Here's a fantastic MM cartridge that is under the radar

A

Arcman

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The Nagaoka JT-80BK is fantastic. Smooth, balanced with deep bass. I shot a video of the JT-80bk on my 1200GR. Compared to the 2M Black, the NAG cartridge has detail, but is not overly analytical. The 2m Black, which is also fantastic, sounds a bit "dry" (floabt). I highly recommend checking this cartridge out if you are looking for a MM. Amazon has them around $150-$200 cheaper than other places, plus, you get a great return policy if its not for you. Check out the video and let me know your thoughts

 
Any industry affiliation? There is only one review for this cartridge on Amazon and it's your review.
 
Nagaoka seem to have a good reputation and a wide following. I have a MP-110 on a SL-1200 and it is a great sounding cartridge for the money. The JT-80BK might be worth a try.
 
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for what appears to be a nice well rounded cartridge that is easily affordable ! I for one believe decent quality in the 'MM' area is needed to attract potential new vinyl enthusiasts into our niche market.
 
Arcman said:
The Nagaoka JT-80BK is fantastic. Smooth, balanced with deep bass. I shot a video of the JT-80bk on my 1200GR. Compared to the 2M Black, the NAG cartridge has detail, but is not overly analytical. The 2m Black, which is also fantastic, sounds a bit "dry" (floabt). I highly recommend checking this cartridge out if you are looking for a MM. Amazon has them around $150-$200 cheaper than other places, plus, you get a great return policy if its not for you. Check out the video and let me know your thoughts

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Arcman thanks for this, I'm looking for a new MM and will give this a look , cant tell anything from your video thou , that poor girl ..!!!



Regards
 
a.wayne said:
Any alternate MM recommendation ..!!!
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This guy is pushing this cartridge on AS, Vinyl Asylum, and on Amazon via his review. He's also recommending people to purchase it on Amazon.

As for recommendations for mm cartridges, I haven't owned a mm cartridge since the early 1980s. Also, cartridges are transducers and therefore they are a very personal choice like speakers are. Just because someone else likes/loves a particular cartridge doesn't mean you will in the context of your system.
 
nc42acc said:
Maybe he will reply explaining his enthusiasm for this cartridge.
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We already have plenty of shills, brand ambassadors, and gorilla marketers on audio forums which is why people should put any industry affiliations in their signature as Mike has requested. Unfortunately we have people on this forum who aren't complying.
 
sure like my Miyajima Labs Infinity Mono's; both the 1.0 mil stylus, and the 0.7 mil stylus. each betters my mega buck MC's on mono pressings.

these each list for $3350, so not cheap cheap, but not breaking the bank either. depends on how many mono pressings you have, and how much you care about it. no doubt it makes an experiential difference though. my reason for investing in these is not that i own so many mono's, but that these recordings are maybe the best one's ever. so hearing that music at it's best is important to me.

YMMV.
 
Mark not many forums left without all the people you list. Yes there are some here but not at the same quantities.

mep said:
We already have plenty of shills, brand ambassadors, and gorilla marketers on audio forums which is why people should put any industry affiliations in their signature as Mike has requested. Unfortunately we have people on this forum who aren't complying.
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mep said:
We already have plenty of shills, brand ambassadors, and gorilla marketers on audio forums which is why people should put any industry affiliations in their signature as Mike has requested. Unfortunately we have people on this forum who aren't complying.
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AGREED! Everyone needs to take everything they read where there are no disclosures in the signatures with eyes wide open and a grain of salt.

If you think for a second the new kid on the block brand doesn’t know the tactics (compensated shill tactics) to try to knock off the established players, think again.

At least if there is disclosure, people can view it with a wink and a nudge and then go listen for themselves to decide.

As to that, I like the Ortofon MM carts. But I sell them, so….yeah, I like them, but they are damn good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Ortofon seem to be pretty decent. I also like the 700 series Audio Technica. They remind me of their old boutique brand, Signet. Signet were always my second favorite, to the Grace back in the day... I was a huge fan of the Grace F9E, and the Grace Ruby!!! I wish Grace were still available :).

I very much agree with MEP... Mike has a rule to disclose affiliations, yet we still deal with people who start threads to push the products they are shilling for.
 
LOL. Yes I have been on all the major boards. I am going to set up a You Tube Channel with reviews, opinions, etc on Audio and possibly Photography (my profession). I'm still experimenting on video formats, etc. My channel is not up and running in full swing. With that aside, I have no affiliation with Nagaoka or any audio brand. I've read for a few years how many love Nagaoka cartridges (especially for the money). I was never attracted to them due to the appearance. Reading a review of the Technics 1210GAE, I saw that the units sold in Japan came with a Nagaoka JT -1210 in which, according to reviews, was made with Technics input. I thought that maybe I could track down the cartridge itself. After research, I found that the JT-80BK is the same cartridge in a different color (there is a cheaper version as well). I found it on Amazon and I was really impressed. I figure I would make a video and post it on the Hoffman forum, then just posted on all the other major forums as well. What I found interesting there are no reviews of this cartridge (plenty of Nagaoka's other models). Nagaoka is been a player in Japan for many years and has provided stylus to many other brands.

Nope, I'm not a brand ambassador. I have no company ties (I own my own photography business Arc Photography). Audio/music is my hobby. Yes, I did post a review on Amazon. So nothing to hide :)
 
Randy you are showing your age. I had a Grace F9E on a 747 tonearm and upgraded to the ruby stylus. All my old LP day memories are filled with smiles and happiness.


Randy Myers said:
Ortofon seem to be pretty decent. I also like the 700 series Audio Technica. They remind me of their old boutique brand, Signet. Signet were always my second favorite, to the Grace back in the day... I was a huge fan of the Grace F9E, and the Grace Ruby!!! I wish Grace were still available :).

I very much agree with MEP... Mike has a rule to disclose affiliations, yet we still deal with people who start threads to push the products they are shilling for.
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Arcman said:
LOL. Yes I have been on all the major boards. I am going to set up a You Tube Channel with reviews, opinions, etc on Audio and possibly Photography (my profession). I'm still experimenting on video formats, etc. My channel is not up and running in full swing. With that aside, I have no affiliation with Nagaoka or any audio brand. I've read for a few years how many love Nagaoka cartridges (especially for the money). I was never attracted to them due to the appearance. Reading a review of the Technics 1210GAE, I saw that the units sold in Japan came with a Nagaoka JT -1210 in which, according to reviews, was made with Technics input. I thought that maybe I could track down the cartridge itself. After research, I found that the JT-80BK is the same cartridge in a different color (there is a cheaper version as well). I found it on Amazon and I was really impressed. I figure I would make a video and post it on the Hoffman forum, then just posted on all the other major forums as well. What I found interesting there are no reviews of this cartridge (plenty of Nagaoka's other models). Nagaoka is been a player in Japan for many years and has provided stylus to many other brands.

Nope, I'm not a brand ambassador. I have no company ties (I own my own photography business Arc Photography). Audio/music is my hobby. Yes, I did post a review on Amazon. So nothing to hide :)
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Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
nc42acc said:
Randy you are showing your age. I had a Grace F9E on a 747 tonearm and upgraded to the ruby stylus. All my old LP day memories are filled with smiles and happiness.
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God, I would kill for a Grace F9-Ruby.... I have actually considered buying a F-9L and then getting Soundsmith Ruby stylus... wonder if it would be as good or if I am just reminiscing about days gone by :)....

Really hard to see, but there is a Grace Ruby on that there table :)....

OldStereo.jpg

By the way, really old picture... but...

Audio Linear TD4001 table (God I loved that table)... had SME III arm and the Grace Ruby cartridge... Dayton Wright pre-amp, Audionics amplifiers, Technics Pro Tuner, Nakamichi deck, KEF speakers, VPI's first piece of equipment ever (HW-16 record cleaning machine).
 
BTW, my system consists of Technics 1210GR TT, PS Audio BHK Preamp (using Gold Lion 12au7's), FirstWatt J2, Elac PPA-2 Phono Preamp, Pro-Ject s2 dac, Torus power conditioner, Zu Omen Def speakers, SVS sub (Anti-Mode sub calibration). Oppo 103 Universal player. GIK sound absorber panels and Bass traps. I will update my profile
 
Arcman said:
BTW, my system consists of Technics 1210GR TT, PS Audio BHK Preamp (using Gold Lion 12au7's), FirstWatt J2, Elac PPA-2 Phono Preamp, Pro-Ject s2 dac, Torus power conditioner, Zu Omen Def speakers, SVS sub (Anti-Mode sub calibration). Oppo 103 Universal player. GIK sound absorber panels and Bass traps. I will update my profile
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So where are you going to get the gear that you will review on your YouTube channel?
 
Randy Myers said:
God, I would kill for a Grace F9-Ruby.... I have actually considered buying a F-9L and then getting Soundsmith Ruby stylus... wonder if it would be as good or if I am just reminiscing about days gone by :)....

Really hard to see, but there is a Grace Ruby on that there table :)....

View attachment 30707



By the way, really old picture... but...

Audio Linear TD4001 table (God I loved that table)... had SME III arm and the Grace Ruby cartridge... Dayton Wright pre-amp, Audionics amplifiers, Technics Pro Tuner, Nakamichi deck, KEF speakers, VPI's first piece of equipment ever (HW-16 record cleaning machine).
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Don't forget the Sony Trinitron ! Another Grace Ruby fan back in the day here as well, Kenwood KD500, Premier MMt arm
 
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