A unique design
Rega Apheta 3 is an MC cartridge with Fine Line nude diamond stylus, ultra-low-mass generator, neodymium magnet and one-piece CNC-machined aluminium body.
Apheta 3 evolves Rega's moving-coil design based on a generator without conventional damping and a high-integrity body without joints. The model uses a Fine Line nude diamond profile mounted in a dedicated orientation, developed to increase the ability to follow the smallest groove modulations. The generator incorporates an extremely powerful neodymium magnet and a hand-wound micro-coil on a very small iron cross.
Key features
- Fine Line nude diamond stylus
- Iron micro-cross assembly
- Custom ultra-high-power neodymium magnet
- High-specification coil wire
- One-piece CNC-machined aluminium body
Tie-wire-free generator
The Rega generator uses a diamond-shaped cantilever pivot and does not employ a conventional tie wire or foam damper. This arrangement removes components that can introduce resonance and changes in mechanical behaviour over time. The iron micro-cross is smaller than in previous generations and further reduces moving mass, allowing the system to react more quickly to groove variations.
One-piece aluminium body
The body is machined from a single piece of high-quality aluminium using CNC equipment and extremely tight tolerances. Precision is particularly important in the geometric relationship between the pivot bore and magnetic mechanism, which is essential for keeping generator components aligned. A CAD-designed rigid smoked cover protects the fine internal wires and makes handling safer during installation.
Fine Line profile
The Fine Line nude diamond stylus is designed to improve the ability to read the finest groove modulations. The profile is mounted using a geometry also developed for the Aphelion 2 Reference cartridge and allows the tip to react rapidly to small variations in the record surface. Low generator mass and body rigidity transfer these movements without adding conventional damping systems.
Parameters and pairing
Apheta 3 has a nominal output of 350 microvolts, load impedance of 100 ohms and specified capacitance of 1000 pF. Tracking force is between 1.9 and 2.0 g and mass is 6 g. Rega recommends it for Planar 8 and Planar 10, on which it can be supplied factory fitted.
