An Audio Comparison: Nagaoka MP-110 vs MP-150
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- After much anticipation, and thorough experimentation on my end, I've put this video together to provide an analog-to-digital audio comparison between the Nagaoka MP-110 and the MP-150. The Nag-110 has been used for the better half of this channel, and with the recently added Nag-150 I too have been curious about a side by side comparison of these fantastic carts. Let me know your thoughts below. Enjoy!
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Hardware:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200 MK5
Cartridges: Nag MP-110 & MP-150
Receiver: Sansui G-7000
Software:
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Soundbooth
Music used:
Daft Punk - Doin' It Right
The Music of David Lynch - Lykke Li - Wicked Game
Nat King Cole (Live at the Sands) - Ballerina
(All audio is recorded as-is, in real-time directly from the LP's and not enhanced)
I have read all the comments and notice people talking that 150 is better on highs and 110 on lows. This is simply because of the pick up stylus, in 110 it is bonded tip whereas in 150 it is nude elliptical. Otherwise both carts share the same engine with same internal configuration and specs. As high frequencies are more sensitive, they are better picked up by nude tips from the grooves, bonded tips somewhat muffled them. This is the reason why 150 sounds clearer but with less bass. As bass is better perceived in absence of high frequencies, 110 shows punchier basses and warmer sound. Just swap the styluses, and your perception will also swap.
My Nagaoka MP-200 to me is the best of both worlds, it reproduces what is there providing no color of its own. Thanks for introducing people to the joy of vinyl.
I have to say I have some expensive cartridges on Kuzma tables and still always enjoy the purple mp 200. I think it's the boron. Every boron cantilever cartridge I've heard I've liked
@@jm_1214
So that’s the secret another mystery metal. What a job working on a part you can’t really see with out magnification. It sure makes Beatles Rubber Soul sound good.
Very good video. I appreciate that we are listening via YT compression, however I can hear a difference between the two. Strangely enough, I tend to favour the MP-110, its slightly warmer and reproduces the male voice in a more "full" way, if you know what I mean. The way you have done the video is excellent, easy to read and compare. More please.
I have both - the 150 is a recent purchase. I also have a Technics (MK2) and the Schiit Mani. I love the 110, it's incredible for the price and I much prefer it to say the Ortofon Blue - much warmer and beefier bass. So I was not expecting that the 150 would be such a significant step up. I just played Celeste (Not Your Muze) and Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else and it's like the musicians are there with me. I could almost feel Celeste's breath when she sang. Sorry that sounds a bit creepy. You can hear every instrument and the soundstage is wider and richer. Thanks CJ for the great work doing this comparison. For those struggling to hear the difference via YT, it's much more pronounced in the flesh.
I have the mp-110 and it is a beast. For the price range it’s hard to beat. But the 150 does sound better if you’re willing to pay the extra money. Well done on this video as it shows the difference between the two.
Now this makes me wonder why I bought a $2000 cart while the MP-110 and MP-150 sounded so great
I've got a MP-200. As good of a value as it is (and it is), it doesn't have the clarity of a cartridge like a Hana ML or Dynavector 20x2, never mind something like an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze or Hana Umami Blue.
Bravo,bel lavoro si riesce a sentire le piccole differenze .ottime tutte e due .
MP-150 sounds a touch more open on the treble end, more airy. MP-110 seems to enjoy the bass and percussion end, more oomph there; that's probably the sonic support that makes vocals sound fuller. As you said, both are wonderful sound signatures. It comes down to preference and type of music a person usually listens to.
la meilleur audio technica 3600
very very interesting. personally i've heard a little better quality of the 150 (of course, youtube compressed the digital audio but the differences are there). for the price, personally, i would choose the 110. in any case are both magnificent cartridges
I have the MP-110 and schiit Mani phono preamp, with the Mani the MP-110 becomes a totally different beast, I also have the Schiit Loki EQ, and by boosting the 2 khz and 8 khz just a tiny bit (from 12 o"clock to 12:30) it becomes very clear and vivid sounding without becoming bright or harsh, I would say even more clear sounding then MP-150, great video by the way, thanks.
Thank you for this excellent comparison!
I find that MP-110 is definitely more cohesive than MP-150 (just like "real performance" vs "reproduction"), albeit slightly muffled.
I'll go with the cheaper option, not because of the economy but from personal preferences. And if I ever need for more bright sound -
I sure that preamp with switchable/variable input capacitance or small eq tweaking will be enough, at least for me :)
Great. I can definitely hear sound separation and more punch on the low end with clarity. I agree for the price, it makes you want to consider the 200 or the 300 ...or the 500😂. I don't think I will upgrade to the 150 but damn they are all great.
Both are very good but MP-150 sound little bit better to me. It´s similar to my MP-200
Great video as always, thank you very much! Interesting to hear the subtle difference.
Could you upload the full track of Wicked Game by Lykke Li?
Nagaoka 110.
Pretty good video. Nice job
I hope Ian HiVynl sees the nice comparison you've done here. I can't decide which is better. Both have their similarities, and I couldn't hear any major objectionable differences. Granted, as you make note, "in person"is a better evaluation. I've used two head shells with diffefent cartridges and stylus' to swap out depending on which type of music I was preferring for a period of time, big band, pop, vocal standards, rock or classical. I've found that with cartridges, "one size" dosen't necessarily fit all. Maybe that's a hold over from my longtime listening experience, or am I THAT particular?!?
My guess is that the 150 will settle in nicely and warm up a bit as it's new and the 110 has already been broken in. 150 is clearly more open and better response across the spectrum and if it warms a touch after break in would complete dominate the 110 and be worth it. You'd have a warm and open full spectrum of sound with incredible tracking.
Very possible. I made this video after 13 albums of breaking in the 150. It may have needed more time. Either way, there's still something to be said for the quality of the 110 at its price point.
Great video. I'm hearing some harsh sibilance with the MP150. The treble is too bright and unnatural. Initially impressive my ears begin to fatigue after about 15 minutes.
MP-150 !!!
Gracias por compartir buena Música Saludos, Felicidades **
Thank you for the great review and comparison There is a difference of .5mv in output between the cartridges, what gain setting was used for your phono pre-amp?
I haven't used my Schiit Mani in a while. I'm running my SL-1200 through the Sansui G-7000 receiver.
They sound exactly the same to me.
Hello. I am going to transfer some vinyl and I would like your recommendation. I am going to be transferring Live Drum Corps albums which are very loud recordings. When I tried to transfer them before using a Elecktro it distorted when the marching band got very, very loud. My recording volumes are quite low but it still distorts. Would a 110 or a 150 help with this distortion? I don't know if it's the source material, but I'm of the opinion that the ortofon cart can't handle the louder dynamics. Be aware when I say loud I mean very loud!!!
Thanks for your help!
Certainly a good inquiry, and if you're wanting less noise/distortion, then you're definitely making the right move from the Ortofon carts! The 110 is naturally more muffled, and you may want that especially if you have something with drums that you're wanting to bring out something more impactful. The 150 is still deep, but it's just much more explosive and clear than the 110. They both would handle distortion just fine, and due to price, you may want to consider the 110 for this transfer. Just make sure you break it in 24 to 30 hours prior to the recording!
I have an Ortofon 2M Bronze on my Project Debut II, it seems like a good match to me.
Nice! The recommended hours for that 2M Bronze is also vastly longer than my Nag carts. Love it.
🤘🏻
Посмотрел этот ролик десятки раз, выбирая какой картридж себе купить. По моему мнению МР-110 звучит так, что можно понять что это играет виниловая пластинка, звук немножко хрипит и гнусавит, а МР-150 звучит чисто и прозрачно и только по поптрескиванию винила можно догадаться, что играет виниловая пластинка.
У меня в стране из за войны МР-110 стоит сейчас 400$, а МР-150 стоит 800$.
Вот думаю уже неделю что купить...
У тебя есть моя поддержка, мой друг. Наши сердца обращены ко всему народу России и Украины. Очень дорого. Я надеюсь, что вы найдете правильный. Пожалуйста, будь в безопасности, мой друг.
@@cjsvinyl Спасибо друг!
1:26, 1:50 both distorted :(
Prefer the 110 every time
The 150 is a finer sound
110
!!!
Who is singing Wicked Games here?
It's all in the description.
They probably sound better than this. You may have to upgrade you phono preamp. Too grainy.
There's no comparison it's that different, but change out my Sansui G-7000 receiver???? I can't swap out, or upgrade the integrated phono amp, but I could get a SUT for it if I wanted to purchase a LOMC cart.
@@cjsvinyl you can always get a separate preamp? The Nagaoka carts are spades better than people think. Even with my old 110, once I swapped from a mani to a Project Tube Box DS, the cart scaled extremely well.
@@TheHammerofDissidence Sorry just for specification, are you asking if you can get a separate preamp? You sounded like you made a statement, but you put a question mark after it so I'm just checking. Back when I was still using the Mani, my music was 'Ok' from an audiophile perspective, but that's all it was. When I upgraded to our fully-restored Sansui G-7000 amplifier 3 years ago, you couldn't even compare the Mani to it, and even if you combined the quality of the Mani with the Pro-Ject Tube Box DS, even then those would not come close to touching our Sansui amp. The Sansui amp was what we used for this test.
@@cjsvinyl I was just suggesting an outboard preamp but it seems the phono in your amp is killer as is apparently. I looked up a picture of that Sansui and that's one nice looking unit!
@@TheHammerofDissidence The quality of that Sansui is enough to make a grown man weep.
Who is singing this?
No difference to my ears through a good pair of headphones.
Haha, come on... there's no real difference. I'll buy the cheaper one...
It's your money so you've already made up your mind, but to scoff and make a false statement about there being no difference couldn't possibly put you more in the wrong. Both carts are fantastic but I've used them both in person, and there most certainly is a significant difference.
@@cjsvinyl Understood, but its barely noticeable in the video and I'm listening with Beyerdynamic DT-770. btw, regardless of any difference present or not, you know you could always use an outboard EQ to adjust any frequency you see fit, just as we used to adjust them in the 70's.
Thank you for the great review and comparison... The e is a slight different in output voltage 5 on the 110 vs. 4.5 for the 150, what gain setting was used on your phono pre-amp?
Thank you for helping me make my mind about these two cartridges
Don’t listen to naysayers, your video is great and extremely useful. I prefer the MP-110 personally