Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
Product Strengths
- Combines smoothness on top and in the mids with more sharply drawn and better-defined high-frequency transients
- A masterfully voiced, low-coloration cartridge that worked well with all musical genres, especially acoustic music
- The body is made of A6063, an alloy of aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, and has a 50µm-thick base coating of nickel that in turn is plated in chrome
- Air Tight has also fine-tuned the suspension, to produce more cleanly defined images and better overall soundstaging
Product Considerations
- Tracking abilities are only moderately good
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The PC-1 coda's cymbals had a transient clarity, 'sizzle,' and surrounding air that the reviewer did not recall hearing from even the Air Tight Opus-1
Takeaway: The PC-1 coda is a well-balanced cartridge that produces enjoyable sound across a variety of musical genres, especially acoustic music. It combines smoothness with sharply defined high frequencies, producing a low-coloration sound.
Compared to their other products
We think it's helpful to understand how this product fits into the brand's full lineup (below). To learn more about these products, visit the brand's page.
ATC-3
- Positioning: The entry-level stereo line-control amplifier designed for affordability and ease of use.
- Description: Features a simple SRPP design with a reinforced buffer stage and a quick recovery diode power supply that offers very low noise. Compared to the more advanced ATC-7, it has fewer features and lower output capability, making it best for small rooms and buyers with a tighter budget and basic functionality needs.
ATC-7
- Positioning: The mid-range stereo line-control amplifier focused on precise signal handling.
- Description: Uses dual 12AX7 and 12AU7 valves to deliver precise control, a wide frequency range, and low distortion. Compared to the entry-level ATC-3, it offers enhanced performance and output voltage while leaving the high-powered driver role to the ATM series.
ATM-1S
- Positioning: The stereo power amplifier built to deliver dependable and balanced performance.
- Description: Uses a traditional Mullard phase inversion circuit with 6CA7 valves and robust Hashimoto transformers to achieve 36W per channel with solid headroom. Compared to the flagship mono BLOCK ATM-3211 and the preamp line (ATC-7 and ATC-3), it strikes a balance in cost and power.
ATM-3211
- Positioning: The high-end mono power amplifier engineered for maximum power delivery.
- Description: Uses a five-year developed 211 triode push-pull circuit that produces 120W output with a wide frequency response and premium hand-picked components. Compared to the stereo ATM-1S and the preamp ATC series, it offers higher output power and superior build quality.
Read the reviews
PC-1 Supreme
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Manufacturer's notes
- Internal impedance: 1 ohm (DCR)
- Output voltage: 0.4mV/1kHz
- Stylus pressure: 1.9 - 2.2g
- Channel balance: within 0.5dB/1kHz
- Dynamic Compliance: 8x10⁻⁶Cm/Dyne
- Cantilever: boron
- Weight: 12g
Our take on the brand
Used
A&M
What if you spend a bit more?
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Uses a Neodymium magnet, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, enabling unique generator geometry and performance previously unattainable in moving magnet designs
- Has a nude elliptical stylus which provides exceptional tracking accuracy and extracts greater levels of detail from the vinyl groove
- The optimized pole gap gives superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, resulting in a far wider soundstage
- Miniaturized parallel coils wound in-house using 38-micron wire with just 1275 turns produce a low inductance, low impedance generator giving vastly improved high frequency response
- More refined, clean and open sound with much more shine in the treble and a relaxed and nuanced presentation
Product Considerations
- Premium pricing may be a consideration
- Requires careful setup for optimal performance
- The essentially plastic nature of the Nd body could be a concern, though Rega states the threads are durable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rega Exact: The Nd5 soundly trounces the outgoing Exact in every department, with a bigger soundstage, more open and sweeter sound, and more grip and grunt
- Vs Goldring 1042: The Nd5 is considerably more refined, clean and open, with much more shine in the treble and a presentation that is relaxed and nuanced by comparison
Takeaway: The Nd5 offers high-end audio quality and brings new life to vinyl, with neutrality, clarity, and excellent tracking ability. It delivers performance approaching high-end moving coil designs with the practicality of a moving magnet.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The familia red body which has always been a feature of the 10X series which has undergone minor improvements has now been manufactured for more than forty years.It represents Dynavectors most popular ever model, favoured by music lovers and audiophiles all over the world.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Enhanced musical detail and resolving power due to lighter coils
- More extended and airier sound compared to the high output version
- Vivid and rich musicality, mirroring the high output version
- Very low noise level during playback, suppressing surface noise
- Tracks warped records surprisingly well
- Requires a quality moving coil phono stage or step-up transformer due to low output (0.5mV)
Product Considerations
- Can be highly dependent on tonearm matching for optimal performance
- Some reviewers found the sound dynamically restrained and less involving in certain setups
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Dynavector DV-10X5 MkII (High Output), the low output version provides superior sonic performance with more detail, extension, and airiness
- Vs Dynavector DV20x2, the DV-10X5 MkII L can have more dynamic impact, incisiveness, and PRaT, though this may depend on setup
Takeaway: The DV-10X5 MkII L cartridge is a good choice for listeners who want enhanced detail and a more open sound from their vinyl. With a good phono stage, this cartridge can bring listeners closer to the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Considered one of the best moving magnet cartridges available
- Offers a sound quality that resembles a moving coil cartridge, providing an open, airy, and sparkly sound not typically associated with moving magnet designs
- Provides a big 3D soundstage, speed, and musical engagement
- Offers excellent value for money, especially considering the performance
- Uses a fine line nude diamond stylus, which is the same stylus used in Rega's most expensive cartridge, the Aphelion 2
Product Considerations
- Stylus is not user-replaceable, requiring a re-tipping service through a retailer or directly with Rega
- Alignment needs to be more careful due to the fine line stylus
- Some report waiting lists due to high demand
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- ND7 gets close to the performance of Rega's best moving coil, but is not quite equal—there is a clear drop in performance
- ND7 sounds better than the Rega Enea in terms of musicality and tonal balance
- ND7 is considered an upgrade from the Rega Exact
- ND7 offers a bigger soundstage, better dynamics, more powerful/defined bass, and better treble detail than the Rega ND5, which leads to a crisper and more refined presentation
Takeaway: The Rega ND7 is a highly capable moving magnet cartridge that delivers near-moving coil performance at a fraction of the cost and offers a sound that engages the listener. The ND7 is well worth considering for those who want a seriously good cartridge without the expense of a moving coil setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The MK II upgrade to our globally best-selling Hana S series cartridges enhances their musical performance and value. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san implements a new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity, resulting in a remarkable improvement in transferring groove modulation from the vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series MK II cartridges feature higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes from Hana's higher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana "brilliant and gorgeous" sound.
Hana S Series MK II cartridges use a new tapered aluminum cantilever with higher rigidity and effective mass reduction at the stylus tip. This results in greater clarity and increased music transfer from vinyl records to cartridge generator. Critical parts, including the Yoke, Pole-pieces, and gold Terminal pins, have been cryogenically treated for a more natural sound.
The improved, non-resonant body shape, modeled after the Hana M Series, is damped with a matte Soft Feel Black elastomeric resin paint and features a brass cap with threaded cartridge mounting fittings. The heavier MK II cartridges offer better coupling and expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms, improving bass and dynamics.
The SL MK II generator, as found in the Umami Blue and ML, incorporates an Alnico magnet and cross-coil using high-purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance. This improves signal-to-noise, reduces moving mass for higher resolution and trackability, and optimizes performance for a broader range of phono stages.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Larger soundstage, better macro and micro dynamics, and more openness on the top end than the original SL
- More information retrieval and better separation of instruments compared to the original SL
- Presents a coherent musical picture with great dynamic expression and good musical flow
- Threaded holes for easier mounting
Product Considerations
- Stylus guard design is the same as the original SL, which is considered contentious to deal with
- Falls short in terms of ultimate openness on the top end and probing the depths of a bassline
- Output level is reduced to 0.4mV from the original SL's 0.5mV
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Hana SL (MK I), the MK II outperforms the original in every aspect of sound, with stark differences in sound quality
Takeaway: The Hana SL MK II is a significantly improved cartridge offering a quantum leap in performance compared to its predecessor, making it a worthwhile upgrade for current SL owners and a great value for new buyers. It delivers excellent sound quality and musicality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What else competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- A Neodymium N55 magnet is used, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, potentially providing more power and lower overall mass
- A noticeable signature style of sounding spacious and open is delivered, bringing a sense of air usually associated with moving coil cartridges
- Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- An optimized pole gap provides superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, which provides a far wider soundstage than the previous models
- The three-point mount system simplifies alignment, particularly for Rega turntable owners and ensures perfect alignment when used with Rega tonearms
Product Considerations
- The counterweight side of things was a little trickier than some other models because there's no traditional kind of dial and numbers on the counterweight
- The connection pins on the back are smaller than those on the Carbon, so the delicate tags had to be carefully squeezed so that they made a tight fit on the new cartridge
- It is a little reserved in the mid-range, which some listeners may seek out, while others maybe not so much
- Holes do not have brass inserts for the bolts to screw into, but a thread is cut into the body; given that the body is plastic, concern that tightening with the Rega torque driver might strip the thread
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Ortofon 2M Red: Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- Vs Rega Carbon: It is open and extended in the treble and superbly timed for its asking price, which really makes the Carbon sound course and dull in the high frequencies
Takeaway: The Nd3 is a step up from entry-level cartridges, providing a noticeable improvement in sound quality, like greater detail and better instrument separation, and it brings welcome sound characteristics and sophistication at an affordable price. The Nd3 is well-suited for those looking for a more open and dynamic listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
Product Strengths
- Combines smoothness on top and in the mids with more sharply drawn and better-defined high-frequency transients
- A masterfully voiced, low-coloration cartridge that worked well with all musical genres, especially acoustic music
- The body is made of A6063, an alloy of aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, and has a 50µm-thick base coating of nickel that in turn is plated in chrome
- Air Tight has also fine-tuned the suspension, to produce more cleanly defined images and better overall soundstaging
Product Considerations
- Tracking abilities are only moderately good
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The PC-1 coda's cymbals had a transient clarity, 'sizzle,' and surrounding air that the reviewer did not recall hearing from even the Air Tight Opus-1
Takeaway: The PC-1 coda is a well-balanced cartridge that produces enjoyable sound across a variety of musical genres, especially acoustic music. It combines smoothness with sharply defined high frequencies, producing a low-coloration sound.
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