I installed a new Nagaoka MP-700
I installed a new Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge on my tricked-out AudioGrail Garrard 401 turntable with Jelco TK850L tonearm.
I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with London Decca to replace the stylus on my Decca Super Gold (Paratrace Decapod) as it involved sending it to the UK, so I thought I’d give this new top of the line Nagaoka MP (moving permalloy) a shot. I bought the model complete with the headshell.
It’s heavy and pushed the Jelco to its near end limits getting the arm balanced. Tracking is 1.4g. Setup was a doddle.
Initial impressions are very good. Black backgrounds, low noise floor, powerful and well-delineated bass. Fine detail and sharp leading edges. Sweet midband. Nice separation of instruments with good tonal color. Imaging is very good. Not as wide or deep as the Decca, however. I’ll see how it is after 50 hours. First few sides, it was a little shouty but seems to have settled down. Male vocals have a lovely wooden tone. It’s definitely tight like a well-rehearsed band, almost making the Decca sound slow. Low levels of surface noise.
Thomas Dolby, Crocked Still, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Leonard Cohen, The The, Doc Evans, Eagles, Pat Kirby
It may be the best cartridge I've had in by system.
More anon.
Neither I, nor any of my friends own any Nagaoka Cartridge, thus I've never heard one, here or there. The price of the 700 (compared to other maker's premium models) seems quite reasonable, but I want to hear one (in my familiar system) before parting with even that much. Somebody's gotta live close enough to me, 07062, to come visit, bring one in an SME headshell (bring 3, we can compare them here in seconds).
|
@noromance Thanks...great looking table! |
I’ve been avoiding voltage conversion transformers for fear of sonic degradation. Maybe it’s just for major components like the per and amp matter more than the DS energizer. My main SS system Avenger>VDH Grail>AufionetHumboldt>VimbergMonoD focused on neutral transparent low noise floor . On a similar note, hoping to not sound hypocritical 🙄, I have a Corralstone which of all cartridges seem to really benefit from adding a SUT. I’m struggling which SUT and if I need to purchase a “voltage” phono. I do have Lejonklou Slipsik 3 but since the latest model is Lejonklou Slipsik 8 I’ve not sure if the 3 is good enough. |
Have you heard the MP-500 in your system? I own it and its a fine cartridge--curious how it compares to the 700. Although I did recently install the Grado Opus 3 and am quite surprised that I might prefer it to the MP-500 even though its quite a bit cheaper. The Grado is a little more meaty in the midrange and lower frequencies. MP-500 sounds neutral in comparison. |
