Nagaoka MP-700 Phono Cartridge

Micro-Ridge diamond, boron cantilever, and advanced Moving Permalloy generator

The Nagaoka MP-700 is the flagship of the company's Moving Permalloy cartridge series, combining a nude Micro-Ridge diamond and boron cantilever with substantial changes to the MP generator itself. A new magnetic-flux guide plate, tension-wire suspension, and rigid duralumin frame are designed to extract finer groove information while retaining the practical high output of an MM-compatible cartridge.

Its 4 mV output allows the MP-700 to work directly into a conventional 47 kΩ MM phonostage despite the low-mass stylus and cantilever assembly.

Revised Moving Permalloy Generator

Nagaoka's Moving Permalloy system replaces the relatively heavy magnet attached to the cantilever of a conventional MM cartridge with a lightweight permalloy element. For the MP-700, Nagaoka further develops the system by adding a magnetic-flux guide plate inside the cartridge.

The plate improves the flow of magnetic flux through the generator and increases flux density around the permalloy element, increasing sensitivity to very small groove movements.

Tension-Wire Suspension

The MP-700 is the first MP-series cartridge to incorporate a tension wire into its suspension. The wire helps control the cantilever's position as tracking force varies over record warps and other groove irregularities.

The additional control is intended to keep the stylus operating consistently around its designed pivot point and stabilize tracking across the record surface.

Nude Micro-Ridge Diamond and Boron Cantilever

A nude Micro-Ridge diamond provides a narrow tracing surface for following fine, short-wavelength groove modulation. Its elongated groove contact also spreads the tracking force over a larger area of the groove wall than simpler stylus profiles.

The stylus is mounted to a boron cantilever, combining low mass with very high stiffness. Nagaoka specifies frequency response to 27 kHz and 30 dB of channel separation at 1 kHz.

Duralumin Frame

The cartridge frame is made from high-strength duralumin and receives multiple surface treatments. Nagaoka applies nickel plating, black tin plating, and an insulating coating to improve durability while helping prevent static electricity from entering the cartridge structure.

Replaceable Stylus

The matching replacement stylus is the Nagaoka JN-P700, retaining the nude Micro-Ridge diamond and boron cantilever.

What's Included

• MP-700 cartridge
• Stylus guard
• Cartridge case
• Mounting screws, washers, and nuts
• Hex wrench
• Screwdriver
• Serial card
• Instruction manual

Specifications

Type: Moving Permalloy stereo cartridge

Mounting: 1/2 in.

Stylus: Nude Micro-Ridge diamond

Cantilever: Boron

Output Voltage (At 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec): 4 mV

Frequency Response: 20 Hz–27 kHz

Channel Separation (At 1 kHz): 30 dB

Channel Balance (At 1 kHz): ≤1 dB

Vertical Tracking Force: 1.4 g

Load Resistance: 47 kΩ

Load Capacitance: 100 pF

Frame: Duralumin

Replacement Stylus: JN-P700

Weight: 8 g