Nagaoka MP-110 or Rega Carbon?

[Tim]

Can anyone throw some opinions on this one. André has recently made me feel I need a kick up the butt and get a TT up and running. I had 2 non-runners recently, now I have one and two tonearms, but still nothing working, despite buying a fair few LPs over the last 6 months or so

So my question is, which of the two would folk recommend? I have read good things about both, especially the Carbon. It will be going into a Michell TecnoArm and I'll be using the MM input on my Rega Brio-R into Harbeth SHL5's. I'm not looking for razor detail, or thumping bass - I want a listenable, non fatiguing, musical cartridge that is easy to set up and that enables easy replacement of the styli. I play mostly Americana, lots of acoustic stripped back music, with female vocals featuring heavily, so mid-range is where I'm at I guess. I also don't go loud.

What would you pick or is there something else out there and I want to stay below £100 if possible and it must be MM? The only real experience I can draw on is from the 70'/80's when I had I think an AT95E and liked it, I had some kind of Ortofon as well, but cannot recall which one?

Thanks.

[Ali Tait]

These are rather good-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-AC...item3aa09226b1

[Tim]

Interesting Ali, never heard of those.

[Ali Tait]

Have a Google for Acutex. Lot of love out there.

[Roy S]

Prefer the Ortofon Red to both the Nagaoka MP110 & the AT91 (Rega Carbon)

[Idlewithnodrive]

Ortofon VMS30 MkII are rather decent.

As are Pickering XV15 / 625e.

You might even pick up a Goldring 1042 for £100 s/h and that would surprise you

[Marco]

Some good reccos so far, but Timbo, I reckon (given the T/Ts and arms you’ve got), you need to aim a little higher in the cartridge department (as far as the two you’ve listed are concerned), as otherwise there’ll be too much of a discrepancy between the sound of your FBA sources and vinyl….

One of the midrange Nagas is most liable to hit the spot, me thinks

Marco.

[Reffc]

Some good reccos so far, but Timbo, I reckon (given the T/Ts and arms you’ve got), you need to aim a little higher in the cartridge department (as far as the two you’ve listed are concerned), as otherwise there’ll be too much of a discrepancy between the sound of your FBA sources and vinyl….

One of the midrange Nagas is most liable to hit the spot, me thinks

Marco.

Yup...MP150 or Mp200 wouldn't break the bank (£209 for the 150) and are excellent carts. Until the recent price hikes, Nags were possibly the best mid range MMs out there (I haven't raised my prices on these...yet!!). Saying that, I've had the Ortofon Red V's the MP110 and it was no contest...in favour of the milder mannered MP110. The Red is good but can get a little spitty top end. The Blue is better. Nags have a more relaxed (not pipe and slippers mind) and very musical presentation that's addictive for extended listening. They let you concentrate on the music and forget the hifi (appropriately partnered). The Ortofons and to a lesser extent, the ATs I find a little brighter and slightly more analytical in presentation. There's a lot of really decent mid priced MMs out there at the minute, including the AT33, MP300, Ortfon Bronze and Goldring 1042. If you can stretch to one of these, it's (imho) worth the extra outlay over budget offerings, especially given your arm.

[Roy S]

Saying that, I've had the Ortofon Red V's the MP110 and it was no contest...in favour of the milder mannered MP110. The Red is good but can get a little spitty top end.

That'll be me shot down in flames then! I would say I prefer a 'livelier' presentation but wouldn't say the red is 'spitty'.

[Beobloke]

The only real experience I can draw on is from the 70'/80's when I had I think an AT95E and liked it,

If you liked the AT95E then how about an AT110E? Officially discontinued but there are some still about and I think they're a great little cartridge personally.