NAGAOKA MP-700 CARTRIDGE IS THE BRAND’S FLAGSHIP

To commemorate 85 years of cartridge manufacture, Nagaoka has unveiled the flagship Nagaoka MP-700 Moving Permalloy cartridge.

Launching at High End Munich 2025, the MP-700 represents the pinnacle of the Japanese HiFi brand’s engineering expertise.

NAGAOKA MP-700: MOVING PERMALLOY FOR MAXIMUM ACCURACY

Unlike traditional Moving Magnet (MM) designs, the Nagaoka MP-700 uses a Moving Permalloy (MP) mechanism. This approach places a lightweight permalloy element on the cantilever, reducing moving mass.

BORON CANTILEVER AND MICRO-RIDGE STYLUS

Central to the MP-700’s performance is its boron cantilever and micro-ridge nude diamond stylus, measuring 0.12 x 0.3 mil. It’s coupled with Nagaoka’s softest damper to maximise the stylus’s responsiveness.

NAGAOKA MP-700 FEATURES REFINED INTERNAL DESIGN

The cartridge benefits from a redesigned pivot system featuring a newly integrated suspension wire. This improves stability and control of the cantilever, enhancing clarity, stereo separation, and the accuracy of bass and treble reproduction, says Nagaoka.

NAGAOKA MP-700 CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS

Externally, the MP-700 uses a shielded cartridge body built from ultra-duralumin. Its three-layer treatment—nickel plating, black tin plating, and an insulating coat—minimises static interference and boosts durability while preserving the finish.

SPECIFICATIONS AT A GLANCE

The MP-700 has an output voltage of 4 mV (1kHz, 5cm/sec), a frequency response of 20–27,000 Hz, and 30 dB channel separation at 1kHz. Tracking force is recommended at 1.4 g. Load impedance and capacitance are advised at 47 KΩ and 100 pF, respectively.

NAGAOKA MP-700 MOVING PERMALLOY CARTRIDGE AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

The Nagaoka MP-700 and accessories will be available in the UK from May 2025. The MP-700H cartridge with headshell is priced at £1,249.00. The standalone MP-700 cartridge retails at £1,149. while the replacement stylus JN-P700 is £599.

HiFi PiG Says: We are looking forward to hearing the new cartridge at Munich!