NAGAOKA MP-200 Moving Magnet Cartridge > What Hi-Fi Award 2024

The Nagaoka MP-200 moving magnet cartridge is the step-up model in the company’s long-running MP range. Unpacking this cartridge sends a wave of nostalgia over us, as distinctive colour aside, it looks just like the highly-rated MP-11 we craved in the early ’80s. But, appearance aside, this is a significantly more capable cartridge than that much-loved budget favourite.

Design >
The technical highlights here are the use of a low-mass boron cantilever combined with a superfine polished elliptical diamond stylus tip. The cartridge’s internal generator is based around a powerful samarium-cobalt magnet and delivers a decent output of 4mV (1kHz, 5cm/s). There is nothing unusual in terms of loading required from the phono stage, which follows the moving magnet norm of 47kOhms or cartridge weight (6.5g).
Our testing is done with the Nagaoka MP-200 mounted to our reference Technics SL-1000R record player and feeding a Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2 phono stage. We also have the similarly-priced Ortofon Quintet Blue moving coil and a now sadly discontinued Goldring 2500 MM for comparison, alongside a pricier reference in the form of Vertere’s hugely capable Sabre MM.
The rest of our reference system is Burmester’s 088/911MkIII amplifier and ATC’s SCM50 speakers. We also swap in Naim's Nait XS 3 integrated amplifier (using its standard MM phono stage) and the Epos ES-7N speakers to see how the Nagaoka performs in a more price-compatible system. In either use case, the results are excellent.

Sound >
The MP-200 is a clear, controlled and entertaining performer. Its talents start with balanced tonality and continue with expressive dynamics and plenty of punch. As we work our way through our record collection it is hard not to be impressed by its composure when playing difficult and dense recordings like Orff’s Carmina Burana and its ability to resolve large amounts of information. This Nagaoka tracks low-level instrumental strands with ease while still managing to make sense of the whole.
Stereo imaging is crisply focused and nicely layered with the massed choir and instrumentation positioned with conviction and stability. This piece is one of the most demanding we know with its savage dynamics and at times almost frenzied orchestration, yet the Nagaoka remains unfazed, producing a clearer and more precise window into the recording than any price rival we’ve heard. The midrange performance is terrific, with voices coming through in a convincingly natural way, packed with texture and full-bodied.

Verdict >
The Nagaoka MP-200 is a great all-rounder. It is well made and easy to fit (lack of captive nuts aside). There is nothing electrically that puts a hurdle in the way of compatibility, and the overall sound is as complete as we have heard at this level. We have no choice but to recommend this cartridge highly.
-What Hi-Fi, November 2024

Nagaoka MP-200Moving Magnet Cartridge
What Hi-Fi