Topic: From phono (Rega) to cartridge (Nagaoka)

[esr101]

Anyone tried or heard one or both? Hoping to get feedback.

Here's What Hi-Fi has to say about the Rega Fono MM MK2:

Get connected and you can sit back and enjoy a big, powerful, punchy sound. A wide-open soundstage gets the best from sparse, voice-driven recordings, while that bottom end power, coupled with great dynamics, ensure dance tracks have presence and rhythm.

Treble notes are crisp but never bright, while the generous serving of bass is always controlled.

Read more at http://www.whathifi.com/rega/fono-mm-mk2/review#tAMZLmzoLrO3Fcz6.99

NAD PP4 - Well there isn't much reviews on the net about this one.


I had the chance to demo both and here's my take.

NAD - If you feel or hearing that your system is bright and you want it to mellow down NAD is the way to go. It has a laid back feel. Quality wise.....hmmmm not a good experience for me.

Rega - If you want a dynamic sound and an engaging sound then go for Rega.

Both are really really good (I was even tempted to get both) but decided to go for the NAD

I got the NAD PP4 but unfortunately, I got a problematic unit. 2 days of playing with it, I already encountered an issue. Sound gets distorted after playing with it for a while until such time that you can't hear anything anymore.

My options right now are to have the NAD replaced by anothere unit or go for the REGA this time.

Would want to read some helpful insights on both so that it would help me decide.

[luis]

go for the sound that will make you happy. 

[esr101]

Yes. But my dilemma is i'm happy with both and really having a hard time deciding. That is why i'm soliciting for inputs/personal experience on the two Phono stage

[audiojunkie]

As you mentioned sir, you like both brands except their sound character difference, try rega also in your system. IC can also influence the sound character of a gear it connected to.

[dodie]

dahil gusto mo sila pareho, no brainer na ang choice mo. it should be NAD PP4. dahil switchable sya sa mc, yung rega wala.

[esr101]

Thanks for the replies.

Just to add. We did the demo using my gear so it's really a straight forward demo to me.

Here are the gears for reference:
TT - Technics SL1200 fitted with ortofon 2m red cartridge
PS - NAD PP4 and REGA fono MM MK2
AMP - Rega Brio-R (The two separate PS is way above the level of the built in PS of the AMP but still good)
Speakers - Rega RS-5 / PSB Image T5

dahil gusto mo sila pareho, no brainer na ang choice mo. it should be NAD PP4. dahil switchable sya sa mc, yung rega wala.

One of the reason why I chose NAD PP4 over Rega at that time. Yun nga lang nagloko after 2 days. It made me think of quality of NAD phono stage products.

Reason why i did not choose REGA is because sound is too aggressive for me in a nice way . I was advised also to go for the REGA for system matching and tiyagain ko lang ang break-in period and it will mellow down and eventually tatalunin niya yung NAD overall.

[dodie]

nasubukan mo na sir yung MF VLPS?...yang tatlo ang mag ka level in terms of price.

[esr101]

Yep. kasama siya sa initial choices ko. Initially REGA talaga ako interested kasi most of my gears are rega. The NAD was a surprise for me since wala naman talaga ako balak test yun. It was actually the last unit that I tested. So it became a tough choice between Nad and Rega. One of my criteria in choosing was to somehow mellow down my system a bit since i find the red ortofon bright sounding

[luis]

Yep. kasama siya sa initial choices ko. Initially REGA talaga ako interested kasi most of my gears are rega. The NAD was a surprise for me since wala naman talaga ako balak test yun. It was actually the last unit that I tested. So it became a tough choice between Nad and Rega. One of my criteria in choosing was to somehow mellow down my system a bit since i find the red ortofon bright sounding

yup NAD will give you a warmer sound.

one Rega AD said to me, if your speaker is Rega then go Rega all the way on gears.  if you find the Rega-Rega combo bright then you can mellow it down by tweaking. one tweak is the NAD PP4.

not a bad idea to mix warm with bright until you get the sound flavor that you want.

 

[esr101]

Thanks for the reply.

Exactly my experience with NAD. Out of the box it mellowed down (a little bit) the sound coming out from my system.

I'm just curious how the REGA FONO will sound once na break-in na.

[luis]

I'm just curious how the REGA FONO will sound once na break-in na.

baka bright din? 

[esr101]

I'ts like i'm gambling with REGA. Maybe that's one of the nice thing about one's music journey. You'll just be surprised that suddenly everything seems to sound good.

Based on what I heard when we're doing A and B on NAD and REGA:

REGA
- more weight, more dynamic
- vocals are more pronounce (medyo bright nga lang)
- Jimmy Page's guitar solo on moby dick really gets into your skin
- has more detail compared to NAD

NAD
- all of the above except that it's more warm.
- less detail compared to REGA
- Sounds good with jazz music.

Seriously, i'm considering getting both para problem solved na. Then just decide which one i'll keep after a month or two. Di lang naman siguro ako ang gumawa nito

[audiojunkie]

Is break-in on electronics has a significant effect and becomes it's permanent character? Curious lang po'...

[BongerDude]

Is break-in on electronics has a significant effect and becomes it's permanent character? Curious lang po'...

Boss based on my experience sa DACs, meron talaga.  Sa phono stage, di ko lang sure.

[esr101]

Is break-in on electronics has a significant effect and becomes it's permanent character? Curious lang po'...

When the ortofon 2m red was newly installed on my TT, i really did not like it. They said that break-in period lang. So I gave it a really significant time/hours for break-in. Mga 20 na plaka ata na-play ko dun and i noticed that it did improved overtime.

With the REGA Brio-R, I also noticed that it did improved overtime.

With the REGA fono, we noticed out of the box it sounded hard but after a few songs the sound started to open up.

I know that break-in has two sides (those who swear by it and those who don't believe in it). Some would say that it's not that it improved but you just got used to the sound.

I guess for me the answer is yes.

[audiojunkie]

Boss based on my experience sa DACs, meron talaga.  Sa phono stage, di ko lang sure.

It could be dependent on parts used that influences the SQ after after electrically charged or heated. In my personal  observation changes of SQ happens after the unit has warmed up for several minutes and much better when left for extended time.

Sorry sa OT.

[choyb]

Not an expert but just my 2¢.
I,d stick with the Rega phono stage, and the money you save by not getting the NAD can be used to buy a good cartridge. The 2M red, based on review I,ve read ( & I,ve read many in my search for a cartridge) is generally bright sounding.
Enjoy the journey!
Cheers!

[esr101]

Not an expert but just my 2¢.
I,d stick with the Rega phono stage, and the money you save by not getting the NAD can be used to buy a good cartridge. The 2M red, based on review I,ve read ( & I,ve read many in my search for a cartridge) is generally bright sounding.
Enjoy the journey!
Cheers!

@ Choyb, The REGA fono MM MK2 costs more than NAD PP4. Do you mean the other way around?

[audiojunkie]

When the ortofon 2m red was newly installed on my TT, i really did not like it. They said that break-in period lang. So I gave it a really significant time/hours for break-in. Mga 20 na plaka ata na-play ko dun and i noticed that it did improved overtime.

With the REGA Brio-R, I also noticed that it did improved overtime.

With the REGA fono, we noticed out of the box it sounded hard but after a few songs the sound started to open up.

I know that break-in has two sides (those who swear by it and those who don't believe in it). Some would say that it's not that it improved but you just got used to the sound.

I guess for me the answer is yes.

Thanks for the response sir esr101 & sir bongerdude. For me, Yes for TT cart & speakers but cables & electronics gears not sure.

[choyb]

@ Choyb, The REGA fono MM MK2 costs more than NAD PP4. Do you mean the other way around?

No no, because in your earlier post you seem to be thinking of keeping both the Rega and NAD. My "advice" was to keep the Rega and with the extra money originally for the NAD, get another cartridge. Though, another search na naman yun haha.
Of all of us are just giving our opinions, but the final decision will be yours.
Enjoy!

[esr101]

No no, because in your earlier post you seem to be thinking of keeping both the Rega and NAD. My "advice" was to keep the Rega and with the extra money originally for the NAD, get another cartridge. Though, another search na naman yun haha.
Of all of us are just giving our opinions, but the final decision will be yours.
Enjoy!

I see. Make sense to me now.

[meat_eater]

hmmm, if you find the 2m Red bright, then I suggest to get a different cart, the bronze or the black perhaps?

I would personally get a phono pre that is more on the neutral side, which gives me an idea on what the cart really sounds, making my tweaking and upgrade path a lot more predictable.

Now if you get "sawa" a lot, then I suggest a tubed phono. With that, you can tube roll to cater to your preferred sound while keeping the same cart.

Happy hunting!

Cheers

[esr101]

Ok. So to complicate things more. We tried musical fidelity M1LPS, Musical Fidelity V-90LPS, and Rega Fono MM. In that order.

Hands down the winner is Musical Fidelity M1LPS but it costs more than 2x the Rega and V90-LPS.

Very very close was Rega Fono MM Mk2. Baka na break-in na din kaka test ko or naginit na. Now I'm hearing it as better than the nad. Less features nga lang compared to NAD.
 
Last was Musical Fidelity V90-LPS. Also good pero manipis tumunog.

Did not include nad sa test anymore since kabisado ko na din tumunog.

So i borrowed the Rega and listening to Eric Clapton's layla (unplugged) right now.

I think I know who the winner is now.

[esr101]

@ meat_eater, tried a tube phono as well pala on my first demo. For me nothing beats tube pa din. Very sweet kaya lang the price is not so sweet.

[meat_eater]

I would choose the rega bet the 3, taking into heavy consideration the price to performance ratio.

Next in line would be a cambridge 651p.

Now if you have 35k to spare, a tubed phono by rivo would be better, mundorfed internals no less, I believe its an audio note clone.

If you want the real deal, a minimax tubed phono can be had for around 85k from TAS

Enjoy the music, cheers

[esr101]

You mentioned Rivo. Actually tube amp niya yung tinest namin. Pag buka pa lang ng bibig ni madonna tapos na ang laban eh.

It's looking like hello REGA sorry NAD.

[meat_eater]

You mentioned Rivo. Actually tube amp niya yung tinest namin. Pag buka pa lang ng bibig ni madonna tapos na ang laban eh.

It's looking like hello REGA sorry NAD.

[choyb]

You mentioned Rivo. Actually tube amp niya yung tinest namin. Pag buka pa lang ng bibig ni madonna tapos na ang laban eh.

It's looking like hello REGA sorry NAD.

Hi esr101,

If you,re interested in exploring tube phono stage, you can also get in touch with jojod & Mang rod. Highly recommended sila ng mga local audiophiles.
I am not affiliated with any of them.
Hth

[esr101]

Thanks, Settled na ako sa REGA FONO MM MK2. Happy listening with it. Habang tumatagal gumaganda.

[audiojunkie]

Thanks, Settled na ako sa REGA FONO MM MK2. Happy listening with it. Habang tumatagal gumaganda.

Congrats sir..! Finally you found your soundmate..