Rega launches a trio of cartridge options for its five-star Planar turntables

Rega Nd7 cartridge on Planar 8 turntable
(Image credit: Rega)

Rega's current range of turntables has an enviable track record of five-star reviews from What Hi-Fi?, but there is a significant change coming soon that might shake things up. Rega has launched three new moving magnet cartridges in the past few weeks – the Nd3, Nd5 and Nd7 – that aim to deliver ‘next level’ performance for moving magnet designs.

We saw our first glimpse of the range-topping Nd7 back in February at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2024, but now that this trio of new models are officially available to buy, it also means they will replace older cartridge models and can be factory-fitted to Rega's current range of Planar turntables.

The new Nd cartridges are a result of 10 years of development, are hand-made by Rega's technicians and feature an all-new construction. All three cartridges use a powerful neodymium magnet (hence the Nd in the name), which is the most concentrated form of magnet commercially available and offers a high amount of magnetic power for a small volume compared with other magnet types. 

The generator arrangement has been carefully designed with "perfect symmetry" in mind to achieve more accurate channel balance. The cartridges use coil wires of just 38 microns thin, with a relatively low number of turns (1275), which reduces impedance and increases high-frequency performance.  

Rega Nd3 cartridge on Planar 8 turntable

(Image credit: Rega)

While the basic design is the same across all three cartridges, it's the stylus tip that is the differentiator. The Nd3 uses a bonded manmade polycrystalline diamond, while the Nd5 uses a "perfect elliptical nude diamond" – which is a purer, higher quality of diamond and step up from the Nd3 in terms of tracking accuracy and detail retrieval. 

At the top of the range is the Nd7, which uses a "Fine Line nude diamond" with the same stylus profile as Rega's high-end moving coil cartridges Apheta 3 and Aphelion 2. Also inspired by the MC range, the body is made out of a glass-filled plastic mould called PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) and you can also differentiate between the three models thanks to the different cover colours.

The prices for each cartridge when bought separately are:

Nd3 - £175 (red cover)
Nd5 - £295 (smoked clear cover)
Nd7 - £450 (clear yellow cover)

But it isn't just the new cartridges that are of interest, it's also how they impact the current Planar 2, Planar 3 and Planar 6 turntables' prices and performance. The new Nd cartridges are now available as factory-fitted options for these five-star turntables, and we are keen to hear just how much of a performance change these next-gen cartridges will have compared with previous cartridge combinations. 

The Nd3 replaces the Elys2 cartridge and the Nd5 replaces the Exact cartridge. The Nd7 is a new tier of moving magnet cartridge for Rega and doesn't replace any model. 

Rega Nd5 cartridge on Planar turntable

(Image credit: Rega)

The standard Nd cartridge price is discounted when you opt to have one factory-fitted to your Planar turntable. The UK pricing for the new cartridge and turntable combinations are as follows:

Planar 2 / Nd3 - £599
Planar 3 / Nd3 - £799
Planar 3 / Nd5 - £895
Planar 6 / Nd5 - £1450
Planar 6 / Nd7 - £1575
Planar 8 / Nd7 - £2230

For those curious about the other Rega models: the entry-level Rega Planar 1 and Planar 1 Plus still come with the entry-level Carbon MM fitted as standard, while the brand's moving coil cartridges (Ania Pro, Apheta 3, Aphelion 2) for Planar 6, Planar 8, Planar 10 and Naia turntables remain unchanged.

Rega has also clarified that the Planar 2 comes with the Carbon MM as standard unless you specifically ask for the Nd3 (at an extra cost). The Ania MC – which was tested in our Planar 6 turntable review – is still available and sold separately, but is no longer offered as a fitted option.

We are currently reviewing the Rega Planar 3/Nd3 combination and will soon have the Planar 2/Nd3 turntable in our test rooms too, so stay tuned for the full reviews!

MORE:

Read our original Rega Planar 3/Elys 3 review

Check out the best record players you can buy at any budget

Here's how to change the cartridge on your turntable

And check out the best-sounding vinyl records to spin

Kashfia Kabir
Hi-Fi and Audio Editor

Kashfia is the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? and first joined the brand over 10 years ago. During her time in the consumer tech industry, she has reviewed hundreds of products (including speakers, amplifiers, turntables and headphones), been to countless trade shows across the world and fallen in love with hi-fi kit much bigger than her. In her spare time, Kash can be found tending to an ever-growing houseplant collection and shooing her cat Jolene away from spinning records.

  • Hifiman
    And so the cost of Rega turntables march yet higher. Now the cost of the Planar 2 / Nd3 is about the same as the Planar 3 / Elys 3 when reviewed by WHF in 2021. I have high hopes for these new cartridges (they hopefully have properties akin to a moving coil but output of a moving magnet) but wonder if Rega are leaving their traditional customer base - including me - behind.
    Reply
  • Rui
    I bought a P10 and choose to have the Hana Humami red because it´s less expensive for me , i kept the alpheta 3 to install in a old Pioneer turntable from 79,

    i also have in a Sl-3100 from technics a Grado prestige II gold it sounded very good but i notice in diferent sounding records the Grado(not only) makes it sound very strange, but most of them sound very good ,

    i only have the opinion that old turnatbles and cartridges were better or compatible with any tipe of sound in record as it happened all my life ,this new wave things are strangelly done,

    too expensive compared to old cartridges taking in account the price at the time and what one wearned every month, for no reason cartridges were bigger as the sytlus itself had 5 X more hours of listening than todays stylus, also sound quality was very good above 100€ range,

    in some years (around 1990)one could buy a good technics with all included for 100€ and a bit more depending on the turntable model,

    also depends in the country , some had better wages and even less expensive would be to buy a technics turntable and already proved to be more faithfull to the specifications provided than new Rega and Pro-Jects close or around 1.000€ even new ,when measured the specifications are far from what is described, check some tests done by old hi-fi especialists on youtube,
    Reply