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NAGAOKA MP-200

mcgjohn said:
maxhifi you did not mention your phono stage, but that may be your next area to upgrade.

best
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I built the phono stage designed by AK member Wyn Palmer, there is a big long thread about it on here. I am quite happy with it performance wise. The tedious process of learning how to solder surface mount ICs paid off in terms of low noise.

I have noticed even some very high end phono stages still use through hole ICs.

Also have one of those Little Bear knock offs of the EAR 834p tube phono preamp. It sounds good too but is a bit rough around the edges. The Wyn preamp was definitely an upgrade.

What do you run? I do have access to some really nice equipment I could try if I wanted to.
 
am not familiar with that phono stage. But if you are set on an opamp based phono stage, you really should consider replacing the opamps with sparkos labs discrete opamps, all built on a micro pcb. They simply blow away any traditional opamp regardless of who made it. Link below. All you need to do is solder in some sockets, contact Sparkos and tell him what your current opamps are and order the replacements.

https://sparkoslabs.com/discrete-op-amps/

over the last 3 yrs have tried 12 different phono stages including 2 versions of the EAR, two pass units, three ARC, two VTL, two phonomena and several others.
 
mcgjohn said:
am not familiar with that phono stage
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see https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...d-preamp-for-low-output-mc-cartridges.879145/
It's DC coupled, and has very excellent specs.

mcgjohn said:
sparkos labs discrete opamps
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I'm interested to know more about those, will read the link!

mcgjohn said:
tried 12 different phono stages including 2 versions of the EAR, two pass units, three ARC, two VTL, two phonomena and several others
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You've had some expensive gear! What is your favorite?

mcgjohn said:
glad to hear. its possible it could be caused by a cracked solder joint too.
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Was this about the little bear E.A.R. clone? Soldering is good, the issues with it are related to design (too much gain, imperfect RIAA EQ, so-so board layout, cheap parts). It is very good for the money, but after fiddling around with it I decided I wanted to try a solid state preamp.
 
looks like a nice phono stage, very well laid out.

there are several EAR clones. The better ones come from doukmall on the bay. They even copied the EAR artwork on the PCB, and their chassis work is very close to EAR.

there is also a guy selling a Marantz 7 phono stage clone that sounds quite good. There are several out there, but make sure you get the one with the tube rectifier for the B+
 
This is my all-time favorite cartridge that I've ever tried, including some that cost over $200 more.

It just blows everything else I've tried in this price range out of the water. Can't believe it really has a 0.4x0.7 elliptical, because it sounds better than that.

The cantilever is surprisingly strong. I've never bent or damaged it despite a few close calls and the many times I've brushed it vigorously (compared to the cantilevers in the Goldring 2000-series, which I broke two of!)

Yes, it's bright purple, but it's a really great cartridge.
 
i have never and would never buy a phono cart for its looks unless it were something like an Ortofon A95. or a DS Audio with its light inside. but really, the beauty is to enter my ear. an Ortofon Cadenza Black fits that specification well for me.
 
hifitommy said:
i have never and would never buy a phono cart for its looks unless it were something like an Ortofon A95. or a DS Audio with its light inside. but really, the beauty is to enter my ear. an Ortofon Cadenza Black fits that specification well for me.
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The Cadenza Blue is working nicely, on my Technics. I haven't been "jonesing" for the Bronze or Black Cadenza. It looks nice, too. Though a lot smaller once on the table. :)

Orotfon Cadenza_blue-961x1024.jpg ! Ortofon Cadenza Blue (small).jpg
 
Just ordered this one only for its wonderful green colour :D!
ATN3651green.jpg
...just kidding: I wanna check out how them there new nude, black diamond ellipticals sound on a 3600 cartridge. Hope it sounds better than it looks. I may paint it black just to stand how it will ugly up my Lenco.


(Ooops, sorry. This was wayyy off topic)
 
T68 said:
Just ordered this one only for its wonderful green colour :D!
View attachment 1905012
...just kidding: I wanna check out how them there new nude, black diamond ellipticals sound on a 3600 cartridge. Hope it sounds better than it looks. I may paint it black just to stand how it will ugly up my Lenco.


(Ooops, sorry. This was wayyy off topic)
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I'm curious about that too. I'm not bothered by that color, it's a tiny bit of plastic after all. I'm curious how much that giant aluminum cantilever throttles back the performance of the nude diamond. Could be a real giant killer.
 
Wildcat said:
I wanted to try a high-output cart since I was previously using an Audio Technica ART7 (that is a very low output MC) and having issues with it and the SUT, and the MP-500 was about the only thing I liked out there in a high output besides the better Audio Technica carts (like the VM760SLC and a couple of older models). Heard a couple of Clearaudio MMs that did not impress--too bright.
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I have the Nag MP-200 and I was thinking into upgrading to the ART7 / ART9XA. Is it worth really to get into MC carts? How much you feel you have lost? What has gone worse? Would I be better off going for the MP-500 instead? How you feel with the cart so far?
 
In my opinion and experience, the AT-33 series is better than the ART series. Tracks better with less anti-skate needed. At least, on a standard Technics 1200 table. I've tried the ART-7 and the AT-33Sa. The 33Sa is better, at least on the Technics. Imaging and tracking throughout the record.

As for MC versus MM... that is a personal thing. I like MC. But, if I were to use an MM (or MI) cartridge, the Nagaoka MP-200 would be high on my list. I actually like the MP-200 over the MP-500. The MP-500 was a bit too bright for my ears. :)
 
Here's mine on the Technics but I'll be swapping it out for an MC in the music room. The MP-200 will bump the OM2 Blue off the Pro-Ject Carbon in the living room.

The Blue is much more attractive than the purple - I try not to get too upset over the colors. The Nagaoki sounds much better.
OEM Technics Headshell.jpg
 
Great turntable the 1246, the top of the line changer in 1977-1978 line-up with the 2X anti-resonator: I have purchased the same counterweight coming from a Dual 621 and I have installed it in my 1219:as asserted in the 1977 Dual brochure the bass have improved.
 
Mr Boochie said:
Seems that the world-wide cost of Boron has gone up a lot. Over the last few years. Prolly, contributes to $$$ increase in all boron cantilever cartridges.

Should have invested in it, 20 years ago. :)
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Maybe price for boron has gone up, but here they use 5-6mm length. I love Nagaoka cartridges, but I really believe that at least lately are way overpriced.
I agree with stratokaster that at similar prices one can get better cartridge.
 
I had a Nagaoka MP-11 boron that I "upgraded" with the J-NP200 stylus. It definitely had a different sound compared to my other phono cartridges, with a small dip in the presence region. Impressively quiet in the groove. In the end, I did not warm up to it and sold it.
 
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