Nagaoka MP-500

The MP-500 is the flagship of the Nagaoka line, utilizing a high-strength boron cantilever and a superfine line contact diamond stylus. These premium materials, combined with a samarium cobalt magnet and a rigid aluminum frame, allow it to extract significantly more detail and channel separation than standard moving magnet designs.

No, the MP-500 is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge with a standard output of 3mV. It is designed to work perfectly with any standard MM phono input or external phono stage set to a 47k ohm load.

Nagaoka recommends replacing the stylus (model JN-P500) every 150 to 200 hours of play. Because the line contact stylus is highly precise, keeping it in good condition is essential to maintaining the cartridge's signature clarity and protecting your vinyl records.

Yes, the MP-500 requires a break-in period of approximately 30 hours. You will likely notice the soundstage opening up and the bass response becoming more defined as the suspension settles during this time.

The recommended tracking force range is 1.3 to 1.8 grams. We suggest starting at the middle of this range and adjusting slightly based on your specific tonearm and listening preferences to achieve the best tracking stability.

The MP-500 weighs 8 grams and uses a standard half-inch mount, making it compatible with the vast majority of modern and vintage tonearms. As long as your tonearm can balance an 8g cartridge and allows for standard headshell mounting, it should be a straightforward installation.