Nagaoka MP-MONO Moving Permalloy Phono Cartridge (New)

Introducing Nagaoka's new MP-MONO, designed specifically for playback of mono records.

10% off until Feb.1 2025!

Background

Since a stereo cartridge produces sound from both vertical and horizontal movements, it doesn’t have the same reproduction accuracy of a true mono cartridge, which only captures horizontal movements. Recordings such as The Beatles mono records sound significantly superior and quieter with a true mono cartridge setup. Artifact sounds or distortions caused by groove dirt and vertical signals generated by the "pinch effect” of record groove tracing are eliminated.

With the Nagaoka MP-MONO cartridge, it is presumed that most will be installed on a tonearm with stereo wiring, and connected to a stereo system. To that end, the cartridge has 4 output pins instead of two, but both the L and R channel outputs are identical mono signals (strapped), so the need for a mono switch or Y adaptor is eliminated. Just connect everything as though it was a stereo cartridge. This is a high-output unit which uses your "MM" phono input.

The supplied stylus is a .7 mil elliptical for better tracing of the high frequency grooves on micro-groove records, but a 1 mil elliptical is also availbable on request, with a slightly higher tracking force of 2.0-2.5 grams.

The .7 mil tip is ideal for modern mono LP and 45 playback (including Beatles original and re-released records), but will successfully play older micro-groove records from 1958 onward, although records from 1948 to 1958 play better with a 1 mil tip. Before 1948, a tylus tip of 2 to 3 mil was required for the wider grooves. (many collectors of mono records use a 1 mil tip for micro-groove records in order to “ride" above the area of the groove wall previously played with a .7 mil tip. This improves playback quality on an otherwise worn record)

The replacement stylus options are:

Conical 1 mil $150 

Conical 1.5 mil $190

Elliptical .4 x .7 $175 <- ideal in most cases

Elliptical .5 x 1 $200