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
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail retrieval.
- Excellent dynamics and speed.
- Stiff boron cantilever.
- Ideal synergy with Rega turntables.
Product Considerations
- Potentially bright or cool sound signature.
- Low output, requiring a high-quality, low-noise phono stage to achieve optimal performance.
- Revealing of recording quality.
- Limited accessories, though a torque wrench is provided.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Aphelion 2 excels in detail, resolution, tone, and dynamics compared to the Koetsu Black Goldline, which is lusher and warmer.
- The Aphelion 2 is technically similar to the Ortofon A95 and Cadenza Black in using a boron rod cantilever, however, it stands out when used with a Rega arm due to its three-point fixing design.
Takeaway: The Aphelion 2 is a revealing and dynamic cartridge that extracts incredible detail from vinyl, offering a musically engaging experience, especially on Rega turntables. Its technical design and synergistic engineering make it a worthwhile upgrade for serious vinyl enthusiasts.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Aphelion 2
reviews
[{"title":"REGA APHELION 2 Review – Top 2","link":"https://reviewary.com/rega-aphelion-2-review","source":"Reviewary","datePublished":"2020"},{"title":"Rega Aphelion 2","link":"https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/rega-aphelion-2-moving-coil-cartridge","source":"the ear hifi music gear","datePublished":"2020"},{"title":"Rega Research Planar 10 Turntable and Aphelion 2 Cartridge","link":"https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1193-rega-research-planar-10-turntable-and-aphelion-2-cartridge","source":"Soundstage! Ultra","datePublished":"2023"},{"title":"Michael Fremer Goes In-Depth on Rega Naia and Aphelion 2","link":"https://soundorg.com/news/michael-fremer-goes-indepth-on-rega-naia-and-aphelion-2","source":"The Sound Organisation","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"Hi-Fi World Finds Aphelion 2 Cartridge Outstanding","link":"https://soundorg.com/news/hifi-world-finds-aphelion-2-cartridge-outstanding","source":"The Sound Organisation","datePublished":"2021"},{"title":"REGA APHELION 2 REVIEW | Better than a Koetsu?","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5rTmKq3dcI","source":"Analogholic","datePublished":"2024"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Tracking Pressure: 1.9g
- Input Load Impedance: 100 Ω
- Output Impedance: 10 Ω
- Nominal Output Voltage: 350 μV
- Channel Balance: ≥ 10 μV
- Separation: ≥ -29 dB
- Mass: 6g
Description
Aphelion 2 is the 4th generation of our unique handmade moving coil cartridges. Taking the technology developed from the original Aphelion and the latest Apheta 3 to the next level, our engineers have now fine-tuned every aspect of the original designs.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- The brand prioritizes achieving "musical coherence" and "timing" in its products, even if it means sacrificing some transparency or absolute detail, resulting in an engaging listening experience.
- They have a design approach focused on minimizing mass and maximizing rigidity in its turntables, resulting in reduced vibration and enhanced detail retrieval from vinyl recordings.
- Rega offers a distinct aesthetic across its product line, emphasizing simple, functional designs with a consistent visual language that many customers find appealing and timeless.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Planar 1 Plus
- Positioning: The entry-level turntable with a built-in phono stage, making it ideal for beginners.
- Description: Features a built-in phono stage that eliminates the need for an external preamp. This makes it more accessible compared to other models like the Planar 3 RS Edition, which requires additional components for optimal performance. Its low noise motor and advanced drive belt technology offer a solid performance for small rooms and budget-conscious users.
Planar 78
- Positioning: A specialized turntable designed exclusively for 78 RPM records.
- Description: Stands out with its dedicated 78 RPM speed, catering specifically to collectors of vintage records. Unlike the Planar 1 Plus, which is more versatile, the Planar 78 uses high-quality components like the RB220 tonearm to deliver precise playback for 78 RPM enthusiasts.
Planar 3 RS Edition
- Positioning: A mid-range turntable offering enhanced features and performance.
- Description: Notable for its high-pressure laminate plinth and custom Neo MK2 PSU, providing superior speed control and reduced motor noise. Compared to the Planar 1 Plus, it offers a more refined soundstage and build quality. Its advanced tonearm and cartridge options make it a strong upgrade from entry-level models.
Planar 10
- Positioning: A premium turntable designed for ultimate performance.
- Description: Uses ceramic oxide platter and RB3000 tonearm, delivering exceptional accuracy and speed stability. It offers a significant upgrade over the Planar 8 with its advanced materials and design. Its sophisticated power supply and build quality make it a top choice for serious audiophiles.
Naia
- Positioning: Rega's ultimate turntable, representing the pinnacle of their design and engineering.
- Description: Features a graphene-impregnated carbon fiber plinth and zirconium toughened alumina bearing, providing exceptional rigidity and resonance control. It surpasses the Planar 10 with its innovative materials and construction. Its advanced tonearm and power supply options cater to the most discerning audiophiles.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$5,001-$10,000
Used For Sale
229
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
11
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
37
Founding Year
1973
Our take on the brand
Rega is a British hifi brand known for its minimalist, low-mass turntable designs that challenge the industry's typical heavy-mass approach to reducing vibration. Their hand-assembled turntables and tonearms use advanced materials like graphene-infused carbon fiber and feature slim yet rigid plinths with striking glass platters, reflecting founder Roy Gandy's unique engineering perspective on how components affect
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
Used
Rega
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
EMT Tontechnik
JSD Novel Titan
6995
/
Released
2021
Ultimate stereo cartridge with EMT multi-layer core transducer and titanium body
EMT Tontechnik, originally developed for German broadcasters, is renowned for its high-performance moving coil cartridges and digital reverb units that emphasize honesty and coherence. Their turntables and cartridges maintain a distinct sonic signature that blends transient speed with musical attack, while their reverb units, including the EMT 246 with its EMT 250 algorithm, are considered among the best digital reverbs ever made.
Expand Details
.svg)
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Generous low-frequency transient textures, such as fingers plucking double bass strings
- Smoothness, refinement, good timbral balance, and commendable transparency
- Precise build quality
- Seamless delivery, producing musical pleasure on a rich, colorful pallet
Product Considerations
- The Titan does not include a stylus guard, which could be a problem for people with cats, children, or housekeepers
- A particular vocal sibilant characteristic—a super-narrow, almost sweet peak—was noted
- If hard rock is your thing—look elsewhere
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Original vs test pressing of The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark—the EMT's generous presentation of bass transient textures was there too, without overhang
Takeaway: The EMT JSD Novel Titan MC cartridge uses modern materials to enhance a classic design, delivering a fast and fresh sound. With its high output and precise build, it reliably delivers satisfying musical experiences.
Video review
Our take on the brand
EMT Tontechnik, originally developed for German broadcasters, is renowned for its high-performance moving coil cartridges and digital reverb units that emphasize honesty and coherence. Their turntables and cartridges maintain a distinct sonic signature that blends transient speed with musical attack, while their reverb units, including the EMT 246 with its EMT 250 algorithm, are considered among the best digital reverbs ever made.
Product Page
Product Page
TechDAS
TDC01
8338
/
Released
2024
The TDC01 cartridge features a novel egg-shaped housing which was chosen because of its unchallenged structural Section Modulus properties. This unique housing made of A7075 Super Duralumin, and although difficult to machine with such extreme precision, is an ideal form factor to dissipate extraneous energy coming from the record groove. This, in turn, allows the generator system to reproduce only the clean signal of the music itself.
TechDAS is a premium turntable brand that uses rare air bearing and vacuum hold-down technologies, designed by former Micro Seiki engineer Hideaki Nishikawa. Their Air Force series turntables combine high-mass chassis with advanced air suspension systems to minimize vibrations, while their vacuum hold-down system reduces record warping for better sound quality.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Combines a satiny top-end sheen with an authoritarian dynamic slam and impressive transparency
- Soundstages were deep and wide where appropriate
- Produced transient sharpness on the bottom and in the mids
- Tonally neutral-sounding
- Bottom-end extension and resolution of low-level detail were high quality
Product Considerations
- Super-refined reproduction of transients as somewhat on the polite side overall, and better suited to jazz and classical than to harder-edged rock, soul, and blues
- Requires a very low loading value to get the most out of it, surprising considering the recommended 100-200 ohms
- At 17gm, it is on the heavy side
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The TechDAS TDC01 Ti offered transparency similar to the Kuzma CAR-60
- The TechDAS TDC01 Ti also produced Proteus-like overall dynamic 'slam'
Takeaway: The TechDAS TDC01 Ti cartridge is a high-quality product that combines smoothness with dynamic slam, making for a refined sound. Its neutrality and detail make it a good choice for audiophiles who enjoy jazz and classical music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
TechDAS is a premium turntable brand that uses rare air bearing and vacuum hold-down technologies, designed by former Micro Seiki engineer Hideaki Nishikawa. Their Air Force series turntables combine high-mass chassis with advanced air suspension systems to minimize vibrations, while their vacuum hold-down system reduces record warping for better sound quality.
Product Page
Product Page
EMT Tontechnik
JSD Novel Gold
7995
/
Released
2021
Ultimate stereo cartridge with EMT multi-layer core transducer and high-density body
EMT Tontechnik, originally developed for German broadcasters, is renowned for its high-performance moving coil cartridges and digital reverb units that emphasize honesty and coherence. Their turntables and cartridges maintain a distinct sonic signature that blends transient speed with musical attack, while their reverb units, including the EMT 246 with its EMT 250 algorithm, are considered among the best digital reverbs ever made.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
EMT Tontechnik, originally developed for German broadcasters, is renowned for its high-performance moving coil cartridges and digital reverb units that emphasize honesty and coherence. Their turntables and cartridges maintain a distinct sonic signature that blends transient speed with musical attack, while their reverb units, including the EMT 246 with its EMT 250 algorithm, are considered among the best digital reverbs ever made.
Product Page
Product Page
How to buy
Turntable Cartridges
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
