As it's now discontinued, has anyone compared it head to head against the replacement cart?Tried pretty much all the carts in this thread but am so happy with the AT440mlb that I can’t ever see me changing - will just buy a new stylus when this gets worn.
As it's now discontinued, has anyone compared it head to head against the replacement cart?
I have heard Needle Drops of the AT and its very good!Tried pretty much all the carts in this thread but am so happy with the AT440mlb that I can’t ever see me changing - will just buy a new stylus when this gets worn.
can,t work out how to send PM on the new forumI’m getting very close to buying a MP500, everything I’ve read suggests I’d really like it. It seems a lot of dosh for an MM though!
What is your arm? From what I can ascertain the newer batch of Nagaokas with the three-digit numbers are slightly lower compliance than the ‘70s MP-11, MP-50 etc to better suit modern arms, but are otherwise all but identical. They seem happy in a typical medium mass arm such as a Rega, SME, Ittok, SL-1200 etc. Medium mass equates to about 10-14g to my mind. I’ll know more when my MP-500 turns up as my pre-Improved 3009 is 12.5g. The SME actually works perfectly with the Ortofon 540/II and that is high compliance at about 25cu IIRC, but that has a far lighter cartridge body than the metal Nag so lowers mass a bit. I’d avoid it if you are running a FR64, Ortofon RMG 309 or whatever, but I think any of the Nags should be an easy match with most arms.
It may be far harder to get the capacitance right, which is 100-200pf, and given a typical arm lead is 100pf that means many phono stages will be over. I’ve altered mine to have 39pf and my arm cable, a vdH 501, is very low capacitance at around 75-80pf so I’ll be fine here. This goes for Ortofons and ATs too, they all like to see very little capacitance and way, way less than say ‘70s Shures, Stantons etc.
can,t work out how to send PM on the new forum
Can send you a MP500 to try tony if required
S2 Improved fixed headshell which from reading around is 6.5g.
I'd take their suggested capacitance with a pinch of salt after reading around.
https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/nagaoka_mp11_e.html
I know it's a completely different cart, I was using it as an example of the rated capacitance against what it measured.
Discontinued, eh? I didn't know this. I may need a different strategy!
The 440MLb works so well with the Technics and my phono stage that I bought two. I'm glad I did now. On clean records the micro line stylus seems to have plenty of life in it. BTW Amazon UK shows 9 in stock at £209, fulfilled by Thakker: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OQUJ1QO/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21The ATN440MLb replacement stylus has been discontinued as well, however, the current ML stylus replacement for VM540ML and VM740ML with fit the AT440MLB body. Model designation is VMN40ML.
Unfortunately, you'll have to settle for red plastic rather than the funky purple.
I'd suggest sourcing the original, as there really is no discernable difference between AT440MLb and VM540ML (dynamic and static compliance have remained the same, however, the recommended tracking force range has been increased). I'd act fast though and try the usual on-line retailers and/or phone around a few hi-fi shops.
The SME fixed shell Improved is indeed 6.5g so low mass and you may find it struggles to balance out the 8g Nagaoka body with the standard counterweight. If I was you I’d be very tempted by an Ortfon 540/II, it is a perfect match with that arm and can still be found NOS from Thakker.de for about £300 (it was replaced by the 2M Black). Styli are still available from Ortofon. I have a fixed Improved in my SME “collection” and tried the 540/II in it and it really does work well. It is a far nicer arm than people give it credit for, but you need to play to its strengths and a light high-compliance MM like the 540/II is exactly its cart demographic. It is the descendant of the VMS30 or M25FL, so exactly its type of cart.