MM Cartridge recommendation

Very much enjoying the Goldring E4 with my Technics 1210.  

https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1330-goldring-e4-moving-magnet-phono-cartridge

Rich

If you do go with a Nagaoka cartridge, do choose the MP-200. It's the sweet spot in the lineup. The Nagaokas are for the listener who wants a warm, smooth, rich musically engaging, natural sound. It is mid level on resolution, detail and instrument separation. It won't be bright or forward. Compared to the more expensive Hana SH MKII (high output) and the ClearAudio Maestro V2, the MP-200 can't match the clarity, resolution and detail of those two. The Hana will be more analytical and the Maestro will be brighter and more forward. I have no experience with Ortofon but, have never been attracted to them on the basis of reviews and testimonials.

I love the natural musicality of the better Nagaokas.  The MP150 and MP200 share the same body, but the MP200 adds the significant benefit of the boron cantilever.  I added a JN-P500 nude fine line stylus w/boron cantilever to my MP150, and find it sublime.  In the end, it’s always subjective, and a matter of synergy with your system.  

Mwh, when you say MP200 is a sweet spot, does that mean you have auditioned several others in their line-up?

Forgot to mention the obvious and often noted fact that Nagaoka MP cartridges are MI types, not MM.  Not that there is anything wrong with that. They work fine into any phono stage that offers a 47K ohm load and at least 40db of phono gain. (A little more gain in terms of db is better, because the Nagaokas tend to put out a bit less than 4mV.)

@lewm Yes they are similar but they are polymer. Love my MP carts. 

The products of two companies always come to mind for me when it comes to MM cartridges that offer exceptional performance, consistency and value:  Audio Technica and Ortofon.  

MoFi MasterTracker on sale for $500 at music direct. I very much like mine. +1 the Nagaoka 200. I have the 200 and 500. And a little cheaper is the Audio Technica VM740ML. 

Have you thought of MI cartridges, Soundsmith Otello or a slightly under Carmen would fall nicely into your price range. The rebuilding costs are extremely reasonable when that time comes. I purchased a lightly used Carmen II about 7 years and couldn’t be happier Nice high end, bass and everything in between,

A Nagaoka MP-200 or 300 would be lovely.  I have the Nagaoka MP-500 and am very happy with it.

@lewm 

Just as with anything else, a phrase's meaning is possibly different for each person. What I mean by "sweet spot" is the component under discussion has a very good mix of performance and cost. The MP-200 is not an analytical, high resolution, high detail product. It provides a very pleasent sound that lets you listen more to the music and focus a little less on the sound. While I have not "auditioned" any other Nagaoka carts, I have just purchased an MP-500 that is arriving soon. I skipped over the MP-300. My research suggests that the MP-300 may suffer from the "middle child" syndrome. For the cost difference between the MP-300 and the MP-500, I prefer to get the bigger jump in performance that the MP-500 has according to reviews and other research.

+1 for the MoFi Mastertracker.  I love mine!  Herb Reichert was impressed with it, as well:  "I had never ever experienced such vitality and sharp focus from an MM cartridge. More surprisingly, this sharp focus did not come from lean, dry, or overdamped sound. The MasterTracker was simply getting all of the energy information off the record."

Regardless, make sure it's a good match for your TT, arm and system.

Good Luck!

The Link is to a pairing for a MM Cart’ that I have a past usage of a Cart’ as a P77 Model.

I have owned other MM Cart’s made in Japan for UK Companies and from Companies from Japan offered products.

The P77 even though needing a new stylus is retained for other times, probably to be for my wife’s to be Vinyl Source System.

My Math is suggesting for the most expensive option for the Cart’ with Stylus @ approx’ $320 there is approx’ 1000 hours of music at $00.32c per hour. Add another Jico SAS/B down the road and the hourly usage will drop to less that .30c.

Even better news is a replacement styli with an Aluminium Cantilever is able to be purchased for close to $50.00 @ 00.05c per hour of usage.    

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177264747441?itmmeta=01K1ND6PP8G6DBX3AHSGN2AVVW&hash=item2945cd63b1:g:4VkAAOSwSXhnq-Zx

https://www.jico-stylus.com/product/stylus-1-sas-b/

https://korfaudio.com/blog56

The following is a Quote I found posted on line a from a few year ago.

The Paratrace Stylus shares near identical for to the FGS and Replicant 100 Stylus Forms, these are revered as a Stylus Shape.

__________________________________________________________________ Quote:
Thank you for your email. Our latest prices for the A&R assemblies are:
E77 .... GBP£65.00
P77 .... GBP£87.00 (fitted with Extended Contact profile diamond:
P77 .... GBP£105.00 (fitted with low mass Paratrace profile diamond)
The Paratrace profile will give you improved analysis and trackability.
Prices are inclusive of VAT, please add £10.00 for insured shipping.
Delivery: 2-3 weeks from confirmation of order
Payment: by credit card, please telephone with card details

Kind regards
Expert Stylus & Cartridge Co
Telephone No: +44(0)1372 276604

Paul Hodgson 

So I have a micro bl-91 with a acos lustre gst 801 tonearm. I Nate it with an ortofin black cart with an ear 834 tube phono pre. It sounds really great.  It’s a great mm cart for the money. Punches hard and fast. 

Thanks everyone for the much needed advice. @oldaudiophile and @imnop I will try to research out the mofi cartridge further as it seems like an excellent possibility as well. Having no experience with the vintage Micro Seiki, I am finding it challenging to figure out what the best synergy between the turntable, tone arm, and preamp would be.  I guess that is part of the journey I am on and looking forward to figuring out.  @mickeyb the bl-91 is a beautiful table. 
thanks again for the suggestions.