Music for York House

van den Hul The Frog

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

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

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

powerful dynamicsvdH Frog reviews

van den Hul The Crimson

6 lost · BBC Sound, Characterful, Intimate

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

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on rhythmic grip.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

faster, tighter, more precisely focusedThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024

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 bass weight.

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up bass weight under the Anchored weighting.

faster, tighter, more precisely focusedThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024

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 rhythmic grip.

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up rhythmic grip under the Artisan weighting.

faster, tighter, more precisely focusedThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

This cartridge’s output has no matching input on the phono stage in this system.

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot clearly.

With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

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

refined, clean and open... shine in trebleThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024

Linn Kendo MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM 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.

Goldring Eroica HX MC

1 lost · Silent Path

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

With the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.

van den Hul MC One Special

1 lost · Romantic

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 bass weight.

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up bass weight under the Romantic weighting.

Goldring Eroica LX MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring Eroica LX MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM 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.

Goldring 1042 MM

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring 1042 MM keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM 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.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot clearly.

With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

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

refined, clean and open... shine in trebleThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024

Rega Nd3 MM

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Rega Nd3 MM keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM 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 midrange truth.

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

On its own merits the Rega Nd5 MM is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up midrange truth under the BBC Sound weighting.

rounded bassPROXY: AT-OC9 platform

refined, clean and open... shine in trebleThe Ear (Kennedy) 2024