Nagaoka vs Audio Technica VM

[nbaptista]

Hello,
I have a Planar 2 and I want a new cartridge. The AT has new new serie VM and is more recent than Nagaoka MP 110. What is the best bet, Nagaoka MP 110 ot AT VM 95E?

[Lurch]

I would say forget the 95e and look to the 95en, or if you can stretch the budget a little the go for the 95ml.

Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk

[graham67]

Hi nuno,
The mp110 is a class above the 95e, so perhaps better compared to vm95en or ml mentioned above. Its got a big sound, fuller and warmer than AT but not as nimble. On some records the treble can occasionally be a little obvious which is not unusual in this price range and most of the time it stays the right side of the line. I havent tried the 95ml but have had several AT carts with this stylus and find the treble is extended and detailed but doesn't get ragged.
In a system which needs some scale and body the nag 110 could just be the ticket as long as your system is not too exposed in the treble.

[Macca]

Nagaoka without question.

[Teleton]

Nagaoka deffo, but with my rega rp1, the Nagaoka mp11 (same size as the Mp110) was bigger than the standard Rega Carbon, causing the tone arm tail to be down instead of level/slightly up. Maybe the Planar has more height adjustment/room than the Rega Rp 1. I needed to buy shims to raise the tone arm up! Instead at that moment I said goodbye to the world of Rega and bought a vintage mint Technics Sld 303, where the Nagaoka shines.

[graham67]

I think the answer will lie in the direction you want to take the sound of your current system.
If you want a warmer fuller sound, go the Nag.
If you want a more open revealing sound, the AT should be ideal.
Graham