Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

In the August 2024 issue of Stereophile, Herb Reichert had some very flattering things to say about the venerable Nagaoka MP-200:

“More than any cartridge I’ve ever used, the impromptu MP-200 made voices and instruments sound real. I am grateful to be in a position to tell you about one of the highest value, most overachieving audio products I’ve ever encountered, ever. Highly recommended.”

The MP-200 was “impromptu” because he put a MP-200 stylus on a MP-110 body. Something to really consider if you need to replace a MP-110 stylus.

I feel similarly about my MP-300 as Herb wrote about his “MP-200”. The MP-300 is the cartridge I wish I had heard before investing heavily in MC optimized gear.
 
ngower said:
Trying to be conservative with money as I’ve got a staycation with the mothership visiting soon. But I’m eyeing the MP-200 daily while the yen is weak.
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Suggestion only. Look at the JICO line, particularly models with an SAS stylus or even a nude elliptical. Quality is superb and value for money quite superior as you buy direct.
 
RHANDMJ said:
Suggestion only. Look at the JICO line, particularly models with an SAS stylus or even a nude elliptical. Quality is superb and value for money quite superior as you buy direct.
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I don’t think JICO makes replacements for Nagaoka cartridges and replacement Nagaoka styli can be purchased affordably directly from Japan. My MP-500 stylus cost US$210, shipped, from CD Japan.
 
Angsty said:
Why the JT-555? BTW, how's the MM Pro working out for you?
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The JT-555 is a decent cart, principally because of the stylus and cantilever. Decent sounding. Good tracker, forgiving of surface noise. does nothing wrong.

I would say, in my heirarchy, the SAS-1 with a boron SAS-1 stylus is supreme, followed by the Garrott P77i, the Garrott K-3 Shibata which I have a soft spot for, then the JT-555.

MM Pro - too early to say definitively. I had been using the phono stage in my Mytek Brooklyn for the past 6 years - before that I had a Graham Slee Era Gold V. The Brooklyn's phono stage is pretty decent, and stood up well to the Slee. The MM Pro is much better. Still breaking in I suppose.

Let's put it this way. I haven't bought a new component of significance in over 10 years. It takes an awful lot to drag me back in.
 
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TL : DR: if you have a low output Grado and want to try it with a tubed MM phono, it’ll work great with a Haggerman Piccolo MC headlamp. Just ask Jim for the 47k loading option to be installed.

This is cartridge adjacent maybe, but this thread seems the most applicable. After I sold my VPI I didn’t know what I’d do with my Grado Timbre Reference3 low output. The phono stage that worked with it (Pass XP-17) is now partnered with my Rega, which doesn’t like Grado’s. My Allnic has two inputs, one each for MC and MM, but only has 38dB gain on the MM stage.

I reached out to Grado about any headamp options and basically got blown off. A one line reply that there aren’t any. That was disappointing but I kept looking anyway. I stumbled upon the Haggerman Piccolo MC and sent Jim Haggerman an email inquiry. He offered to change the resistance option from 1k Ohms to a very Grado friendly 47k Ohms, no additional charge. (Awesome guy by the way, he helped explain a lot to me and was very patient with my thickheadedness).

Cutting to the chase, I’m currently using the Grado on a lightweight AT headshell on a Jelco TK-850L arm and have it hooked up to the Piccolo then to the MM input on my Allnic H-1201 phono. The Grado sounds better in this setup than it did with my VPI to Pass rig. It sounds HUGE, three dimensional and rocks while retaining that smooth midrange. The Piccolo doesn’t add or subtract any sound that I can discern, I’m using 12 dB gain and 47k Ohms. It’s another active component, so it needs a power socket available and another set of interconnnects, but it is small and the controls are easy to understand. I have it hidden away in my rack, out of sight and mind.

IMG_2266.jpeg
 
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That headamp sounds like a great option for using a Grado with a tubed amp. The low output, 47Kohm load can make those Grados hard to partner, which is likely one reason why I see so many Grado owners on here with Sutherland phonos.
 
ngower said:
Mounting hardware probably pushes it just over that 5.6g then. I've been interested in the Hana's for a while but don't feel like finding a Technics 6mm mat somewhere
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I had the Hana on my UltraDeck for the longest time, it was my favorite cart on that deck with the same phono stage I'm currently using. I really like the way the Sonata3 sounds, but got an itch to try and old favorite, I agree, with the hardware and washers it probably puts it at 5.6g +/-, not enough to cause an issue and I've had this 5mm mat since my GR.
 
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ngower said:
Mounting hardware probably pushes it just over that 5.6g then. I've been interested in the Hana's for a while but don't feel like finding a Technics 6mm mat somewhere
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For shits and giggles we weighed the head shell/cart/hardware with no guard. That came in at 13g, minus the 7.6g "approx" weight of the head shell as listed by Technics and the cart weight comes in at "approx" 5.4g. So by hook or crook we're there ;)
 
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