Loving the Vinyl

[blackraven]

With just getting back into Vinyl I am finding that I am loving the edge free sound. I have quite a few excellent recorded jazz albums from the late 70's and early to mid 1980's that just sound spectacular. I am looking forward to my new Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge that is on its way from Japan. I saved over $100 by ordering from Japan.

It is an adjustment though with having to get up and turn the LP after 20 minutes or so and not being able to skip over songs with the push of a button. The occasional snap, crackle and pop is another thing to get used to. The MP-200 cartridge will cut down on some of this.

Cheers,

Larry

[poppachubby]

That cart is gonna blow your mind... escpecially for jazz.

[blackraven]

Hey Pops, Haven't heard from you in a long time. How's it going? Don't you own the MP-200? From the reviews on this cartridge its sounds like it is a giant killer and has the sound that I am looking for. My system has always been about getting the best bang for the buck although in the past year my system has had major upgrades (going the used route) with the Pass amp and BAT preamp.

[JohnMichael]

Poppachubby good to see you posting.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Hey Pops, Haven't heard from you in a long time. How's it going? Don't you own the MP-200? From the reviews on this cartridge its sounds like it is a giant killer and has the sound that I am looking for. My system has always been about getting the best bang for the buck although in the past year my system has had major upgrades (going the used route) with the Pass amp and BAT preamp.

I don't see your turntable in your equipment list. What are you spinning that vinyl on?

[blackraven]

I don't see your turntable in your equipment list. What are you spinning that vinyl on?

Its a vintage late 1970's Thorens TD-145 in almost mint condition.

https://www.google.com/search?q=thor...ml%3B600%3B373

It came with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge that I will give back to the guy that sold it to me when the Nagaoka arrives from Japan in 2-3 days. It shipped from Japan yesterday and arrived in Chicago today.

I am using a Bellari VP-129 phono preamp that a good friend gave me. I will eventually upgrade to a better one in a few months. I will roll some tubes and change the op amps to BB 02134's.

I guess it is time to change my sig.

[Mr Peabody]

Ah, went with the Nagaoka, looking forward to hearing your report, I don't know much about them. I definitely miss the skip track button. It is fun though to get into the old LP collection. I'll go thumbing for an LP and run across a vew others along the way I want to hear next, or, sometimes before.

[02audionoob]

In all the years of skip buttons, direct programming, and the great ease of digital files, I've never gotten away from listening to albums all the way through. I almost always start with side 1 and then follow with side 2. With a CD, I start from the beginning and let it run. I'm only a tiny bit forgiving of snap, crackle, and pop. Records I can't quiet down by cleaning go to the thrift store charities.

[blackraven]

My cartridge arrived yesterday from Japan. It took only three days for it to be delivered to my door. Unfortunately I was not home and had to pick it up at the post office today. I will not be able to install it till Saturday. Review will be forthcoming.

[frenchmon]

So hows that cart?

[frenchmon]

hows new cart?

[blackraven]

hows new cart?

Nagaoka MP-200 Review from a few days ago
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.


New Update-


I now have about 12 hours on the Cartridge and it sounds better. I have also been tube rolling with the Bellari preamp. I was given some NOS Mullards, Tung Sols, Dumont and Webcor which is a Mullard. All the tubes are a hube improvement over the Electro Harmonix tube. The Mullards are warm and a little less dynamic. The Tung Sol's have more air and dynamics with a great high end but the bass is a little soft. The Dumont has just the right amount of warmth and dynamics and will be the one I go with. The Tung Sol had the most detail and resolution. I will be getting some NOS RCA's and Tele's. Both are supposed to be the best sounding but we will see. I will also give the Sovtek LPS's a try.