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New Cart for Micro Seiki MB-14

PrivatePress

PrivatePress

Member
Hey Everybody,

First post here although I've been lurking for many years, enjoying the breadth of knowledge and passion.

I'm trying to decide on a new cart for my Micro Seiki MB-14 (S-shaped tonearm). I'm not trying to spend more than 200.

I run the table through a Tandberg 2025 and a pair of Celestion SL-6 speakers.

I'm leaning toward a Nagoaka MP-110. My previous cart was a Grado Green 2. I mostly listen to folk and jazz with rock brining up third place.

Thanks for any help/suggestions! Happy new year.
 
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Welcome. I love your choice of components! I'm a big fan of all those pieces. Nice little system, I'm sure.
First off, is there something about the Grado you don't like? Or are you just looking for a change in sound? If so, how?
Not to dissuade you from the Nagaoka, cuz it's highly thought of. Further recommendations will be easier with a better idea of what you're looking for.
 
ctjetta said:
Welcome. I love your choice of components! I'm a big fan of all those pieces. Nice little system, I'm sure.
First off, is there something about the Grado you don't like? Or are you just looking for a change in sound? If so, how?
Not to dissuade you from the Nagaoka, cuz it's highly thought of. Further recommendations will be easier with a better idea of what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warm welcome. So I switched out the Grado for my backup cart (Shure White Label, R.I.P.) and the Shure was so much louder. I removed the stylus from the Grado and noticed the contacts on the cart were filthy. Perhaps stupidly I cleaned them with a q-tip with D5 on it and scraped with a toothpick, thinking that would help. I must’ve damaged the cart’s contact as the right channel is gone with the Grado on with a not lovely ground-like hum.

It seems the output of the Shure I have is higher than the Grado but it seemed just way out of proportion to the specs I read. I’m a novice at best at this stuff though.

So I’d like something that can be fairly loud when I want it to be, especially for the jazz records.
 
PrivatePress said:
Thanks for the warm welcome. So I switched out the Grado for my backup cart (Shure White Label, R.I.P.) and the Shure was so much louder. I removed the stylus from the Grado and noticed the contacts on the cart were filthy. Perhaps stupidly I cleaned them with a q-tip with D5 on it and scraped with a toothpick, thinking that would help. I must’ve damaged the cart’s contact as the right channel is gone with the Grado on with a not lovely ground-like hum.

It seems the output of the Shure I have is higher than the Grado but it seemed just way out of proportion to the specs I read. I’m a novice at best at this stuff though.

So I’d like something that can be fairly loud when I want it to be, especially for the jazz records.
Click to expand...
All good stuff.
I'm not familiar with that Shure for comparison purposes. Maybe you could provide a pic of it to clarify which model it is.
As far as the Grado, and @marcmorin is THE Grado guy, here, I believe that gunk is meant to be there. I don't know that removing it will will itself damage the cartridge, but, I also don't know what other damage you could have done otherwise in the process of removing it.
As far as the output, most moving magnet (MM) carts, (as well as moving iron/induced magnet- MI/IM) are typically in the 5 mV range. Some of the older Shure, maybe yours, were definitely higher than that. You will probably find a new one with a similar, 5mV, output now.
Others should some good opinions for you as to a replacement.
 
ctjetta said:
All good stuff.
I'm not familiar with that Shure for comparison purposes. Maybe you could provide a pic of it to clarify which model it is.
As far as the Grado, and @marcmorin is THE Grado guy, here, I believe that gunk is meant to be there. I don't know that removing it will will itself damage the cartridge, but, I also don't know what other damage you could have done otherwise in the process of removing it.
As far as the output, most moving magnet (MM) carts, (as well as moving iron/induced magnet- MI/IM) are typically in the 5 mV range. Some of the older Shure, maybe yours, were definitely higher than that. You will probably find a new one with a similar, 5mV, output now.
Others should some good opinions for you as to a replacement.
Click to expand...

moving the "gunk" around can break a fly wire on the coil. Folks..........a magnetic circuit is complete or it is not. the gunk won't affect magnetic field. It is not mumetal which only directs the magnetic field, nor is it powered iron which will soak up some magnetic field.
 
marcmorin said:
moving the "gunk" around can break a fly wire on the coil. Folks..........a magnetic circuit is complete or it is not. the gunk won't affect magnetic field. It is not mumetal which only directs the magnetic field, nor is it powered iron which will soak up some magnetic field.
Click to expand...

Guess I found out the hard way. Thanks.
 
PrivatePress said:
Great idea. So haul my turntable and amp to a place that carries them or...?
Click to expand...

Or the seller of the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge could mount the cartridge on a headshell for you to take home for auditioning.

The seller could also align the cartridge on the headshell since Micro Seiki MB-14 has a user removable headshell.

Welcome to the AK turn table forum. :)
 
Balifly said:
Or the seller of the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge could mount the cartridge on a headshell for you to take home for auditioning.

The seller could also align the cartridge on the headshell since Micro Seiki MB-14 has a user removable headshell.

Welcome to the AK turn table forum. :)
Click to expand...

Well that’s a novel idea. I wouldn’t think someone selling this somewhat lowend cart would do that. I’ll look around for a local dealer but that may be tough. Thanks!
 
Happy to report that I ended up going with the MP-110. With about 15 hours of listening in, I can say I made a good choice. This thing sings!!
 
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