Rega Carbon MM Hi-Fi cartridge

A new REGA cartridge is always a major event, especially when the manufacturer makes its range more affordable. The latest model is the CARBON. This ambitious name is justified by the use of a cantilever crafted in a carbon piece. This cartridge is not manufactured in the UK but in Japan by the famous audio manufacturer Audio Technica, though FULLY IN COMPLIANCE with REGA's specifications. This includes the carbon cantilever that has a high level of rigidity and very light, in addition to good vibration damping properties. Another noteworthy feature is the innovative winding process that uses a very thin copper wire to make the cartridge lighter. A very unusual feature for the British manufacturer is that the stylus is replaceable…

The sound is punchy and shows a good definition and amazing presence, giving a lot of charm to the vocals and string sections. It seems perfectly suited to the Rega RP1 (which is perfectly logical!), delivering a more subtle sound than the Ortofon OM5 cartridge, even if a break-in period of about thirty hours is required … We cannot but recommend it!