Rega Planar 3 turntable + Rega Exact 2 cartridge = Perfect match???

NathanRicaud

NathanRicaud

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone! 🙋‍♂️

I currently have the Rega 3 Planar (upgraded the subplatter to a glass one) and am currently using the Rega Elys 2 cartage (which came with the turntable)!

I want to replace my Elys 2 stylus now! The Rega Exact 2 is quite pricey but seems to be a great match for my Rega Planar 3! Can anyone confirm if they think the Rega Exact 2 is a great cartridge! I think it's also very easy to replace technically, right? Like it's easy to replace a Rega cartridge with another Rega cartridge I'm guessing! 🤔

Anyone have suggestions on what cartridge to use for my Rega Planar 3 if the Rega Exact 2 isn't as worth it? I'm open to other suggestions but I've got my mind set on the Rega Exact 2!

Thank you so much 🙏
 
Posted elsewhere but I switched from an exact to a nag 200 in a RP3 and think it's a great match. You need a spacer but they're a doddle to fit. But the exact is a piece of cake to put on a rega arm to and no spacer needed
 
Rowan said:
Posted elsewhere but I switched from an exact to a nag 200 in a RP3 and think it's a great match. You need a spacer but they're a doddle to fit. But the exact is a piece of cake to put on a rega arm to and no spacer needed
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So did you like the Rega Exact!? The Nagaoka MP-200 stylus is cheaper than the Rega Exact 2 stylus, so I might look into that actually! It's like AUD$200 cheaper and that's a big difference! Even though you said the Nag MP-200 is very easy to replace the Rega Exact with, I'd probably struggle because I'm so bad when it comes to stuff like that!

I'll do a bit of research with the Nagaoka MP-200! I'll look at reviews and will also look more in depth into reviews of the Ortofon Blue, as they're around the same price in Australia!

Thanks for the comment Rowan! 🙏 😇

HiFi Guy said:
Lots of people like the Exact2, unlike the Elys2. It’s super easy to fit because of the 3 screw mount.
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Yeah, that's what I've heard by looking into forums! I like the Elys 2, but I might end up feeling like "actually, the Elys 2 was pretty crap" after I upgrade my cartridge to something better like the Rega Exact 2 or the Ortofon Blue cartridges!

Thanks for the comment HiFi Guy! It gives me a bit more peace of mind with you just confirming that a lot of people like the Rega Exact 2, as you're the ultimate vinyl audio hardware expert! 💯
 
I preferred the Nag to the exact although the exact was a good fit on my system too. Fitting both is easy but for the nagoaka you take the tone arm off to fit a spacer first. It's dead easy to do though. Just a couple of screws. The fit the cart, align with a free Internet tool (Ive bought a mf Geodisk that is easy enough for me to work out) and then kick out the jams. And if you want to toucan then just swap the stylus about with other Nagoakas so can have a 110/150 for playing knackered old shite and a better stylus like the 200 for your decent stuff
 
Nice, warm cuddly sounds for nice warm cuddly jazz. Although that said it's no slouch for detail and definition.

Out of the carts I've tried (elys, exact, ortofon bronze - and Nag 200) it was by far my fave. Also seems more forgiving on less than pristine records too which is helpful
 
Rowan said:
I preferred the Nag to the exact although the exact was a good fit on my system too. Fitting both is easy but for the nagoaka you take the tone arm off to fit a spacer first. It's dead easy to do though. Just a couple of screws. The fit the cart, align with a free Internet tool (Ive bought a mf Geodisk that is easy enough for me to work out) and then kick out the jams. And if you want to toucan then just swap the stylus about with other Nagoakas so can have a 110/150 for playing knackered old shite and a better stylus like the 200 for your decent stuff
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hmmmm, I might actually get the Nagaoka MP-200 then! But knowing the Exact Rega 2 is still a very good cartridge might mean that I try that next, just because it's also a Rega brand, then afterwards in a year or so, I can upgrade to other cartridges that are non-Rega!

Thank you for that description of how you fit in the Nagaoka 200! I don't quite understand that last sentence though. Are you saying that once I put in a Nagaoka 200 cartridge, it will be very easy for me to replace my Nagaoka 200, with other Nagaoka branded cartridges? What's do you mean I can have a "110/150 for playing tired old shit". Like you think I can quickly replace the Nagaoka 200 cartridge with a cheaper Nagaoka cartridge, like the 110 or 150, to play other records?
 
Rowan said:
Nice, warm cuddly sounds for nice warm cuddly jazz. Although that said it's no slouch for detail and definition.

Out of the carts I've tried (elys, exact, ortofon bronze - and Nag 200) it was by far my fave. Also seems more forgiving on less than pristine records too which is helpful
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Yeah, I was thinking of the Ortofon Bronze too! WOW, you must be an audiophile nerd to have tried all those cartridges! The Nagaoka 200 must be extremely good for you to think it sounds better than the Ortofon Bronze!

Did you prefer the Exact Rega 2 or Ortofon Bronze for your Rega Planar 3? Which cartridge produced better sound?
 
NathanRicaud said:
Yeah, I was thinking of the Ortofon Bronze too! WOW, you must be an audiophile nerd to have tried all those cartridges! The Nagaoka 200 must be extremely good for you to think it sounds better than the Ortofon Bronze!

Did you prefer the Exact Rega 2 or Ortofon Bronze for your Rega Planar 3? Which cartridge produced better sound?
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Of all the carts I’ve had I’d say steer clear of the Ortofon 2M Series.
 
duke86fan said:
what kinda sound do you like?
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I also like warm, deep cuddly sounds Dukey! I also really like a clean, balanced, no-filter crisp sound. A bit how like the Audio Techinca ATH-M50x's headphones are just a very clear, clean and balanced sound, that has a tight bass but is not overpowering/strong! So yeah, I'd say I like a balanced, clean and crisp sound but also like that warm, deep, cuddly sound too!
 
Joe Mac said:
Of all the carts I’ve had I’d say steer clear of the Ortofon 2M Series.
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OMG, No way Joe! From reading the forums, I hear the Ortofon 2M cartridges are great, and they also seem really popular! But at the same time, I have heard a lot of people upgrade from an Ortofon 2M cartridge and say something like "I'm much more happy with my cartridge/the sound quality".

Why do you say to steer clear of the ortorfon 2M Series cartridges? Do you think it's overpriced for how good they are? And also, maybe people really like the Ortofon 2M Series Blue and Bronze because they're upgrading it from an Rega Elys 2 cartridge, which has pretty negative reviews from the public!
 
So you get a cart that attaches to the tonearm. Once the cart is installed you can unclip the front bit which has the stylus attached. No screws or anything and no need to realign. So when the stylus goes you only replace the stylus.

And the cart will take other nag styli too. From memory you can put a 110, 150, 200 or 300 stylus on a 200 body so if you get a load of old records from a market/ ebay etc and are worried that they may trash your nice expensive stylus you could keep a mp110 stylus spare and use it to play the ropey stuff. It's a cheaper stylus but is still great and tracks like a champ (I fitted one to a mates TT recently. Its a ridiculously good cart for the price)

Someone here may already do that and can tell you whether it's worth doing.
 
Joe Mac said:
DEFINITELY avoid the Ortofon 2M Series then, detailed, trending to bright in the wrong system.
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OK, I will definitely avoid the Ortofon 2M Series then, because I do not like the bright sound at all! Like you know how The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" mono Analogue Productions pressing has that warm, detailed, cuddly, deep sound! I loved that! I preferred it more to the Stereo Analogue productions pressing even though the sound was a bit more clearer on that one!

So yeah, looks like I'll definitely avoid the Ortofon then, as it would not support those pressings I really love in that sense!
 
NathanRicaud said:
Yeah, I was thinking of the Ortofon Bronze too! WOW, you must be an audiophile nerd to have tried all those cartridges! The Nagaoka 200 must be extremely good for you to think it sounds better than the Ortofon Bronze!

Did you prefer the Exact Rega 2 or Ortofon Bronze for your Rega Planar 3? Which cartridge produced better sound?
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Hated the Bronze. May have been the way I set it up but not for me. Listening to Love Supreme was like being stabbed in the ear.

And only went through as many carts through luck really. TT came with the elys, I was given a second hand exact to try as my first upgrade and liked it. When that started running down a bit picked up the bronze, hated it and flipped it but got the Nagoaka on a whim while passing through Tokyo on the way to Niseko a few years back and have used solidly since then. When I needs to be replaced I'll get another (unless I'm doing well enough to afford the MP500 that is).

Think you'd dig it. Maybe look at the mp300 too if you've money to burn
 
NathanRicaud said:
OMG, No way Joe! From reading the forums, I hear the Ortofon 2M cartridges are great, and they also seem really popular! But at the same time, I have heard a lot of people upgrade from an Ortofon 2M cartridge and say something like "I'm much more happy with my cartridge/the sound quality".

Why do you say to steer clear of the ortorfon 2M Series cartridges? Do you think it's overpriced for how good they are? And also, maybe people really like the Ortofon 2M Series Blue and Bronze because they're upgrading it from an Rega Elys 2 cartridge, which has pretty negative reviews from the public!
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i had a red. Bog standard entry level. Sounded ok until I got something better and realised it was a muddy mess. Upgraded to the blue, if you can’t have a Grado the blue (because of fitting or Grado gun issues) it is a good compromise at its price point, I much prefer the Grado gold at the same price point. I’ve heard the bronze and black in demo systems and didn’t like them.

The Ortofons are highly detailed cartridges and so emphasises the highs. I find this sounds bright and unpleasant to my ears, it’s not a sound profile that I want from vinyl. I prefer a warmer more natural sound which is why I went for a Grado cartridges. I’m not sure how easy they are to get in oz or to fit to a rega though sorry.
 
Rowan said:
So you get a cart that attaches to the tonearm. Once the cart is installed you can unclip the front bit which has the stylus attached. No screws or anything and no need to realign. So when the stylus goes you only replace the stylus.

And the cart will take other nag styli too. From memory you can put a 110, 150, 200 or 300 stylus on a 200 body so if you get a load of old records from a market/ ebay etc and are worried that they may trash your nice expensive stylus you could keep a mp110 stylus spare and use it to play the ropey stuff. It's a cheaper stylus but is still great and tracks like a champ (I fitted one to a mates TT recently. Its a ridiculously good cart for the price)

Someone here may already do that and can tell you whether it's worth doing.
Click to expand...
Totally get you now! OK, I think I'm definitely going to go for the Nagaoka cartridges then as they have a good range in terms for variety, for great prices.....unlike the Rega cartridges (limited range, more pricey and some of their cartridges have mixed reviews).

I've just ordered the LAST stylus cleaner! It's a total upgrade from both the Onzow Zero Dust Stylus and Groovewasher SC1 Stylus fluid/brush I had. So I'm not too concerned about playing older records! I'll be giving them a good clean through either the spin clean, or will give them a really good instant clean with the Groovewasher general fluid I have - which actually works really well! Plus, I'll be giving my stylus a clean with the LAST brush/fluid before every needle drop, which will ensure that my stylus is just very clean before playing on any record!

I really like the idea of having a spare stylus though for more beaten, older records! But I also think to myself to clean the record and to just always make sure my stylus is cleaned before every needle drop, regardless of the record condition so then my stylus will last long!
 
Joe Mac said:
i had a red. Bog standard entry level. Sounded ok until I got something better and realised it was a muddy mess. Upgraded to the blue, if you can’t have a Grado the blue (because of fitting or Grado gun issues) it is a good compromise at its price point, I much prefer the Grado gold at the same price point. I’ve heard the bronze and black in demo systems and didn’t like them.

The Ortofons are highly detailed cartridges and so emphasises the highs. I find this sounds bright and unpleasant to my ears, it’s not a sound profile that I want from vinyl. I prefer a warmer more natural sound which is why I went for a Grado cartridges. I’m not sure how easy they are to get in oz or to fit to a rega though sorry.
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yeah, I've heard great stuff about the Grado cartridges too! I think I'm gonna go for either a Rega Exact 2 or the Nagaoka MP-200. But after you describing the Grado cartridge you have, it sounds like something that is right up my alley! I like the warmer, natural sound too! And knowing the Grado fits that is really satisfying to know!

I'll do my research on what people's experiences are on the Steve Hoffman forums with Grado cartridges who have a Rega Planar 3 turntable/any Rega turntable!

Just to confirm Joe, it's the GRADO PRESTIGE GOLD 2 cartridge we are talking about? I can get it for AUD$379 here including shipping, so I'm very happy with that price point as the Rega Exact 2 cartridge is AUD$539!
 
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