"Recommended" Award - Hi-Fi Choice
Innovative MM Phono Cartridge with Neodynium Magnets and Elliptical Diamond Stylus
For 'next level' performance from Moving Magnet (MM) technology, Rega's innovative Nd5 moving magnet cartridge was developed over 10 years of rigorous R&D and critical listening. According to Rega, the Nd range of MM cartridges are the first in the world to use ultra-high powered Neodymium magnets for this totally unique design.
"Rega has built a bit of a star turn here," notes Ed Selley in his review for Hi-Fi Choice, which honors the ND5 with the magazine's "Recommended" award. "The Nd5 is a dramatic improvement on its long-running forebears and one of the very best designs available for £300 right now. Naturally, most will find their way onto Rega turntables (or at least Rega tonearms), but this is a formidable all-rounder that is likely to be every bit as capable used on other turntables too. And so, it has to be on any shortlist at the price."
"It Sounded Stunning"
"I also played 'Timeless' by John Abercrombie, this combines low bass synth with guitar and drums on an excellent ECM recording, it sounded stunning on the P2/Nd5 combo," reports Jason Kennedy, the-ear.net, June 27, 2024.
"In many respects Rega have proved that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get high quality results with vinyl, all you need are the records. I thought I had enough of them, but this cartridge makes it clear that all the stuff I love on digital could sound better."
Handmade by Highly Skilled Technicians
Each Nd5 is meticulously handmade by Rega's highly skilled technicians. The stylus profile is a perfect elliptical nude diamond. This is a true ellipse created by an elliptical grinding process made from polycrystalline manmade diamond. The design uses brand new generator geometry with perfect symmetry to achieve accurate channel balance.
The Nd5 also has an optimized pole gap for superior linearity and crosstalk characteristics, providing a far wider soundstage than the previous models. This new cartridge is created with miniaturized parallel coils, which are wound in-house utilizing 38-micron wire with just 1275 turns. This produces a low inductance, low impedance generator giving vastly improved high frequency response.
Neodymium Magnet Technology Breakthrough
Although Neodymium (Nd) magnets are used in Moving Coil designs, the Nd cartridge is the first Moving Magnet cartridge to utilize a Neodymium (Nd) N55 magnet. This is the world's most powerful commercially available magnet and is a crucial component that makes this unique design possible by delivering extra power compared to standard bar magnet designs.
Glass-Filled PPS Body
The complete assembly is housed in Rega's zero-tolerance injection molded glass-filled polyphenylene sulphide body (PPS), which is a lightweight and highly rigid material. A low mass body reduces stress on the tonearm bearings and aids free movement which is critical in accurate vinyl replay. This new body design was inspired by Rega's hugely successful MC range.
Cantilever and Stylus Profile
The Nd5's aluminum cantilever is fitted with a precision perfect elliptical nude diamond stylus. This profile provides exceptional tracking accuracy and extracts greater levels of detail from the vinyl surface.
Green Packaging
In keeping with Rega's firm commitment to sustainability, the Nd range is supplied in 100% recyclable packaging.