Flagship Nagaoka cartridge to debut at High End Munich

UK distributor Sound Design Distribution is bringing the flagship Nagaoka MP-700 Moving Permalloy cartridge to the UK. Celebrating Nagaoka’s 85th Anniversary, and officially launching at High End Munich 25, the MP-700 has been engineered for absolutely accurate sound reproduction, says the brand, in order to bring listeners closer to the original performance.

Compared with the conventional Moving Magnet (MM) type, Nagaoka’s signature Moving Permalloy (MP) design utilises a lightweight permalloy piece attached to the cantilever, significantly reducing mass, while allowing the stylus to move with greater freedom and precision.

The new MP cartridge employs a boron cantilever paired with a new micro-ridge nude diamond stylus measuring 0.12 x 0.3 mil. This precisely crafted combo enhances sound accuracy, ensuring exceptional detail retrieval from vinyl grooves. The MP-700 also incorporates the softest damper, allowing the boron cantilever and micro-ridge stylus to perform at their best. Its design includes a newly integrated suspension wire in the pivot system, which effectively controls the movement of both the cantilever and stylus, providing stability with enhanced separation and clarity across all frequencies. It’s said to deliver the accurate representation of treble, bass tones and timbre for a more vivid and lifelike listening experience.

The MP-700 features a shielded case and cartridge frame crafted from ultra-duralumin, enhanced with a three-layer surface treatment involving nickel plating, black tin plating, and an insulating coating, which minimises static interference, improves heat and wear resistance, and preserves the exterior’s longevity.

Available May 2025, the MP-700H (cartridge + headshell) retails for £1,249, and the MP-700 £1,149. The JN-P700 replacement stylus is priced at £599.