Rega Nd3 Phono Cartridge — Creative Audio in Winnipeg

Rega Nd3

A mid-range moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge with elliptical stylus profile. A great upgrade for the Planar 2, and perfectly suited to the Planar 3 and Planar 6 models.

$499

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Buy today! Normally in stock for purchase.
Built by hand in England.

Creative Audio is Winnipeg’s authorized Rega dealer.

Image Gallery

Back view of the Rega Nd3 phono cartridge showing connector pins.

CAD drawing of the motor assembly on the Rega Nd series phono cartridges.

Close-up detail of the Rega Nd3 phono cartridge mounted on the Planar 3 turntable.

“The comparisons between the Nd3 and long-running Elys 2 don’t take long to make. The Nd3 tells us more about the recording, rendering vocals and instrumental textures more convincingly. It has stronger dynamics too.”

— What Hi-Fi? 5-star Review (with Planar 3 turntable)

The Creative Audio Review

Phono cartridge performance is all about the fine details, and Rega’s new Nd series is the result of over 10 years of refinement of each of these. Rega are using a new patent-pending magnet assembly made of ultra-powerful neodymium, combined with refinements to the motor and pole geometry. All of this is in aid of one thing: extracting more music out of your favourite grooves. From first listen it is clear that, once again, Rega have a clear winner on their hands. It is an oft-used analogy but that is because it is so concise: compare the new Nd3 to its predecessor, the Elys 2, and there is a sense that a veil between the music and listener has been taken away. Right out of the gate this is clearly a Rega cartridge, with its intrinsic ability to get to the heart of the rhythm of the music and keep the timing in check. What it offers more of is a glimpse at the finer details in the music; here we are talking about the textural details in vocals and percussion. These are subtle things, and yet they are critical in making music sound authentic. This is what hi-fi is all about, and its what will get the hairs on the back of your neck standing at attention. Yet this never comes across as clinical or harsh sounding; Rega’s tonal quality straddles the line perfectly between neutrality but with the analog warmth we love from vinyl that keeps it from sounding bright or strident. Straight out the box the bass is a bit restrained but after a few albums it relaxes into its natural state: accurate and agile. With the Nd3, Rega has once again made sure they are delivering the best value in modern turntable design. This is why we have carried Rega’s products for over 30 years and why their reputation after over 50 years in business remains without peer.

Sound Advice

While it will sound fantastic from the first needle drop, give the Rega Nd3 cartridge 25-50 hours to sound its best, after the suspension has broken in.