NAGAOKA MP-110
BASS
DYNAMICS 9
EXTENSION 8.5
CONTROL DEFINITION 8.5
TREBLE
DETAIL REFINEMENT 8.5
EXTENSION 8
MIDRANGE
NATURALNESS 8
SIBILANCE-FREE 8.5
TONALITY 8.5
DETAIL & HARMONICS 8.5
IMAGING 8
SOUNDSTAGING 8.5
RHYTHM AND TIMING 8
OVERALL SCORE FOR NAGAOKA MP110 = 100.5/120.
For Friends using this cartridge with the Rega Planar 3 :-D, do install spacers at the tonearm base of the RB330 tonearm. Rega provides 2mm spacers for retail sale. Using 3 of them (total of 6mm), I have measured the Stylus Rake Angle measured by digital microscope to be = 90.35degrees. Using 4 of them (total of 8mm), I achieve an even Stylus Rake Angle of = 91.83degrees. Thus I recommend using 3 to 4 spacers. This is from my own real practical experience :-D. The sound you get with the MP-110 is much, much better than with the Elys2 cartridge. I really wish for you my friends, to get the best sound, great sound with the best value equipment. The MP-110 is less than half the price of the Elys2. Have fun, Rega users :-D !!!
Sincerely,
~ ian.
************
After spending 8 weeks of doing :-D :
-VERY intensive running in of 50hrs per cartridge,
-subsequent intensive sweet spot listening and
-off-field, off-centre casual listening to get used to and for me to soak into each of their tonal characteristics,
I have finally been able to release the results of the cartridges! And thank you friends for your patience.
Group A of USD$70-80 cartridges consist of:
-AudioTechnica AT100e,
-Goldring Elan,
-Grado Black,
-Ortofon OM5e,
-Sumiko Oyster :-D
Group B of USD$90-120 cartridges consist of:
-AudioTechnica AT120eB,
-Goldring Elektra,
-Grado Green,
-Nagaoka MP-110,
-Ortofon 2M Red,
-Shure M97xE,
-Sumiko Black Pearl
Much hard work,
and it is my fervent wish that the honest-to-goodness manufacturers that come up with truly brilliant products will be recognised and earn their rightful sales from us consumers, who have been constantly blighted by the advertisement dollars and “obligations” audio magazines (both newsstand and online audio sites) have towards the manufacturers and retailers who pay them advertisement monies. Many of my friends here all over the world have told me many stories and situations about such “obligations”. A “ring of dubious network” they even put it. I hear all of you, my friends. And thank you very much.
I came out with my own monies to do this review: buying the 12 cartridges from musicdirect.com and lpgear.com websites to maintain neutrality to all of my local retailers.
I have also painstakingly bought 12 Jelco HS-25 cartridges, adjustable for AZIMUTH.
All 12 cartridges have been EACH FITTED ON TO each’s OWN JELCO HS-25 high quality magnesium headshell with Litz wires.
EVERY CARTRIDGE has been painstakingly adjusted for:
-OVERHANG,
-AZIMUTH,
-TRACKING FORCE,
-VTA and more accurately, the correct STYLUS RAKE ANGLE of 92degrees.
I am thus been able to do the critical A-B-C-D-E-B-E-C-A-D-C-A-E-D-B QUICK CHANGING AND QUICK SWAPPING OF CARTRIDGES WITH THE ABOVE PREPARATIONS.
So that I am able to ASSESS and COMPARE & CONTRAST all the cartridges in whichever fashion I want to zoom in on, VERY QUICKLY and not leaving to IMAGINATION AND MEMORY of how each cartridge sounded during this critical A-B-C-D-E-B-E-C-A-D-C-A-E-D-B COMPARISONS.
It has been all, a very long and tedious process, and making sure it is totally fair, and that every cartridge is given the precise measurements/alignments to shine.
The AUDITIONING PROCESS includes listening through fitment to my personal turntables:
1--- TECHNICS SL1200Mk5 with Herbie's Way Excellent Platter Mat,
2---- AVID SEQUEL with SME V Arm:
1--- Schiit Mani phonostage,
2--- Avid Pulsare2 phonostage with adjustable capacitance settings to countercheck for optimum cartridge performance:
As stated by their respective manufacturers' :
- AudioTechnica AT100e = 100-200pF
- AudioTechnica AT120eb = 100-200pF
- Goldring Elan = 150-400pF
- Goldring Elektra = 150-400pF
- Grado Black = not stated by manufacturer
- Grado Green = not stated by manufacturer
- Nagaoka MP-110 = not stated by manufacturer
- Ortofon OM5e = 200-600pF
- Ortofon 2M Red = 150-300pF
- Shure M97xE = 200-300pF
- Sumiko Oyster = not stated by manufacturer
- Sumiko Black Pearl = not stated by manufacturer
* In life, the aim is not to be better than other people,
The aim is to do better for other other people :-)
Sincerely,
Ian.
***
Musc used with permission from:
www.bensound.com