Description
NAGAOKA MP-700 – High-End Cartridge for the Most Demanding Listeners
The MP-700 is the flagship model of NAGAOKA’s acclaimed MP series. With over 85 years of experience in analog audio technology, NAGAOKA delivers a cartridge that sets new standards for precision and musicality.
Utilizing the advanced Moving Permalloy (MP) principle, the MP-700 features a lightweight Permalloy element mounted directly to a boron cantilever. This construction significantly reduces moving mass, enabling exceptional tracking precision and an impressively nuanced sound with minimal distortion.
At its core is a nude Micro-Ridge stylus, cut to exact dimensions of 0.12 × 0.3 mil. Combined with a particularly soft damper and a newly designed pivot wire suspension, this ensures perfect control and stability – especially in the high-frequency range.
The result: outstanding channel separation, lifelike tonal balance, tight and defined bass, and excellent depth resolution – a top choice for discerning vinyl enthusiasts seeking to capture every musical detail.
The MP-700 features a precisely engineered ultra-duralumin body, finished with a triple surface treatment (nickel, black tin, and insulating coating). This protects against static buildup, improves thermal and wear resistance, and enhances long-term durability.
Like all NAGAOKA cartridges, the MP-700 is handcrafted in Japan by experienced artisans – a testament to the brand’s uncompromising commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Specifications – NAGAOKA MP-700
- Type: MP (Moving Permalloy, for MM input)
- Output voltage: 4 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
- Frequency response: 20 – 27,000 Hz
- Channel separation: 30 dB (at 1 kHz)
- Channel balance: ≤ 1.0 dB (at 1 kHz)
- Recommended load impedance: 47 kΩ
- Recommended load capacitance: 100 pF
- Tracking force: 1.4 g
- Cantilever: Boron
- Stylus tip: Nude Micro-Ridge
- Cartridge weight: 8.0 g
- Replacement stylus: JN-P700
What Makes MP Cartridges Special?
- MP cartridges are a high-quality alternative to MM, often offering a more natural sound and lower stylus mass, which benefits groove tracking.
- They still retain the practical advantages of MM cartridges (high output voltage, easy stylus replacement).
- When combined with high-quality styli (e.g. boron cantilever, elliptical, Fine Line, or Shibata), they can perform at MC level without the typical downsides (e.g. fixed stylus, low output, higher cost).
