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Nagaoka MP110 or AT95E or ?

grundigger

grundigger

Well-Known Member
I'm between MC-capable reproduction devices right now, though my Denon DL-103 makes decent music through my Sansui Seven's MM phono stage. It's amazing it works as well as it does, but of course that is a compromise. I will build a MC stage or wire up a pair of Pioneer SUTs I have, once I figure out their internal wiring. But right now I want a MM or MI cartridge.

I foolishly sold my Shure M91ED with SAS stylus and a Signet TK5Ea a month or two ago. Now I need a "new" MM cartridge. A brand new AT or Nagaoka would probably sound good in my system: Denon DP52-F, Sansui Seven, Large Advents.

Any suggestions? I'm certainly open to used carts too, though I will probably want a new stylus. I think my TT has a medium weight arm, and probably does best with a medium to high compliance cartridge. I also considered Grados, but I read somewhere that Grados and Denon TT's can be a bad match (hum). I'd appreciate first-hand feedback regarding Grado/Denon compatibility.

The most important factors to me are smoothness, dynamics, coherence, tracking. I realize information retrieval comes at a premium. I abhor harshness, shrillness, etc., but the Sansui is a little on the soft side. The Denon DL-110 is also an obvious good choice, but I'd prefer having just one Denon MC, high output or now. I want to keep the total cost below $200.
 
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I have both the Denon DL110 and the Nagaoka MP110 - the Denon is on my 1200mkII and the Nagaoka is on my Rega p1. The Nag is a great choice for warmth, punchy bass, and excellent tracking. It also is a great destroyer of surface noise on used vinyl without sacrificing any of the mids and highs. $100 well spent on that cart!
 
grundigger said:
I foolishly sold my Shure M91ED with SAS stylus and a Signet TK5Ea a month or two ago. Now I need a "new" MM cartridge. A brand new AT or Nagaoka would probably sound good in my system: Denon DP52-F, Sansui Seven, Large Advents.
Click to expand...

Also have a look at these two cartridges.

The Audio Technica AT 7V is quit similar to the Signet TK5Ea.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/AT7V.html

The Nagaoka MP-150 is just a bit over the budget guideline. :music:
http://www.lpgear.com/product/NAGAOKAMP150.html
 
How do you load it at 100K, if your preamp's phono section doesn't have that option? Do you plug it into inline resistors?

The Nagaoka is the most appealing to me so far.
 
If there's a 47K resistor inside then you can't do it externally, you'd have to go in and remove that and replace it with a 100K version. May or many not be easily accomplished, depends upon the product. I'm lucky in that I can make this change from the back of the preamp via a switch.
 
I have the Nagoaka MP11, predecessor to the 110. I agree with Sandbar92 "The Nag is a great choice for warmth, punchy bass, and excellent tracking. It also is a great destroyer of surface noise on used vinyl without sacrificing any of the mids and highs. $100 well spent on that cart!" I'd have to add Imaging/Soundstage are also very good.

I buy $3 used LP's and that Nagoaka makes them sound as good, sometimes better (probably due to mastering) than some of my new ones. An excelent Entry Level Cartridge.
 
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Without a doubt

grundigger said:
I'm between MC-capable reproduction devices right now, though my Denon DL-103 makes decent music through my Sansui Seven's MM phono stage. It's amazing it works as well as it does, but of course that is a compromise. I will build a MC stage or wire up a pair of Pioneer SUTs I have, once I figure out their internal wiring. But right now I want a MM or MI cartridge.

I foolishly sold my Shure M91ED with SAS stylus and a Signet TK5Ea a month or two ago. Now I need a "new" MM cartridge. A brand new AT or Nagaoka would probably sound good in my system: Denon DP52-F, Sansui Seven, Large Advents.

Any suggestions? I'm certainly open to used carts too, though I will probably want a new stylus. I think my TT has a medium weight arm, and probably does best with a medium to high compliance cartridge. I also considered Grados, but I read somewhere that Grados and Denon TT's can be a bad match (hum). I'd appreciate first-hand feedback regarding Grado/Denon compatibility.

The most important factors to me are smoothness, dynamics, coherence, tracking. I realize information retrieval comes at a premium. I abhor harshness, shrillness, etc., but the Sansui is a little on the soft side. The Denon DL-110 is also an obvious good choice, but I'd prefer having just one Denon MC, high output or now. I want to keep the total cost below $200.
Click to expand...

No questions in my mind...AT440Mla..You will be stunned and amazed...

http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC05.html
 
I got the Nagaoka MP110 a little while back and I was *thoroughly* impressed by how good it sounded! And the price is unreal - for about $100 I got a cart that probably performs as well as some of the much more expensive carts. I'm sure with a better table and amp I could make it sing even more!
But bottom line is - you can't go wrong with the MP110 for its price, though if you listen to 'heavier' music, maybe it's not the best. I mostly listen to folk and acoustic stuff, but when I want some of the heavier 70's prog and such, I find in some places it doesn't perform as well as I'd hoped - but that's just nitpicking, it still does *wonders*, and again, you can't go wrong with a cart like that for $100!!

edit - it also tracks like a beast. I completely forgot there was such a thing as inner-groove distortion, and all that crazy mumbo-jumbo!
 
I have the MP-110......I absolutely LOVE IT!!!! It gives me that wonderful low end I like....bass lines whether from a bass guitar or bass pedals just sustain forever unless the artists ends it on purpose. I listen to almost all prog rock, so it handles all the synth sounds nicely and all the speed, tempo and crazy time signature changes with little effort.
It is not a "shrilly" cart at all, it tames the high distorted guitar sounds from albums like Yes, King Crimson and makes the distorted guitar sound as it should.

And yes it tracks flawlessly......I have a Music Hall mmf-7.1, low mass carbon fiber arm, works very well.
 
Okay, I'll be getting the MP-110. Thanks for all of your suggestions. And thanks for cluing me in about 47K --> 100K, rcspkramp. It will be interesting to compare a high quality entry-level MM with my Denon DL-103. I will be wiring up these transformers in the next few weeks that I pulled off the phono card of my non-working Pioneer Elite C-90:

8013306301_fa4f5d2ceb.jpg
 
Not to be contentious

grundigger said:
Okay, I'll be getting the MP-110. Thanks for all of your suggestions. And thanks for cluing me in about 47K --> 100K, rcspkramp. It will be interesting to compare a high quality entry-level MM with my Denon DL-103. I will be wiring up these transformers in the next few weeks that I pulled off the phono card of my non-working Pioneer Elite C-90:

8013306301_fa4f5d2ceb.jpg
Click to expand...

andI know its about $60 more, but I think you would be remiss in not trying the AT440Mla...I know I am biased but for good reason. Every person that buys one is stunned by the clarity at all levels, deep base, strong mid's, pleasant highs..wide soundstage...i wish you had a way to hear them side by side but based on overall sales..no comparison.
 
I understand the 440MLa can be a bit harsh/treble-y on some systems? I have yet to try it, and it will probably be my next purchase, but I've yet to hear *anything* bad about the Nag, and can say from experience that it does wonders for such a low price.
 
Its a myth

Spoosy said:
I understand the 440MLa can be a bit harsh/treble-y on some systems? I have yet to try it, and it will probably be my next purchase, but I've yet to hear *anything* bad about the Nag, and can say from experience that it does wonders for such a low price.
Click to expand...

I had heard the same..not trebley but the term bandied about was fatiguing...NOT so...before I owned and tested (on 3 tables) I even went so far as to make myself two 100kohm resistor plugs as it was said it is better at around 32k.

Like I say, myth. smooth as silk. I'd put it up again just about any $300 to $500 cart...for $169 dollars.

But if you like the Nag then power to ya! Happy listening...:D
 
Like a jerk, I didn't follow anyone's advice and instead went to the local stereo store and bought a Grado Red1 about a month ago. Hums just a bit (when cranked past 12 o'clock) on my Denon deck, but it sounds much better than I expected for $100something.

All that said, I'll be building the CNC MC stage and listening to my Denon 103 "in the future." Meanwhile I have to give the Grado a thumbs up, which is surprising to me, given how much they're vilified by many AKers.
 
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