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Rega Ania MC

Cartridge

Relative price

below typical

Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is below typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Rega entry MC.

COMPLIANCE: Rega philosophically does not publish compliance for MC carts — inferred from arm-matching guidance.

Competition record

Assessed against 17 rivals across the sixty systems: 2 head-to-heads won, 63 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • quietness at rest ×32
  • low-level clarity ×15
  • speed stability ×14

Who it comes up against

van den Hul The Frog

20 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

entry MC anchor for P6/P8 turntable bundlesStereophile + Rega family positioning

van den Hul The Crimson

15 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Characterful brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot clearly.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

entry MC anchor for P6/P8 turntable bundlesStereophile + Rega family positioning

Goldring Eroica HX MC

4 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

Hana EL MC

4 lost · Anchored, Characterful, Intimate, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Hana EL MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gains most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.

entry MC anchor for P6/P8 turntable bundlesStereophile + Rega family positioning
remarkable job tracing groovesPositive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018

Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC

4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.

clean, extended bass which helps propel the grooveThe Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)

van den Hul The Colibri

3 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the van den Hul The Colibri keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Linn Kendo MC

2 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

van den Hul MC One Special

2 lost · Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Romantic brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Romantic weighting.

clean, extended bass which helps propel the grooveThe Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)
almost total lack of groove noise and distortionSoundStage! (Lyle) 2001

Koetsu Azule Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC keeps the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

Rega Nd3 MM

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Rega Nd3 MM keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Linn Koil MC

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Linn Koil MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up low-level clarity under the BBC Sound weighting.

Goldring Eroica LX MC

0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Rega Ania MC takes the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge for that brief.

Goldring 1042 MM

0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Rega Ania MC takes the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Rega Ania MC is the stronger cartridge for that brief.

What the reviewers said

entry MC anchor for P6/P8 turntable bundles Stereophile + Rega family positioning· Timing precision
mids and highs are instantly more open and detailed The Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)· Presence & articulation
greater immediacy which gives it the edge in timing The Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)· Timing precision
very strong in attack/leading-edge The Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)· Transient attack
clean, extended bass which helps propel the groove The Ear (Kennedy), 2020 (Ania Pro)· Bass control

How it scores

Voice

  • Presence & articulation 74 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Timing precision 75 from listening evidence
  • Transient attack 74 from listening evidence

Specifications

cartridge typeMC
output mv0.35
internal impedance ohm10.0
recommended load ohm100
tracking force g1.75
compliance dynamic um per mn17
weight g6.0
stylus profileVital line-contact
notes