Each year, dozens of European journalists gather to select the best electronic products of the year. Awarded by a diverse and impartial jury, the EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) awards recognize exceptional products for their performance, design, or ergonomics.
Overview
The Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge marks a remarkable milestone in the history of this renowned Japanese specialist, established in 1940. Officially unveiled at the High End Munich Show 2025, this flagship cartridge celebrates 85 years of expertise in the manufacture of styli and phono cartridges. Positioned at the top of the MP range, it features proprietary Moving Permalloy technology, a boron cantilever, and a nude diamond MicroRidge stylus, all hand-assembled in the traditional Higashine workshop. This cartridge is aimed at demanding audiophiles seeking exceptionally precise sound reproduction.
Moving Permalloy Technology: A Distinctive Approach
The MP-700 stands out thanks to its Moving Permalloy (MP) technology, a sophisticated alternative to traditional Moving Magnet systems. Instead of using a massive magnet, this design incorporates a lightweight Permalloy piece—an alloy of nickel and iron with optimal magnetic properties—directly attached to the cantilever. This approach significantly reduces the moving mass, allowing the stylus to follow groove modulations with greater freedom and precision.
Permalloy, a material with outstanding magnetic characteristics, offers a more linear response than conventional magnets. This technology, developed specifically by Nagaoka, represents a different philosophy: rather than optimizing existing systems, the brand has created a third technical path that combines the advantages of both MM and MC approaches without their respective drawbacks.
Premium Construction and Exceptional Materials
The boron cantilever forms the mechanical backbone of the MP-700. This material, renowned for its exceptional rigidity and low density, transmits groove vibrations with remarkable fidelity. Paired with a nude diamond MicroRidge stylus with precise dimensions of 0.12 x 0.3 millimeters, this assembly ensures optimal tracking of the finest vinyl modulations.
The cartridge body, machined from Ultra-Duralumin, benefits from a sophisticated three-step surface treatment: nickel plating, black tinning, and insulating coating. This multilayer finish minimizes electrostatic interference, improves thermal resistance, and ensures long-term durability. Full shielding protects sensitive components from surrounding electromagnetic disturbances.
Innovative Suspension and Stability Control
The MP-700 features the most compliant suspension in the MP range, a characteristic that might seem counterintuitive. This approach allows the cantilever and stylus to operate with optimal responsiveness, enhancing response speed and tracking accuracy. However, Nagaoka has anticipated the inherent instability risks of this design.
A specially developed suspension wire system acts as a countermeasure, controlling the cantilever’s movements while preserving its freedom. This technical innovation resolves the paradox between compliance and stability, resulting in better channel separation, increased transparency across all frequencies, and more faithful reproduction of bass and treble.
Audio Performance and Specialized Applications
The combination of technical innovations results in both measurable and audible audio performance. The cartridge delivers channel separation of 30 dB at 1 kHz, ensuring precise stereo imaging. Its frequency response extends from 20 Hz to 27 kHz, amply covering the audible spectrum with extensions into the deepest bass and highest treble.
The 4 mV output level ensures optimal compatibility with most MM phono stages on the market. The recommended tracking force of 1.4 grams represents a judicious compromise between record wear and playback quality. These features position the MP-700 as a versatile solution suitable for classical, jazz, rock, and electronic music repertoires that demand detailed reproduction.
Japanese Craftsmanship and Quality Control
Each MP-700 cartridge is hand-assembled in Nagaoka’s traditional workshop in Higashine, located 400 kilometers north of Tokyo. This facility produces over 90% of the brand’s stylus tips, preserving expertise accumulated since 1947. Experienced technicians perform the fine adjustments necessary to optimize each unit.
This artisanal approach guarantees consistent quality and allows for adjustments impossible in automated production. Quality control includes individual testing of each cartridge, ensuring compliance with the tight tolerances required for reference audio reproduction. This manufacturing philosophy partly justifies the MP-700’s premium price positioning.
Technical Specifications
Audio Performance
MM cartridge type
Output level: 4.0 mV
Frequency response: 20 to 27,000 Hz
Channel separation: 30 dB (1 kHz)
Impedance: 47 kΩ
Mechanical Features
Cantilever: boron
Stylus: MicroRidge
Recommended tracking force: 1.4 g
Cartridge weight: 8.0 g
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental difference between Moving Permalloy technology and traditional Moving Magnet systems?
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Moving Permalloy uses a lightweight Permalloy alloy piece attached to the cantilever, unlike MM systems that employ a heavier magnet. This design reduces moving mass, improving responsiveness and tracking precision of groove modulations.
Does the MP-700 require specific equipment for optimal operation?
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It requires an MM phono preamplifier with a 47 kΩ input impedance and 100 pF capacitance. A quality tonearm capable of precisely adjusting the tracking force to 1.4 grams is essential to fully exploit its performance.
Are there specific recommended settings to optimize its performance?
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Precise geometric alignment (overhang, tracking angle) and anti-skating adjustment are crucial. The tracking force must be set exactly to 1.4 grams, and perfect tonearm horizontality ensures optimal stylus contact in the groove.
User reviews
Rudolf
this is what the hifi world has waited for !!!! it makes only music
as good as recording can be , tip set the tracking force go a bit higher to 1.55 gram . the cartridge must have a perfect montage
tracking force only will not do, vta and azimuth must also looked at ! then you will have the sound you always hoped for.
I can say afther 55 years this the first hifi component that make dreams come true ! a real gem even for the price.
Nagoaka nailed it this time, the eisa award 2025 - 2026 for the mp700 is no surprise !!!!
Comment from February 27, 2026 — Experience from February 16, 2026
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