Could someone please identify my cartridge / stylus

[M4cruiser]

Hi all,
It's been so long since I bought this cartridge that I can't remember what it is!
Any help gratefully received. There is no branding on it that I can see.
(And yes, now I've seen my own picture expanded, I can see it needs a clean!)

[Explorer1959]

It’s a Rega cartridge - a quick search on the internet suggests the model is a first generation Bias.

Edited by Explorer1959 on Saturday 22 March 20:35

[M4cruiser]

Explorer1959 said:

It’s a Rega cartridge - a quick search on the internet suggests the model is a first generation Bias.

Edited by Explorer1959 on Saturday 22 March 20:35

Hi, thank you.... I've just googled "Rega Bias" and it kept bringing up Bias 2, so I gogled "Rega Bias 1" and yes it seems you're right.

This review says it's mediocre, what would be a good replacement?

https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_reviews.php?...

[Explorer1959]

Hi - it’s a question I genuinely cannot answer….but I have a friend who can.

Give Alex at Soundstage Hifi in north London a call. He is a Rega dealer so will be able to walk you through your options. He will need to know which Rega turntable you are using - Planar 1, 2, or 3, and your amplifier’s model name or number.

0208 440 9509

[mac96]

That Rega Bias looks astonishingly similar to a very basic Audiotechnica cartridge, which I was using til very recently. If the Rega is just a rebrand of that AT, it won't be hard to find something better!

[M4cruiser]

Explorer1959 said:

Hi - it’s a question I genuinely cannot answer….but I have a friend who can.

Give Alex at Soundstage Hifi in north London a call. He is a Rega dealer so will be able to walk you through your options. He will need to know which Rega turntable you are using - Planar 1, 2, or 3, and your amplifier’s model name or number.

0208 440 9509

Thank you, yes I guess a dealer would be the correct place to go. Nothing wrong with London but it's a bit far from me, so I'll go to a nearer dealer.
But:
I was hoping for some real-world experience from the PH. Dealers will probably steer me towards what they have in stock, and a higher price if they can, (nothing wrong with that really, that's their job).

Deck is Regal Planar 2 (an older one), with the (straight black) arm it came with.

After a bit of Googling, For the Planar 2, the options seem to be::-

Rega Carbon (£33)
AT-VM95E (£44)
Ortofon 2MR Red (£85)
Rega Elys (£99)
AT-VM95ML (£140)
Nagaoka MP-110 (£148)
Rega ND3 (£175)
Ortofon 2M Blue (£189)
Rega Exact (£250)

Anything higher up the chain than this would probably not track in the Rega arm.

I know the best answer is "listen to them" but I think I need some reduction in choice first!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

mac96 said:

That Rega Bias looks astonishingly similar to a very basic Audiotechnica cartridge, which I was using til very recently. If the Rega is just a rebrand of that AT, it won't be hard to find something better!

It's the same colour as the AT, but doesn't look much like it in shape.

In the main, AT make great cartridges, at the price point they sell at. The AT95 is highly regarded in the sub £100 level, and I think it's only about £50.

[mac96]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

mac96 said:

That Rega Bias looks astonishingly similar to a very basic Audiotechnica cartridge, which I was using til very recently. If the Rega is just a rebrand of that AT, it won't be hard to find something better!

It's the same colour as the AT, but doesn't look much like it in shape.

In the main, AT make great cartridges, at the price point they sell at. The AT95 is highly regarded in the sub £100 level, and I think it's only about £50.

Apologies, I have got confused, and I agree, AT are good value. I have had various examples over the years. I currently have an ART 9 on a different system.

And on investigation (ie a bit of comparing Google images) the cartridge I have which I thought was a cheap AT something is in fact a Rega Bias 2- looks the same as the image above except in red. No idea why I had the idea it was an AT product. I recollect it was the cheapest cartridge I could pick up same day at Richer Sounds!

My original thought that it could easily be bettered is still true though.

[Deranged Rover]

Rega's cartridges are made in-house, with the exception of the carbon, which is a lightly tweaked Audio Technica AT-3600L

An AT-VM95 of some sort or an Ortofon 2M Red will be a huge improvement on your Bias.

[M4cruiser]

Deranged Rover said:

An AT-VM95 of some sort or an Ortofon 2M Red will be a huge improvement on your Bias.

Thank you for the tips; I went to the dealer mentioning AT and they agreed, and sold me an AT-VM95EN, and it sounds great!

A definite improvement over the Bias; hard to explain how, but there's more detail, more natural high treble (but slightly less bass).

Looking at the cartridges side by side, the AT is taller than the Bias, and this obviously affects VTA. Is it worth trying some shims?

What element of the sound would indicate a poor VTA? Perhaps the reduced bass is an indicator?

[Deranged Rover]

That looks fine - I wouldn't worry about it (and, anyway, if you believe Rega, VTA adjustment is on a par with witchcraft and aliens!).

You'll find the sound will change a little as the cartridge beds in so you might get your bass back in due course.