Grado Black3 vs Rega Elys 2

Great seat travel extension without sibilance
Natural sounding with beautiful harmonics and tonal inflections
Good bass performance
Easy to install and align
Spacious soundstage
Great synergy with Rega turntables and tonearms
Clear and precise sound quality
Relatively easy to set up
Neutral sound profile
Reasonably priced for a cartridge made in-house in the UK
Not able to handle significant bass
Some users report hum issues
Some users report poor tracking on new vinyl
Not removable stylus, entire cartridge must be replaced when stylus wears out
Some users have experienced electrical hum and quality control issues
Considered an entry-level cartridge and may not provide an audiophile experience for some users

Verdict

Overall, the Grado Black3 cartridge receives mixed reviews. Many users praise its natural sound, beautiful harmonics, and good bass performance. However, some users report issues with hum, poor tracking, and difficulty installing the cartridge. The foam pads on the Grado headphones are also a point of contention among users. Despite its flaws, the Grado Black3 is considered a good budget cartridge option by many.

Verdict

The reviews for the Rega Elys 2 cartridge are mixed, with some users finding it to be a great value and a noticeable improvement over their previous cartridge, while others find it overpriced and mediocre. Some users have experienced issues with electrical hum and quality control. However, many users appreciate the synergy between the Elys 2 and Rega turntables and tonearms. Overall, the Elys 2 is considered an entry-level cartridge that may be suitable for those with entry-level setups, but may not provide an audiophile experience.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

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