Description
The Ultimate in Micro Engineering and Design
The Rega Aphelion 2 MC Cartridge is the ultimate in micro engineering and design.
Rega’s unique hand-wound micro cross and coil assembly is built directly onto a Boron rod cantilever. The advanced ‘fine line’ profile nude diamond is then mounted through 90 degrees which offers extreme levels of stiffness and control over the stylus.
This design requires a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to engineering to achieve the highest level of performance from a Rega cartridge to date. Designed to complement the reference range of Rega turntables including the Naiad.
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Review
“This cartridge is a revelation, there’s no other word for it … If you want to know exactly what your records sound like it is very highly recommended.” – JASON KENNEDY – THE EAR
Features
- Graded zero tolerance black anodised aluminium body
- Boron rod cantilever
- ‘Fine line’ profile, nude diamond stylus
- Iron micro cross and coil assembly making one of the worlds smallest MC generators
- Worlds most powerful minaturised neodymium magnet
- High specification fine wire 0.018 mm
- Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects
Rega’s Moving Coil cartridge design is unique in its approach to achieving an ultra-low mass generator which is undamped (no tie wire) using a unique rhomboid pivot for the cantilever powered by a purpose designed, exclusive to Rega, Neodymium magnet system.
This type of design requires a zero-tolerance engineered cartridge body which is Rega’s area of expertise and with the Aphelion 2 these bodies are machined from one piece of the highest quality aluminum.
This is a difficult and expensive process requiring all of Rega’s years of experience to achieve. In particular, the “zero” tolerancing of the body is required in the alignment and dimension of the pivot pad mounting hole and the magnet mechanism mounting hole relationship.
Conventional MC cartridges
Conventional MC cartridges utilize a steel suspension system (tie wire) which creates a high amplitude H.F. resonance (normally around 8-12 kHz). Such resonance is unacceptable and is usually damped by a rudimentary piece of foam rubber.
However, the foam rubber deteriorates with age and cannot prevent the complete structure from vibrating and “ringing”. The specifics and adjustment of the tie wire and damping determine whether the cartridge is under damped (bright) or over damped (warm and bass heavy).
A happy medium is rarely achieved.
This encouraged Rega to pursue a new direction inspired by modern materials and the basic laws of magnetism. The Aphelion 2 contains neither a tie wire nor a foam damper. Moving coil aficionados will all recognise the long search for super clear, high frequency combined with firm, tight bass, characteristics all Rega moving coils exhibit.
Specifications
- Tracking Pressure – 1.9 g
- Input Load Impedance – 100 Ω
- Output Impedance – 10 Ω
- Nominal Output Voltage – 350 μV
- Channel Balance – ≥ 10 μV
- Separation – ≥ -29 dB
- Mass – 6 g
LOAD SETTINGS FOR ADJUSTABLE MC STAGES
- Impedance – 100 Ω
- Capacitance – 1000 pF
- Gain Setting – High (‘On’ position for Rega phono stages)
- For full technical specifications, download the User Manual (above).
