I installed my Nagaoka MP-200 yesterday. It was a PITA setting up the angles and tracking on the Thorens TD-145. I used a couple of Arc Protractors. It had nothing to do with the cartridge, its just that the Germans made things more difficult than it should have been.

Back to the MP-200. It replaced the Ortofon 2M Red that came with the TT. It sells for $345 here in the U.S. and I was able to buy it from Japan with 3 days shipping for $245. The 200 is supposed to have a warmer sound and full midrange with slightly mellow highs. Well my MP-200 is spot on. The first 30 minutes it's sound stage was narrow. But after that it opened up big time. The general tone is warmer but no syrupy. The bass is tight and fairly deep but not as deep as the 2M. It has good punch and dynamics. The sound stage width and depth is very good. The cartridge is quiet with no grain, unlike the 2M which was noisy. There is plenty of detail, much more than the 2M. Treble is good and non fatiguing where as the 2M was a little bright and fatiguing. The midrange is where the MP-200 shines. It is smooth and liquid. (the mids on the 2M were thin with little depth) Vocals sound great and are not too forward or pushed back. Everything sounds more real and live. It is also more forgiving of surface noise.

The MP-200's sound will only get better. The manufacturer states that it takes 30 hours for it to break in.

I think that I have a winner. It is a lot of bang for the buck. I was considering a Grado Reference Platinum Wood, AT 440, Sumiko Blue Point and an Ortofon Turbo. But the reviews on the MP-200 swayed me.