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Nagaoka MP200

Catcher10

Catcher10

Prog-tastic!
As much as I have always enjoyed AT carts in years past, with all the tables I have had.....I have never been more pleased than with my Nagaoka experiences so far.

I started with the MP110 cause I had never owned one and had read many rave reviews and opinions on the MP110, $99 is a no brainer risk I thought. One of the best entry level carts I can think of.

So I jumped in a few levels up and I really wanted the MP300, but $500 was a bit steep right now for me and I was not sure I really wanted it. I mean the MP500 is $600...So why not ponie up another $100, still not comfortable with that right now. Were the higher up carts that much better? Was the money better spent on the MP150?

The MP200 is exactly what I have been reading about. I have about 10 more hours before I hit the 30hrs breakin, can't imagine it getting any better.
This thing is a surface noise silencer! Older vinyl I have played has a new breath of life, this cart really pulls a lot more music out, extremely detailed and articulate.
Where the MP200 sings and shows its sonic muscle is on my new vinyl 180 and 200g material, the sound is pristine, clean and better than I had imagined. Older vinyl that might be hot like certain parts of Yes-Close To the Edge, sounds much better, tamed are the hot parts.
The bass/low end is a tad less than the MP110, but I suspect that will come in with more play time, its real nice right now. And like the MP110 this cart tracks flawlessly.

Very, very pleased with this cartridge. The boron cantilever is so delicate looking, just like the sound I am getting, delicate but yet with the power when needed.
So far it also handles all the progrock and jazz I am throwing it, all the changes in tempo are handled very well.

Here are a few pics of the "Purple, Surface Noise Killer".......the color is a good WAF point, my wife loves purple.

MP200a_zps5e60e701.jpg


MP200b_zps9ec935f9.jpg


MP200c_zps61560eeb.jpg


MP200d_zps297f922a.jpg
 
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And when you wear that one out, another $278 will buy you an MP500 stylus for it. That's what I did, just got the MP500 stylus a few weeks ago and very much enjoy it. Something to look forward to maybe.
But the MP200 is excellent as well.
 
Thanks for the review - very cool looking cart! I've been dreaming of the MP-200 for my Thorens TD-125 MK2.

From your comments, I take it that the 200 is in another league from the 110. Or am I going too far (I too have read the generally good/great reviews of the 110)?

Do you happen to know the mass of the tonearm you have it mounted on?

Thanks.
 
ranch 22b said:
Thanks for the review - very cool looking cart! I've been dreaming of the MP-200 for my Thorens TD-125 MK2.

From your comments, I take it that the 200 is in another league from the 110. Or am I going too far (I too have read the generally good/great reviews of the 110)?

Do you happen to know the mass of the tonearm you have it mounted on?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I would say another league is a tad bit much....but a good description in general. My Pro-ject 9c is a 9.5g eff mass arm, with all calculations I get a RF of about 10.6, so far it seems to be a very good match.
 
'Appreciate the info. I just wonder how the 200 would sound with the more massive (16.5g) TP 16 arm? Going by tracking weight, I was thinking okay but if the 200 is working so well for you on that 9.6g arm, maybe not. The 110 might be a safer bet.

Great pics, by the way!
 
I have been intrigued by the Nagaoka line for some time, but there aren't a lot of reviews out there. Thanks for this very informative one.
 
ranch 22b said:
'Appreciate the info. I just wonder how the 200 would sound with the more massive (16.5g) TP 16 arm? Going by tracking weight, I was thinking okay but if the 200 is working so well for you on that 9.6g arm, maybe not. The 110 might be a safer bet.

Great pics, by the way!
Click to expand...

I've got the MP-110 on a PUA-7 arm (20g) - no problem. Measured resonant frequency is 7Hz - which is still within the limits mentioned by Sony engineers (6-12Hz). I know someone who used to use an MP-200 on the same type of arm - no issue. I think it would work out fine on 16.5g
 
30 Hour Update

Been spinning vinyl all day.......Have to say this MP200 is an absolute dream! I can only imagine what the MP500 can do....but again I need a better phono amp to reap its benfits.

The lowend has come in, much more developed and tighter (yes) than the MP110. I get bone moving lowend on bass pedals and sustained bass guitar notes.
The mids are nice and natural, no coloration at all. The highs are clean, crisp and fast....Cymbals have that wonderful tin sound on occasion. The MP200 is much more refined than the MP110, as it should be. The couple steps up are definately noticable to me and my system.
I am probably at the very top end of what the NAD phono stage can give me.

I am pretty darn happy right now :music:
 
Catcher10 said:
The lowend has come in, much more developed and tighter (yes) than the MP110.
Click to expand...

Not surprised to hear this after reading your first post. IME with new cartridges, the ones that end up having better overall bass after break-in sometimes seem to have "less" bass out of the box. No doubt that stiff, but light, boron cantilever has something to do with the great bass.

Nice pictures btw. This cartridge is filed with a few others in my "maybe at a later date" category, for sure!
 
Hope you do not mind a resurrected thread here. Would the 200 stylus display its strengths in a 110 cartridge body? I have the 110 cartridge, and would like to save a few dollars by getting a stylus-only upgrade.
 
I have an MP11

it's a good performer. They do work well with surface noise! It's not my favorite but I do love my Shure M75 with HE stylus. I put it on the same par as my AT 440 mle though.
 
futureman said:
Hope you do not mind a resurrected thread here. Would the 200 stylus display its strengths in a 110 cartridge body? I have the 110 cartridge, and would like to save a few dollars by getting a stylus-only upgrade.
Click to expand...

I have not tried that...I have put the MP110 needle on the 200 body when I play records that are really in bad shape or used vinyl that I am not too sure about, as I don't want to destroy the 200 needle.
To my ears the detail is a tad less and the ST is not as wide....but still enjoyable.
On VE there are threads where folks have done what you ask and they report good results....and yes a good way to save some dough.
 
A re-resurrected thread! I bought myself a birthday present and ended up getting the mp-200 (not just the stylus). It arrives today. In response to a question asked further up the thread, this cart on a TP16 tonearm should yield a resonance frequency of about 9 Hz (I never know how to factor in the headshell screws for total cart weight. I figured 1.5 grams).

Should be a good match, as is the mp-110 which is the cart being replaced.
 
futureman said:
A re-resurrected thread! I bought myself a birthday present and ended up getting the mp-200 (not just the stylus). It arrives today. In response to a question asked further up the thread, this cart on a TP16 tonearm should yield a resonance frequency of about 9 Hz (I never know how to factor in the headshell screws for total cart weight. I figured 1.5 grams).

Should be a good match, as is the mp-110 which is the cart being replaced.
Click to expand...

Before mounting I always weigh the cart, screws and nuts to get an accurate measurement.
FWIW, the screws and nuts that came with my MP-200 weighed in at 1.38g

Great cartridge...enjoy it!
 
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