Nagaoka

Nagaoka is a long-established Japanese specialist best known for moving magnet phono cartridges. The brand has a strong following among record collectors and hi-fi listeners who want a cartridge that sounds natural, tracks reliably and works well with a wide range of turntables. Its popular MP moving magnet cartridge range has become a trusted choice for anyone looking to get more from vinyl without moving into fussy or difficult-to-match cartridge designs. Read more info ↓
FOUNDED
1940
HEADQUARTERS
Japan
Nagaoka

The Nagaoka catalogue. 3 ranges. 15 products.


01 7 PRODUCTS | £119 – £1,149

Nagaoka MP Series

The Nagaoka MP Series uses the company’s Moving Permalloy generator principle, reducing moving mass compared with conventional MM designs while offering a broad progression of cantilever and stylus technologies.

7 PRODUCTS
£119 – £1,149
02 7 PRODUCTS | £149 – £1,199

Nagaoka MP Series w/ shell

Pre-mounted on matching headshells for straightforward installation, Nagaoka MP cartridges use the company’s Moving Permalloy principle to provide smooth tracking, low moving mass and detailed analogue reproduction.

7 PRODUCTS
£149 – £1,199
03 1 PRODUCT | £219

Nagaoka JT Series

Created to mark Nagaoka’s 80th anniversary, the JT Series uses moving magnet designs with replaceable styli, offering two distinct models with aluminium or boron cantilevers and elliptical diamond profiles.

1 PRODUCT
£219

Things people ask
us about Nagaoka.

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A few things we get asked most often. If your question isn't here, our team is happy to talk it through.

Nagaoka is a Japanese manufacturer founded in 1940. Its roots are in precision engineering and gemstone processing, and record styli became an important part of the business soon afterwards. Cartridge and stylus production remains one of Nagaoka’s specialist manufacturing areas in Japan.

Nagaoka is particularly well known for phono cartridges, replacement styli and precision diamond stylus manufacturing. Its MP cartridge family has become a long-running alternative to conventional moving-magnet and moving-coil designs, covering everything from affordable vinyl upgrades to high-end cartridges such as the MP-700.

Nagaoka’s MP system uses a lightweight piece of permalloy attached to the cantilever rather than placing a heavier magnet there as in a conventional MM cartridge. The lower moving mass allows the stylus to follow the record groove more freely, while still providing the relatively high output associated with MM-style cartridges.

Most Nagaoka MP cartridges are designed for a standard 47kΩ phono input and provide much higher output than a typical low-output moving-coil cartridge. That means a conventional MM phono stage is usually the natural starting point, although capacitance and the specifications of the particular cartridge should still be checked when fine-tuning a system.

An “H” model is supplied pre-mounted on a Nagaoka headshell, while the equivalent model without the H is the cartridge on its own. A headshell version can make installation much quicker on compatible tonearms with a removable SME-style headshell, while the cartridge-only version gives more flexibility over headshell choice and overall effective mass.

Replaceable styli are one of the practical advantages of Nagaoka’s MP range. Rather than replacing the entire cartridge when the stylus is worn or damaged, the stylus assembly can be removed and replaced with the corresponding Nagaoka part. This can make long-term ownership simpler than with many moving-coil cartridges.

Start with the tonearm, phono stage and the type of upgrade you are looking for rather than price alone. Cartridge weight, compliance, tracking force and phono-stage loading all affect compatibility, while headshell-equipped versions may add significant overall mass. Premium Sound can help check these details before you choose a cartridge for an existing turntable.

More info about Nagaoka.

The brand’s work is closely tied to the practical side of vinyl playback. A cartridge is one of the most important parts of any turntable system, as it is responsible for reading the information in the record groove and passing it on to the rest of the hi-fi chain. Nagaoka focuses on this crucial point of contact, producing cartridges and styli that are designed for accurate tracking, consistent performance and straightforward ownership.

Nagaoka’s MP (Moving Permalloy) cartridge line is specifically designed to produce the most authentic sound. Its phonograph stylus is manufactured to precise tolerances, and its shape and quality allow it to accurately translate the information from vinyl grooves into sound reminiscent of a concert hall.

Their high-performance cartridges consistently use top-of-the-line materials, such as the ultra-lightweight permalloy oscillator and the strong cobalt permanent magnet integrated into the body.

To this day, all components used in the manufacture of Nagaoka’s styli and cartridges, from samarium cobalt magnets to diamond tips, coils, and cantilevers, are still produced in-house, giving the brand complete control over the quality of each individual piece. Nagaoka is the only cartridge manufacturer capable of offering this level of oversight.

This precision across Nagaoka’s evolving product line reflects their unwavering commitment to the continuous pursuit of flawless sound reproduction.

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