Cheap as chips cart - Cheap as chips sound?

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

Recently thought I'd try a cheapo cart. It's a Nagaoka MP-10... Got it for 20 nicker, brand new on fleabay.

Not thunking this would be anything special I'm quite surprised at how this little hobo sounds. Nice balanced sound, not thundering bass but still very decent.

Nice seperation too and imaging is good. Some nice sense of air/space too but not overwhelmingly so.

I'd say it sounds just like the Shure V15 III + JICO SAS if not a little smoother but probably not as airy.

I'm chuffed... a nice spare cart for hardly owt.

Cheers
Joe

[Macca]

Nagaokas are not your usual mass-market carts, they are all a bit special. They get the balance just right, somehow.

[The Black Adder]

Indeed, Martin. Well this is my first Nag and I'm impressed with this lowest model.

[Tarzan]

My two Stanton 500AL's l love mine, great sound for buttons, though not everybody likes them.:)

[The Black Adder]

Never tried the Stantons either... worth a go maybe.

I mean for 20 notes it's a little charmer. Not as revealing as a Jico for example but never the less it's a good un.

[John]

I use a Acutex love it rocks like a demon:mad:

[Macca]

No doubt part of the reason is that, as jaded enthusiasts of long-standing - we don't expect much of cheap carts so we are invetiably amazed when they perform quite well. The cheap Stantons I found to be excellent on simple rock and blues, not so good if the recording required a bit of finesse. The Nagaoka is a better all-rounder in this regard, although still a little crude compared to an absolute reference.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've always thought too many people want to get to silly priced cartridges too soon. And this has nothing to do with Linn-doctrination (I never fell for that loblocks). Sort out the arm, deck & phono stage and you'll be amazed at what a cheap cartridge can do. Most people could live perfectly happily with that for a long time before going mad with crazy diamonds.

Moral: Don't put the cart before the......

......no that's not going to work but you know what I mean!

[walpurgis]

There are pleasant cheap MM cartridges, but no great ones. I've tried just about every make around, been there with the Nagoakas and Stantons/Pickerings, Shures, Ortofons, Goldrings etc.

Excel and JVC MMs impressed me with their sound (for the price), but the only non MCs that really work for me are the now ancient ADCs (I like Deccas, but that's a different story altogether).

To be realistic, you really need a low output MC costing over £500 before the real magic of vinyl starts showing itself properly.

[Batty]

I have an MP 11 I bought years ago and just unboxed it this month to give it a try, still on the Rock.

[synsei]

I know it isn't everybody's cup of tea but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Audio Technica's AT95e. It delivers a mature performance for very little money although it can sound a little bass light in some installations. These carts really begin to show their quality when fitted with either one of these (http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95HE.html), or for even better performance, one of these (http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95SA.html)

[Barry]

I have no experience of the AT95 (?). But I do have some admiration for Audio Technica; their AT66 (in those days: 1969 (?)) was an eye opener.)

Remember a collegue of mine swapping the M55E for an AT66E, without my knowledge. Yes, I immediately knew something had been changed (to the amazement of my collegue), but recognised that the AT66E portrayed an aural picture that was as equally valid as that portrayed by the M55E.

[The Black Adder]

The MP-10 is no opening up a little now. I gotta tell you I'm really quite happy with this baby... I could live with this quite happily, it's a happy chappy!

I've just checked back with the guy on ebay who is selling these, today he's sold a stock of 8 in less than 3 hours.

[guy]

[QUOTE=walpurgis;502376]

.......... but the only non MCs that really work for me are the now ancient ADCs ...........QUOTE]

+1
I have very fond memories of the ADC XLM (mk11?), it even sold for a while with a "free" magnesium alloy headshell.

Guy.

[chelsea]

Looking forward to getting mine.
Had one in the 80s.

Using a denon as a stand in whilst my koetsu gets fixed,can barely listen to it as it's giving me a headache.
Hoping the nag is better than this.