cartridge for rega planar 3 - 800 range

If you are ready to spend $800 then by all means, move up to the Benz Glider HO. With trade-in and discount, it should cost you $600.

The Grado Ref master is good. I have a Lyra Lydian b for my planar 25. I love it. Depends on the music you listen to and your system. The Lyra is 950 new. If you systems is a little rich or dark, you might really go for the Lyra.

Did a hum, when the arm was nearing the center of the LP, bother you with the Grado Gold? Grado cartridges have this well known incompatibility with Rega turntables, for some reason. I've had it myself, and wouldn't get ANY Grado for a Rega 3, though it's just a small hum, not a roar.

tom, the only hum in my system is audible with the tt off. it can be heard when NO source is playing if i turn up the volume past 2:00 on my melos preamp. it may be very mildly present before the stylus makes contact with vinyl, but is not there in the silences while music is playing; or between cuts for that matter. thanks for any and all info/opinions, etc. jim

The Grado hum again! I have always had a Grado on my P-25.Yes, a hum is heard when the arm is RAISED above the LP.I have never heard a hum during music or even between tracks.This hum "problem" is a non issue IMO.If a hum when you raise the arm at the end of a LP bothers some Grado offers a lower output P.U.that rids the hum issue.The reason for the hum is the moving iron design Grado uses and under center mounted motor tables is where the problem originates from.So in theory, any center motor mounted table will have a hum with a Grado.Still,The Grado's are great P.U.'s for the RB tonearms usually seen on the Regas.Wh

en M.Fremer reviewed the P-25 with a Grado Reference he loved the combo and never mentioned a hum.Another issue with Rega arms is lack of VTA without a mod.or spacers under the arms.Fremer commented the Rega-Grado combo.sounded great with no VTA adjustment.The VTA was just a tad negative.I had tried 1 spacer,then 2 and ended up with no spacer and just a bit negative VTA which provided the smoothest sound with the best bass.Seems the "woody" Grado's are indeed a great match for the Regas.

Ditto on the Benz Glider.

I have Rega Planar 3 with Grado Reference Platinum and use a sheet of Mu-metal from lab kit 110 purchased from Magnetic Shielding Corporation in Illinois. A bit of a pain to cut and fit but it does the job and stops the hum.

I havent tried it but I read somewhere tin foil works also.

thanks for the info everyone! dave, i owe you one...
i mounted a grado reference master last night. there is no hum from it whatsoever.
the sonic improvements are vast. soundstage many times deeper and wider. bass is no longer over emphasized which may only be because of it's relationship to the mids and highs, which are much clearer/more transparent and extended; but in any case bass is also much tighter, and no "boominess".
everything resolves faster.
the single most striking thing may be the amazing sound of vocals (cause the mids are so wonderful?), especially in relation to each other during harmonies. the harmonies on abbey road are beautiful. i have the mfsl cat stevens teaser and the firecat. it never blew me away and i always wondered why it's a TAS pick. last night i found out why (holy harmonies, vocal fans). johnny hartman w/trane moved BEYOND the sublime, and ella's cole porter was NOT just one of those things.
cannonball's solo coming in after coltrane on all blues is 100 times as lyrical as it sounded before (it never made me think of desmond before, even for a second. the experience hendrix remake of are you experienced sounds like a different mix entirely. sorry for running on, but all this before its even broken in is pretty exciting. anyway, thanks again kids...

Jim,makes me want to upgrade to the Master also! WOW! I'm glad you are so thrilled with your music.Yes,the Grado's are very fine cartridges.Enjoy!!

P.S. The Grado's need about a good 30 hours to really show their stuff.You aint seen nothin yet!

Hello? Try the Rega Exact. Its really good.

Sell your Rega 3 and get a used 25. If you got say $600.00 for your 3 and got a 25 for $900.00 that would leave you enough for a Grado Sonota and that combo would kill the 3/master combo. It never ceases to amaze me how few Rega table owners use Rega cartridges. Smart group.