commented earlier , I don't seem how the cantilever becoming worn or looser over time would alter the sound , the stylus hasn't changed shape or the wiring and components haven't moved , as far as I'm aware the only moving part is the cantelever is it not?I may be wrong I've never looked at the internals in depth .
@@markw7997 said "I don't seem how the cantilever becoming worn or looser over time would alter the sound" The cantilever is reacting to miniscule vibrations, of the order of microns of movement, and you don't see how wear would affect this? "the stylus hasn't changed shape or the wiring and components haven't moved , as far as I'm aware the only moving part is the cantelever is it not?I may be wrong I've never looked at the internals in depth ." Well, if you have "never looked at the internals in depth", maybe you should do that first, before filling the comments herein with your waffle.
Have an Ania in mine sounds stunning with a level of detail and spaciousness I have not heard since I sold my LP12 Ittok Trioca set up back in 2003.
Another great video Phil. Thanks. I upgraded to a P3 / Exact from an old used Pioneer which I fitted a Goldring E3 to. The old TT died on me but the Goldring E3 was a game changer on my old TT and I really loved it. The Exact is lovely too though ❤
On my p3 I use Goldring 1006. I love it! Lush and full bodied sound, with good detail and a remarkable sound stage. I previously had the Nagaoka mp-110 which is a fantastic cartridge itself, but the G1006 is definitely a worthy upgrade.
Sugden optima phono, Creek evolution 100a, Linton heritage.
Regarding the Audio Technica cartridges, the AT-VM95ML (micro line stylus) is the best value in the range in my opinion. The sound is more refined and detailed than the elliptical models and with lower inner groove distortion and it lasts longer (1000 hours versus 300 hours!). The Shibata is perhaps better than the ML in the bass department but the ML has the superior treble and is arguably better overall. If funds are limited I doubt you will find a better cartridge than the AT-VM95E for less an £50 and you can always upgrade the stylus later when funds permit.
I replaced my old Technics P mount turntable this year with a Rega Planar 2 and had quite a few P mount cartridges left over. One of the cartridges was a new old stock Audio Technica Spectrum Series 445 with a nude elliptical stylus complete with a universal headshell adaptor. I found the tonearm on my Planar 2 had now problems accommodating the cartridge installed in it's half inch adaptor and it seems to be a good match for the high compliance stylus tracking at 1.25g as per specification. It sounds really nice through my Rega IO amp.
I have a AT-VM95EL and just love it.
Thanks so much for this, I found it very interesting…👍👏
I would recommend a good arc protractor and either a Baerwald geometry or a Lofgren geometry to get better performances from those cartridges. It’s worth shimming the arm just to get the benefits of better SRA, although cheaper phonostages tend to mess up the sound given half a chance. The differences between the cartridges would be more apparent once they are presenting their styli more precisely and the roughness on inner groove tracking should be tamed. Rega owners are spoilt for choice at your shop. Great advice.
Thanks for this I found it very useful 👍.
Great video, and wish you’d posted it some time ago! My quandary had been the question of spacers…I’d come to resent my P3 due to perceived difficulty in changing cartridge and my great dislike of the Elys 2 that came fitted; I had even thought of getting a Technics. Anyway, I said sod it and took the plunge and bought an audio technica at‑vm95ml. Fitted it in minutes without issue, no spacer required. Really pleased with it, and reckon that the sound is improved by 20%. I’d previously been using a P1 with the performance pack / Bias, and preferred it to the P3 with the Elys 2! Maybe it’s just me….however if buying a P3, I’d buy it cartridge free, and, as you say, you need not worry about spacers.
thank you for the video, really was looking for such information :)
I have an RP3 with a Goldring 1042 and that sounds very good indeed better than I was expecting I must admit.
I really like this demonstration, and lecture on the various phono cartridges that are preferred for the Rega Planar turntable! A valuable, very relevant topic. Thumbs up. I have purchased a new Goldring E2 MM cartridge a couple of months ago; and very recently bought the E3 Stylus.
I was planning on maybe mounting the Goldring E2 on a used Harman Kardon T25 belt drive in good condition that I adjusted. An Audio Technica AT70 MM is mounted now with a new stylus. HOWEVER, now that I've watched your demonstration video on the "best for a Rega Planar 3", I may decide to mount it on the Rega turntable, instead.
On the Harman Kardon T25 I very recently I replaced the AT70 MM with the Denon DL-80A Moving Coil cartridge.
For now I have a new Audio Technica AT95E MM (original version, not VM) on my Rega Planar 3. Thank you for a valuable, and informative demo video on a preferred cartridge for a Rega turntable. Forgot to add; Rega Planar is an Odd, used mostly a plinth from maybe 1982. Previous owner drilled a large tonearm post hole with 3 small holes closer to the centre spindle whereby I had to install a Linn Basik Plus Tonearm, used in good condition.
I had to remove the Cue Lever assembly; then had to bend the U shaped Armrest upward a bit because very close to the end of play the tonearm could be lifted by the Cue Lever anymore.🔉🎵🎶
The original AT-95e is a very good cartridge, that's why it lasted so many years, I still have mine though my regular cartridge is a Nagaoka MP-110, which sounds amazing. I still use the AT-95e from time to time though 🙂
@@JoeOrber I forgot to say; thank you for your input, and analysis, JoeOrber. I had already given you a thumbs up, by the way.
Thanks, you have answered my fitment questions re Goldring E3, whereas my E3 retailer has not!
I do not understand the bad reviews of the Elys. It is not the last word in detail and resolution but it sounds very natural and musical to me. I am using the original Elys that came with my Planar 3. I will give serious consideration to upgrading (probably to the Exact) when the Elys wears out but I am in no rush to do so. If you wanted to buy an Ortofon 2M series cartridge for the Planar 3, go with the Bronze. The Planar 3 is worthy of a much better cartridge than the 2M Red.
Hi Philip. I have had a Goldring 1042 on mine which I have had since 2000. Had a few styluses for it though. Very pleased.
I've tried loads of cartridges and keep coming back to the 1042. It's an awesome piece of kit.
Love my Nagaoka MP-150 - dynamics, detail, smooth - can't see me ever changing
I still have my other cartridges because it may depend on the condition of the vinyl record you're playing where you may want to switch to another cartridge, even one with a conical stylus due to pressing quality or wear and tear 🙂
@@JoeOrber Yes I got a secondhand MP110 stylus for £30 which is like new, and I swap them out on records that are a bit beat up to protect the MP150 👍
The audio nirvana- happy with what youre hearing, congratulations
@@seymourclearly lol not sure of what you meant but different cartridges make a difference in sound
@@JoeOrber certainly,, i was just referring to the lucky guy who posted because he is happy and not thinking about improving the sound, thats all
I have a NAIA and carried over the Hana Umami red from y previous table. Mind glowingly good
I have a Rega P6 with an Nagaoka MP110 ... running through a Brio and Tube phono pre amp ... absolutely stunning for Jazz and EDM ... for the money ... superb!!
The Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge is fantastic, one of my personal favorites, it's normally my daily choice 😀
hi Ralf, tks sharing, i plan to get RP3 with MP110, but which tube phono u use? .😅
I had one of those purple Rega Elys cartridges in my Planar 25. It was horrible and once replaced with a Goldring 1042, there was no going back.
My 1995 Planar 3 is fitted with a Sumiko Blue Point Special high output moving coil.
I’ve got the Nag, the E3 and the AT, and my favourite is the Nag. Brilliant cart for the money, you’d have to get the 2m bronze to get the same performance.
I absolutely agree! I love my Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge, it sounds amazing, way better than any other options at that price point 🥰
I have a Goldring Eroica Xl MC cart. Very nice cart.
I've a P3 from 1985. I've got Grado, Linn, Dynavector, Elys and my last choice has been Goldring 1042. The best I ever had....to me!!
Is it an easy swap? No need for spacers?
@@rich.muzzaman Very easy, i'm not a pro and no problem.
@@jakesauvy1872 So no spacers?
@@Bwstevens1 Not at all!
I have the VM740ML in mine. A marriage made in heaven. Highly recommended
I think the Goldring has Audio Technica parts in it; the engine, stylus, etc. I love the AT-VM95E; it's a complete steal for the money. I also have the NE and SH styli for it and use the SH for difficult recordings where the elliptical just doesn't work well, especially towards the inner grooves.
Does this VM95E fits with rega planar 3
I wasn't crazy about Rega cartridge. I found it had a lot of sibilance. So I purchased a nagaoka mp200 and it all went away. Then I purchased a nagaoka mp500 and it got even better..!!!!! I think Nagaoka gets it right 👍👍👍
What phono stage are you running?
I have a macintosh ma 252 and I don't like the amps phono stage. So I purchased an ifi phono preamp. Which I found to be much better to my ears with my Rega p6. Now I love my vinyl. The Nagaoka mp500 is definitely better than the mp 200. But the mp 200 is a great cartridge.
Bye the way it's the ifi zen phono preamp. Not the more costly ones. A great preamp for only $200 cdn.
@@moonwrasse I just got a Big upgrade the trigon vanguard III. I can't believe how good this phono preamplifier sounds.
It'll be some time before i upgrade my cartridge, but is there a prescribed style of mount I would need to look for (i.e. my dead Technics SL-5 required a P-mount)? I bought my P2 the past spring (had the original carbon replaced with an AT-VM540ML) and added a Fono MM Mk2 a couple months ago because I had to crank the volume on my AVR when the TT was hooked into the phono input...game changer!
Love it... Yes do a p10 cart options
I had the new Rega P3 fitted with Rega blue and power / speed control box . I’ve just changed over to Rega starting point for the MC cartridge fitted and swapped to Rega MC Preamp and it’s transformed my full system. What a difference its made.. the Rega Blue was good for a starting point. But let’s not forget sound is personal and different to all of us at the end of the day? If it works for you then stick with it . Because there’s some great cartridge’s out there and you don’t need to spend big money .
I tried the 2M Red in my P3, it sounded horrible. I'm currently running the Nagaoka MP110, which is lovely. It's ability to track difficult grooves is something special and it seems a good match for the rest of my system. I haven't used a spacer, it works fine without. In fact it's so good I haven't felt any urge to upgrade it :)
Help, recently purchased a MP 110 for My rega p3 But after several days the needle is almost touching the vinyl Surface provoking noise, what would be the problem ? Weight? i adjusted 1.7 and nothing, any sugest???
@@eduardozelada717 I'm sorry, I don't know - I've not had this problem. On mine the stylus is well clear of the vinyl.
Unless the stylus is faulty, all I can think is maybe you have put a very thick mat on the platter, so the cartridge is at a steep angle and the back of the stylus is very close to the vinyl??
Maybe if you post a photo on one of the hifi forums they will be able to help.
the red is one of the most disliked cartridges out there. cats outta the bag. dunno why anyone would bother with it.
Last year, I changed to a Goldring1042 after my Exact's mileage reached around 600hrs on my Planar 3. G1042 did seem to have a somewhat higher noise floor and in midrange it was a bit less detailed to my years but its overall sound somehow felt more 'breathing'. I didn't risk fiddling with spacers, which sadly proved fatal when I played an unusually thick record, playing which deformed its cantilever around its 400hr service (when I lifted the queing level at the end of the record, it basically didn't lift off and was still playing deadwax and by removing the stylus by hand I trashed it😶) , so I had to go back to my old exact and now my dilemma is doublefold: get a spacer to avoid such debacles caused by short distances from stylus to record and what atylus should it be. Less adventurous part of me leans towards new exact, since in practice, it proved to be the most durable
Hi. Found your video very interesting and decided to try the goldring E4 on my rega planar P3. However, after installation, it appears the catridge sits on my record. Found out that the catridge is 3mm taller than the original Elys 2. Any advice to install this properly? Tks.
Planning to get a AT 95 for my 1990 Planar 3. Unfortunately I don’t live near you. I’ve heard it can be tricky to align. Any tips? Thanks. R
Quite the opposite regarding AT-VM95ML vs AT-VM95SH actually. The Micro-line stylus is the one that tends to sound brighter. The Shibata is warmer sounding, as it's slightly richer in the lower register. Regarding the treble performance I think its misleading the say the ML has a superior performance, it's just that it has a different performance. More bright and in your face treble isn't better, it is just different. All down to personal preference when it comes to choosing between those two. And system matching obviously, if your gear is generally dull sounding of course the ML stylus will work better as it will liven the treble a bit. In my case the Shibata is the clear winner, not only because I generally prefer richer bass response but also because the last thing my system needs is a slightly brighter sounding cartridge.
My Exact sounds great on the rp6 with GT mods. 5 years old and still rocking.
My Groovetracer Reference subplatter and Delrin platter arrive in the next two weeks.. in transit as I type this. I can't wait! So tempted to replace the Elys2 with the Exact but want to test it against a few other carts to be sure...
Hi How many hours have you played with it. I have also an exact stylus on a rp3
@@erikbaas2003 Hard to tell but some 800-1000 hrs by now.
Rega Exact is a very good cartridge
Looking at the Elys for my 2018 planar 2 currently hav a Bias2 is there a noticiable difference in sound or should I install the nagaoka MP110 Phil?
Does the V15 iii work well with a RB250 arm?
Got the blue C on my TT not bad at all
I use an AT150Sa - You should try it out :)
I used the ortofon 2M red on my planar 3 without spacer and after 3 month the needle broke, I contacted Ortofon and they told me to use a spacer, since then no problems anymore
The Elys2 is good but suffers the dreaded inner groove distortion in my experience
I’m pretty sure that the generator assembly inside that big plastic body on the Goldring E series is actually the same as used in the Audio Technica VM series.
I believe it is based on the VM95, allegedly tweaked, but I don't know how much. I had an E3. Pretty good. And a modest step up from the AT95e I had. I replaced it with a VM540-ML which is much better.
I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t sound like one.. interesting
@@cheshireaudio different stylus profiles and the body moulding could account for that. Have a look at the back of the cartridges, the plastic moulding around the pins, and the small amount of the metal casing around the generator assembly on the e3, I reckon you’ll find some similarities.
Very informative thank you,i've just upgraded to a P3 which came with the Elys 2,i'm very happy with the playback,don't have anything to compare it with mind but i am really enjoying returning to my vinyl after years of digital only music
When your paying £175 for a cartridge like the elys2 it's not to be sniffed at. The suble differences you think you can hear mostly will be psychological to justify paying more for a dearer one. 5 years ago you could buy a whole turntable,/record deck ( for example ) Sony pslx300usb that you could transfer albums to music files for that price of one cartridge and be happy. I was. I love my rega planar 3 2017 turntable but is it £475 better?. No. Its psychological snobbery. Be honest with yourselves.
try the goldring e3 with 95ml 95sh stylus !!!
Please could you do recommendations for Rega Plannar 2? I have the stock Rega Carbon installed at the moment but looking to upgrade. Many thanks and thanks for another great video. 👍
Audio Technical VM95, goldring E3 and nagoka MP110. Are all good.
Edit. I really should have watched the video before commenting 🙂
Rega red is the next one up then blue , but just as I said in this post use your ear to tell you what’s good for you because anyone can spend big money so ask your local dealer for a recommendation or help and have a listen to one or two before buying. Good luck?
@@anthonydaley278 I ended up gettin the Audio-Technica AT-VM95MLwhich I have for a few months now. The sound is incredible. I think this might be as good as it gets now until I upgrade my rega 2 to a 3.
I find that using the Rega three-point mounting sets them further back on the headshell than using two bolts and the Rega protractor. I'm sure there's a good reason...
It was explained to me that it's simply for better mounting.
Do not use any other cartridge in a Rega except a Rega cartridge. The three point mounting system makes all the difference.
Is there a matching video for Moving Coils?
There will be
I have rega P6, and ortofon bronze, phono stage aria 3, rega aethos amp, and xavian speakers… doubd very nice… and wonder what if i change to black 250 LVB ? anyone tried ? Thanks
Hey Philip, i have a P6, trying to decide between a Nagaoka Mp200 and a Hana .....which would be more suited? I play mainly jazz records.....
At the moment only the Hana is easy to get... either really though
Get the Nagaoka mp500 . It's easy to replace needles when it's time to. Something you can't do with a moving coil
Io ho un Rega 3 red planar del 2017. La testina è una Regaa Exact con
stilo microscopico a taglio Vital..
Goldring e4 is a nice cart
The Elys isn’t a bad cartridge and probably meets it’s design aims of sounding good in any system but plays things a bit “safe”.
The original Rega R100 was based on an Excel body (the same as the A&R P77) not a Supex body (I have a R100 and a few A&R’s).
I’m also not a fan of the 2M Red nor the blue (would take a Goldring 1006 in preference to the blue).
Interestingly the Goldring E series are modified VM95’s making the AT versions better value. The VM95ML works well in the Rega arms.
The Nagaoka MP-110 is a fun cartridge that provides a better sense of the venue acoustics than most and I think outperforms the Elys despite being a bonded tip.
Yup, the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge is fantastic, it's my choice for most days of vinyl record listening 🎶
Hi Phil, I’m dieing yo buy my first turntable. I have a couple of vinyl albums and I’m buying more but, as yet I can’t play and listen to them. I’ve been thinking of a Rega and the P6 has my attention at the moment, but I’m told that it’s a bit too expensive, I’m paying too much for a first record player? So it may be back to the drawing board for me. I watch all your vids and value your openness and knowledge so wondered what you think I might do, for the best. Speakers next ha ha!
So would you say the 1000 series Goldring cartridges are pushing things too far-or would they sound even better than the E3 on a P3??
The 1000 series are fine in the P3, they seem to be less demanding of the arm than other models at the price
@@cheshireaudio on the basis of many positive reviews, I purchased an brand new E3 to fit to my Rega P3, Rb330, neo psu combo. Sadly I have an issue with the sound of the E3 cart which is suffering from seemingly incurable sibilance. As an audiophile of 30 years plus experience who has previous experience of selling premium audio in the Home Counties during the 90’s & 2000’s, this issue is doing my head in! I have set the tone arm weight and balanced as per the user guide, set the anti skate and tracking weight as per Goldring’s instructions, performed the usual checks i.e. spirit level check & cartridge alignment with my trusted protractor used over numerous TT’s over the years. I have run the cart in for approx 20 hours at the time of this comment. I have also tried locating the cartridge further back on the headshell and re-aligning to see if this helps. But still the problem persists. I have also tried connecting the P3 directly to the phono stage of the amp to rule out the phono stage being faulty, but the issue was still present. Is the E3 perhaps at the lower end of compatibility with the 330? Perhaps too demanding with its 2.0g requirement? I have nothing but good experiences with Goldring carts in the past going back to a 920 igc so this disappointing. Help!
@@Theoriginalramjammer The E3 works really well in the P3 ... I wonder if there is a fault with it, you seem to have covered all options
@@cheshireaudio thank you for your reply. Apologies I missed it earlier. I am going to try a 1006 and see what happens. I also have a trusted at95e which I know is good from a previous RB250 installation if all else fails!
@@TheoriginalramjammerDid you buy the 1006? Thoughts?
I have the nagaoka mp 110 on my p3 and it sounds brilliant with NO spacer ,its much better than the elys that came fitted .Just cant get a new stylus for the nag at the moment.
It’s a real problem, and not just with Nagaoka at the moment
That's odd, I just got 3 new Nagaoka MP-110 replacement styli in Amazon, did I buy them all? Lol 😆
I have a 1985 blue rega planer 3 with an Origin live modified rb250 tone arm fitted with a Dynavector 10x5 cartridge (elliptical stylus) I am using a 1mm spacer and it sounds very good. I am thinking of upgrading the cartridge to the later version ( Shibata profile stylus) as mine is getting old. Does anyone know what phono stage would suit the rather low output of this cartridge?
I have a 10x5 Dynavector on my Planar 3. Sounds very good. It is high output and so a moving magnet phono stage is OK. I think the high ouput moving coil cartridges have been developed so they can be used with MM phono stages. Rather surprised with your comment that your is low output. Are you sure?
@@andrewhicks8249 what I am trying to say is that it’s low output compared to a moving magnet cartridge. So you have to turn the volume up more. A typical mm cartridge can deliver 4mv or more and my Dynavector delivers 2.4mv into the pre-anp
@@robertskelton3510 OK. Understood. I'm using a Moon 110LP (not current update) and sounds good with my Dynavector. If you are planning a cart update have you looked into Soundsmith with Peter Ledermann's alternative approach to the usual moving magnets and moving coil. Much lower moving mass in their carts so better tracking and sensitivity/detail etc. I have one and wouldn't look anywhere else. Best wishes.
@@andrewhicks8249 Thanks for that. I will look into it. Are they expensive?
I have a bit of a complaint (not to you personally) but on all Rega guys on YT. If I had a Rega Planar 1,2 or 3 there are loads of suggestions on cartridges on YT. But I have a Rega Planar 6 and there are hardly any catridge suggestions for it on YT. Why is that? I heard there maybe a new MM cartridge coming out this year, but I would love to know what else would work well with my model. Any suggestions would be very welcome, and thanks for your great channel. "Complaint over".
It might help to tell the name of the cartridge you are reviewing. Ortofon 3M Red, but Inhad to figure that out.
Isn't it 2M? For MM.
BTW Audio Technica makes a really good $5 microphone. You should buy one :)
Surely the P3 could take any cartridge even a Lyra Atlas and give you a good sound? Why is there a hesitance to put even a £1500 cartridge on the P3? Is there much of a difference like for like with same cartridge on the P10? I.e. isn't it the cartridge itself that makes the biggest difference all else equal?
Decks and arms have limitations... the P3s weak point is its plinth, stored energy there blurs low end detail... most of the benefit if a high end cartridge would be lost... a high end cartridge would sound better, but not worth the outlay ... better deck with budget cartridge at the same price would usually be better ... turntable hierarchy goes motor/plinth then arm then cartridge in importance...
@@cheshireaudio Intetesting, assuming you may want to go for an MC eventually, on that basis which model in the rega lineup offers the best value proposition with declining marginal gains thereafter?
@@MusicLover-01 the P6 works well with MC, even though it's same arm as the 3, you hear a lot more of the MC magic
I have a P3 with speed box and upgraded Rega 6 plinth /bearing and tango sub-plat with Rega MC preamp and first MC cartridge fitted , Rega amp with focal aria 906 speakers . Sounds great?
What’s the yellow one?
Rega Exact
@@cheshireaudio I meant the yellow one on the black deck.
@@HarveyJohnWillmottnagaoka 110
Missed a big one. Audio Technica VM530EN or VM540ML. Lovely neutral sounding cart that tracks like few others. Has a wider soundstage than the equivalent VM95.
I wouldn't recommend the Ortofon 2M. I've never got them sounding right on a Rega.
Spot on ... and the 740ml is superb too
Io non terrei mai un TT senza cappa, la Rega un tempo all'acquisto
non era compresa, ora è in dotazione, ma i ragazzi la tolgono addiritura.
Fabioo '961 15/12/2021 h. 04,14
I wish understood a single word of what he was saying except “really”
I dont always agree with forums phil..
Personally i think all those cartridge are not so different, if you want a step up try cartridges in the range of Rega Exact then you will get a better sound.
In the lower price class it is all a bit the same, there is a little bit of sound difference but that is not that big improvement.
No way id buy any cartridge with a non-replaceable stylus, its a trap. I dont buy that making the stylus non - replaceable makes a huge difference in sound especially with the great cartridges available that all have replacable cartridges, just my opinion of course. I like the idea on Audio Technica VM cartridges you can keep the same cart. and upgrade the stylus - brilliant idea in its price range - it allows swapping out for say a 78 stylus or a stylus you want to use on records that you dont want to use your best stylus on etc and of course it allows for upgrading to higher end stylus profiles, and all this without touching the cartridge mount and having to re-align it etc. I have an ATVM95 and im very pleased with it, darn good cartridge for not a huge amount of money and again you have 5 options or more to change the stylus, a very nice engineering feature. Another feature thats not sound oriented but very appealing in setup is the body of the cart. has the brass threads already in it, so no fiddling with microscopic nuts, just thread the screws in from the top align and done, brilliant - why has no one else thought of this simple yet oh so handy idea-??
OMG what a load of nonsense 😂 Especially the VM95 comments, probably best listening to the SH before declaring it bright and needing a better body, the ML is red not purple and that's the brighter one btw, just for clarity.
I'm confused about which cartridges need spacers. You say taller cartridges need spacers. That makes no sense. The spacer would make them even taller.
I'm a little confused here , how can you break in a cartridge , I've got a couple of diplomas in electronics and it amazes me when people say the electronics need breaking in.I don't think equipment needs breaking in I just think you acclimatise to the sound .I used to be into high hi fi in the 80,s and back then it was full off pretentious clowns who used big words to describe musical sound and baffle everyone with their bullshit .Reminds me of art critics when they say a painter who lived in the 1800,s was going through his dark period when he painted a particular painting and tries to convince you that he knew the painters state of mind or worse still wine critics who say you can taste things in the wine that no one else can , utter bullshit pretentious clowns.I visited a hi fi shop a while back and the salesman was trying to convince me these Linn speakers were the nuts and I just wasn't getting it , until I went in his basement store room and there was about 10 pairs stacked ceiling high .Now I get it , he needed to shift a lot of units . But getting back to the cartridge can someone please explain how you can run in a cartridge please ....I can understand speakers sounding different over time because the material that flexes the speaker may become more flexible over time but not components. Even heard people stating you can run in speaker cable but its only electrons running down a cable .Theres only one expert in the world of hi fi and that's yourself, your ears are unique to you .And the sad part of all this is , when you're old old enough to buy really high end hi fi you cant appreciate it because your ears have deteriorated due to age , its laughable really.Hi fi would be a lot more accessible to every generation if it wasn't for a lot of the pretentious people out there who think they are self proclaimed experts .It seems to me that a lot of people out there spend their lives trying to tweak this and tweak that to get the best possible hi fi than just simply enjoying the music ....Rant over and don't take this the wrong way and I'm not trying to be pretentious , I'm just interested in how things can be run in and my college lecture couldn't explain to me so please be my guest.
I didn’t actually say that... but cartridges do run in though, it more a physical bedding in if the suspension rather than electrical though
You are entitled to your opinion, of course, however, you might want to keep an open mind on some things. Firstly, I celebrated my 60th birthday this year and whilst I’m sure the highest frequencies are not as prominent as they once were, my ability to hear the differences between components is greater than ever, as I know what I”m listening for.
I regularly tweak my gear by replacing cost constrained components, fitted as standard, with less compromised, well respected ones. This includes capacitors, resistors, opamps, inductors (inside speakers) and connectors. Each time there has been a change, sometimes marginal, sometimes really obvious. In most cases, there has been a change during the initial listening period, which you would dismiss as me becoming used to the sound. My explanation would be that the components are being subject to the flow of electric current for the first time and it would seem perfectly logical that the heat generated would alter the electrical properties somewhat. After the run in period, the components settle to a new slightly different steady state.
As regards the Linn speakers, I agree, if you couldn’t raise any enthusiasm for them, then they clearly weren’t for you. However, another way to look at a dealer carrying plenty of stock might be that they sell well and the factory lead time is long. The dealer would need to keep a reasonable stock level to avoid disappointing his customers.
Anyway, I wish you joy of your system as I enjoy mine, almost every day. I’m happy that all my tweaking has made that enjoyment all the greater, I recommend you try it sometime. Or perhaps you already have. Do you use the basic cables that came in the box or have you succumbed to the delights of better cables?
@@markcarrington8565 I don't share your opinion on the system running in and the components having electricity running through them for the first time , there is no scientific evidence behind your explanation . And thicker speaker cables can carry more current and I get the fact that different materials used to make speaker cable can make electrons flow better , but paying stupid amounts on speaker cable is utter madness .
@@cheshireaudio Sorry I wasnt referring to yourself it was someone who commented earlier , I don't seem how the cantilever becoming worn or looser over time would alter the sound , the stylus hasn't changed shape or the wiring and components haven't moved , as far as I'm aware the only moving part is the cantelever is it not?I may be wrong I've never looked at the internals in depth .
@@markw7997 said "I don't seem how the cantilever becoming worn or looser over time would alter the sound"
The cantilever is reacting to miniscule vibrations, of the order of microns of movement, and you don't see how wear would affect this?
"the stylus hasn't changed shape or the wiring and components haven't moved , as far as I'm aware the only moving part is the cantelever is it not?I may be wrong I've never looked at the internals in depth ."
Well, if you have "never looked at the internals in depth", maybe you should do that first, before filling the comments herein with your waffle.
Please consider opening your mouth more and actually using your tongue when you speak. We have those body parts for a reason. Thank you.