New cartridge for Rega P3-24

Check out Acoustic Signature spacers for the Rega. Easy to install.

I had a Soundsmith Otello for a few weeks. Flat, uninspiring to my ear. My current cart, Ortofon LOMC Salsa has super detail up top, but a little edgy and doesn't have the bass response I liked about Denon.

I have a Denon 301mk2 LOMC on the way. Will post impressions later in the week.

Well, after a lot of reading and talking to dealers, I made a decision and just ordered the Nagaoka MP-150 from NeedleDoctor. I wanted to stay at a particular "affordable" price point this time around, and really desire a "musical" cartridge that will match will with my table and my LP collection. The MP-150 will not require a spacer under my Rega arm, and should get along quite nicely with my Rogue's phono stage. I'm really excited about this purchase, and I will post my experiences once it's mounted and broken in.

Well, today my local "stereo tech guy" installed the new MP-150 onto my RB-301 arm using the simple alignment protractor that originally came with my table. No spacers under the arm mount, and a minor raising of the cueing lift bar .... I brought the table home, hooked it back up into my system and started playing records. After just two hours out of the box, I am very, very impressed with the Nagaoka MP-150 cartridge. Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Dave Brubeck, Allman Brothers Band, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell all sounded absolutely fantastic. This cartridge, within the context of my system, is well balanced with realistic top to bottom musical range, throws a wide and deep soundstage, tracks perfectly, minimizes surface noise, gets deep into the grooves without any harshness or analytical edge, seems truthful to both musical timbre and tone, has just the right "PRAT" to complement my table and arm, and seems to be a wonderful means through which to enjoy the music. I will report back after another 20 - 30 hours of burn-in, but so far ..... so good.

Twenty hours later ..... This Nagaoka MP-150 is a terrific cartridge. Rather than getting caught up in all of our usual "audiophile jargon," let me simply say that all my original thoughts from my 8-22-13 posting have been reinforced and the sound of music is sublime. I am enjoying my records more than ever before.