Cartridge Reviews

When the UK’s largest turntable manufacturer releases three new moving magnet (MM) cartridges, analog geeks like me can’t wait to hear them. I expressed my interest to Steve Daniels of The Sound Organization, Rega’s U.S. distribution arm, who promptly sent me two of the company’s newest MM cart offerings — the Rega Nd3 ($345) and the Rega Nd5 ($675) — to test for AP. (Incidentally, that other, third new cart of theirs, the Nd7, goes for $795.)

Specs & Features
Apart from the respective carts’ different styli profiles, the Nd3 (red body) and Nd5 (smoked body) are identical. Designed to replace Rega’s Elys and Exact cartridges, the Nd3 (shown above) and Nd5 were “developed over 10 years and promise to deliver ‘next level’ performance from moving magnet technology. The Nd range (patent pending) we believe is a world first to use ultra-high powered Neodymium magnets which allow us to create this totally unique design,” states Rega’s site description for both carts.

The stylus profile for the Nd3 is an elliptical, manmade polycrystalline diamond, while the Nd5 uses an elliptical nude diamond. Furthermore, these new Rega MM carts use an optimized pole gap stated to aid in linearity and crosstalk characteristics, as well as provide a wider soundstage than the company’s aforementioned Exact and Elys models. The Nd3 and Nd5 were created with miniaturized parallel coils wound in-house using 38-micron wire with only 1,275 turns. This is said to produce a low-inductance, low-impedance generator giving improved high-frequency response.

Often used in moving coil (MC) designs, the Neodymium N55 magnets in both the Nd3 and Nd5 reportedly deliver more power than standard bar-magnet designs. Both carts employ injection-molded, glass-filled polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) bodies, a lightweight and highly rigid material. A low mass body decreases tension on the tonearm bearings, and aids in the free movement that’s important in precise vinyl playback. Both carts offer nominal output voltage of 5-6mV, miniaturized parallel coils, and tracking force of 1.75g. The Nd3 and Nd5 (seen below) are also offered as factory-fitted cart options on Rega Planar 3 and Planar 6 turntables.

Setup
Both the Nd3 and Nd5 cartridges came in their own respective small, two-piece cardboard box that included the cart itself, stylus protector, Rega’s three-point mounting plate (for Rega tonearms), three screws, and a cute L-shaped Allen wrench. Setup directions are shown on the Nd3 and Nd5 box’s sides, part of Rega’s recycling scheme to cut down on extraneous packaging.

I utilized my Riverstone Audio Gauge for VTF, and my Feickert Universal Protractor for cartridge alignment. My system for this review included a Thorens TD 124 MKI turntable with a Korf TA-S9R tonearm, Riveria Levante integrated amp, and PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube phono preamp, along with DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Super Nine, Voxativ Ampeggio, and Volti Audio Lucera loudspeakers, as well as cabling from AudioQuest, Triode Wire Labs, and Auditorium 23.

LPs played and listened to for this review included Stravinsky Conducts The Firebird Suite (1967; Columbia Masterworks MS 7011), Billie Holiday’s The Golden Years 3LP box set (1967; Columbia C3L 21), Vijay Iyer’s Compassion 2LP set (2024; ECM 2760), and Shirley Scott With The Latin Jazz Quintet’s Mucho, Mucho (1960; Prestige PRLP 7182).

Listening Sessions
Out of the box, the Nd3 cart (seen getting ready for action with my Thorens table, above) instantly surprised with its juicy tonality, exhilarating sense of jump and dynamics, and big-ish soundstage. It didn’t offer the last word in transparency, detail, or layering, but its rhythmic force, sense of drive, and engaging soundfield was easy to enjoy, with plenty of action. There wasn’t the deeply layered soundstage nor the micro-level detail of an MC cart — but, for an entry-level-priced MM, the Nd3 was seriously delivering the goods. Images were large-scale, physical, and reasonably well-defined, but the soundstage was diffuse, like glass in need of cleaning.

The Firebird Suite was reproduced with forceful energy and dramatic flair, courtesy of the Nd3. The massed strings, while perhaps slightly pressed together at the most intense crescendos, delivered an impactful performance, if smaller in scale than I’ve heard it. Overall, this was a robust and exhilarating rendition, captivating with its dynamic range and sheer power. The Nd3 expertly navigated the piece’s ebb and flow, maintaining a stimulating pace during moments of high drama while gracefully embracing the music’s gentler passages.

Although the stage occasionally felt somewhat condensed and confused, the sound never lacked punch or impact. While rich in tonal color, the Nd3 avoided any sense of overindulgence. Instead, it presented a well-balanced performance characterized by power, rhythmic energy, and a vibrant tonal palette.

The Nd3 also beautifully captured the youthful Billie Holiday as heard in her The Golden Years 3LP box set, originally on 78. This collection masterfully balances the more melancholic performances of her later Verve years with the girlish spirit, wit, unparalleled articulation, and joy that defined her early career.

Backed primarily by Teddy Wilson And His Orchestra, these recordings showcase Holiday at her finest. The Nd3 paid homage to her artistry with warm, resonant tones and a flowing sense of rhythm and swing. The Nd3’s tonal palette, while undeniably leaning towards the darker end of the spectrum, never veered into the realm of oversaturation, remaining rich and nuanced without becoming overly lush.

Holiday’s music here brims with life force, an infectious sense of joy, and a deep, soulful groove. It evokes a bygone era — a time before the interwebs dominated our lives, when radio reigned supreme as the primary source of entertainment and information. The Nd3 captured that information well.

Vijay Iyer’s new-to-2024 Compassion 2LP offering sounded somewhat subdued and compressed through the Nd3, though this may reflect the recording’s intended aesthetic. Tyshawn Sorey’s drums and cymbals were muted, Iyer’s piano texture thickened, and Linda May Han Oh’s double bass — while weighty — lacked the usual clarity.

ECM are long renowned for releasing recordings characterized by a warmth, sensitivity, and clarity that evoked vast, open spaces, reminiscent of the Austrian Alps. This newer recording, engineered by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio in Mount Vernon, New York, presents a departure from that tradition. However, it’s crucial to remember that this is not 1979, and the label has undoubtedly evolved in its offerings.

Finally, Shirley Scott With The Latin Jazz Quintet’s Mucho, Mucho LP served as a resounding confirmation of the Nd3’s affinity for vivid, energetic playback. The album’s searing Hammond B3 organ, hard-hitting vibraphone, and pulsating percussion assailed my senses with force and fire. The Nd3 framed a full-bodied, exciting performance, filling my room with warmth, power, and Latin percussion fury.

In contrast to the Nd3, the Nd5 cart (seen above, moments before doing its thing on my Thorens table) presented a more refined sonic character, closer to the nuanced delivery of a moving coil cartridge. This resulted in a more expansive soundstage, enhanced instrument separation and layering, richer tonal qualities, and a more engaging and authentic reproduction of recorded music. An occasional flinty quality also pervaded the treble, which aided transient jump. Generally speaking, music became better organized and coherent through the Nd5, though I did miss the Nd3’s more romantic sound and juicy tonal colors.

Despite maintaining a darker tonal balance, the Vijay Iyer LP exhibited a remarkable increase in sonic clarity through the Nd5. Instrumental separation was significantly improved, affording each instrument greater definition, weight, and textural presence. This newfound realism imbued Compassion with a palpable sense of aliveness, quickly fostering a deeper engagement with the music’s ebb and flow, textures, and tonal nuances.

At this point, I forgot my critical role, and became immersed in the music’s vibrant energy, its blood-infused rhythms and accurate tonal reproduction. The Nd5, it seemed, had the unique ability to translate the intangible qualities of Iyer’s juice, energy, texture, and viscosity into a sonorous and emotionally resonant listening experience.

The Billie Holiday Golden Years collection, when played through the Nd5, underwent a remarkable transformation as well. While the Nd3 seemed to emphasize her youthful exuberance, the Nd5 offered a more realistic and emotionally nuanced portrayal of the artist. Her voice now exhibited a greater sense of age and experience, with subtle shifts in vocal delivery evident from song to song. In some instances, her voice conveyed a sense of rest and tranquility — while in others, it poignantly reflected her weariness and the weight of her personal struggles. Yet, even in these moments of vulnerability, her distinctive vocal artistry remained captivating and undeniably authentic. Separation was greatly improved, as were resolution, dynamics, resonance, and flow.

Conclusions
Taken together, both the Nd3 and Nd5 cartridges are excellent examples of Rega’s legendary cost-for-dollar equation. They’re both flag-waving examples of how a large company applies trickle-down concepts learned over many decades to create high-value components.

The Nd3 is an exceptionally juicy, dynamic, and fun cartridge, a madly entertaining cart that played music with tremendous jump, pacing, color, and richness. It never fell into overly lush terrain, but consistently brought the joy of listening to vinyl as a truly pleasurable event.

The Nd5 knocked me over with its widespan, deeply informative soundstage, superb resolving skills, racer-like speed, lively resonance, and general profundity in sound, like sitting in the middle of a live quintet and fully witnessing each change in dynamics, texture, and tone. It delivered fine detail, natural textures, serious boogie factor, and a good degree of magic. It’s a bit flinty on top, an acceptable sin.

While the Nd3 establishes a benchmark for MM carts at its price point, the Nd5 represents a significant advancement in the field, performing admirably for a cart costing $675 (or more). Both the Nd3 and Nd5 carts from Rega deserve the attention and critical audition of audiophiles seeking to explore the cutting edge of moving-magnet cartridge design, and great value-for-dollar sound from their analog-based system.

For more about Rega, go here.
To find an authorized Rega retailer in the United States, go here.
To find Rega’s authorized global distributors, go here.

Author bio: Former musician, former artist, and former legal wastrel Ken Micallef has written numerous hi-fi equipment reviews for Stereophile and Analog Planet, and his byline has also appeared within Mojo, Electronic Musician, and The Grammys. You can also find him at YouTube (Ken Micallef Jazz Vinyl Audiophile).