APHETA 3

For more than 15 years Rega has been perfecting its unique designs of moving coil cartridges. We have pioneered undamped micro mass generation systems coupled with high integrity jointless bodies. In recent times we have achieved new levels of power from rare earth magnets. This 15-year evolution using the latest technological manufacturing process and recognised laws bought us the hugely successful Apheta 2. With the Apheta 3, we have pushed another boundary, for several years we have been developing state of the art diamond profiles of a “Fine Line” design mounted through 90 degrees (the same technique used in our Aphelion 2 reference model) this work has resulted in Apheta 3 extracting even more detail from the record groove which of course translates into more music.

Rega’s Moving Coil cartridge design is unique in its approach to achieving an ultra-low mass generator that 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 Apheta 3, these bodies are machined from one piece of the highest quality aluminium. 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 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 Apheta 3 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.