Vintage Shure cartridge or get a new Nagaoka MP-110?

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666mcnugget

New Member
Hello. I just joined this website 5 minutes ago in hopes of getting some opinions on which route i should go with this.
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I just got a Technics SL-220 that came with an old Shure R47XT cartridge installed on it. Never used it yet, but decided to order a new replacement stylus rather than get a new cartridge. This led me down a bit of a rabbit hole of replacement needles, having known nothing of the subject before. I ultimately decided to bite for this one on LP Gear, as some speculate the Vivid Line, “Japanese shokunin”, and blue dart markings all to be hints toward the manufacturer being Jico.

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LP Gear Vivid Line Upgrade for Shure 5X stylus / R5X stylus

Check out the deal on LP Gear Vivid Line Upgrade for Shure 5X stylus / R5X stylus at LP Gear
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Being from Canada, I’d have to currency convert through PayPal and pay for shipping to get it. It all totals to about the same price of a brand new Nagaoka MP-110 from amazon. Free shipping, yadda yadda.

Seems like a lot of folks really super love the Nagaoka MP-110. So, am I a big dumb idiot for going for the LPGear Vivid Line replacement stylus for the R47XT? Would I fare better with the MP-110? What are your takes on this?
 
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666mcnugget said:
So, am I a big dumb idiot for going for the LPGear Vivid Line replacement stylus for the R47XT?
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Not at all. Shure cartridges have stood the test of time.

I have been using Shure cartridges since the 1970's. Started with the M3D (from the late 1950's) and worked my way through all of their cartridge models through the M97xE and V15 Vx (2000's)

666mcnugget said:
Would I fare better with the MP-110? What are your takes on this?
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Although a well made cartridge can last forever, styli do not. When the time comes to replace the stylus of your Shure cartridge, buy the Nagaoka MP-110 instead, only then will you know if one is better than the other.
 
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The Realistic R47XT is a nice cartridge, very close to Shure M95.
If you trim the R47XT plastic "nose" a bit, you can fit any N95 stylus. With that mod you'll have more stylus choices, like the Analogis Black Diamond N95ED, which is very good for the money (EUR 46,4 from dacapoaudio) and you can save money for buying the Nagaoka MP-110 later, if you want.
 
666mcnugget said:
Hello. I just joined this website 5 minutes ago in hopes of getting some opinions on which route i should go with this.
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Welcome aboard! I have owned many Shure cartridges and used to sell the RS branded ones.

I use a Vivid Line replacement on my Pickering XSV3000. It tracks and sounds great. My only cautionary comment is the price which has soared in recent years.

For a budget performer don't overlook available Audio Technica AT3600 combinations. Handy to have an inexpensive headshell/cartridge combo ready for less than perfect records and you may find it sounds better than expected for less than $50. LP Gear has a great upgrade for the stock conical.

www.lpgear.com

LP Gear CARBON FIDELITY CFN3600LE stylus

Check out the deal on LP Gear CARBON FIDELITY CFN3600LE stylus at LP Gear
www.lpgear.com www.lpgear.com
 
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Outsider373 said:
The Realistic R47XT is a nice cartridge, very close to Shure M95.
If you trim the R47XT plastic "nose" a bit, you can fit any N95 stylus. With that mod you'll have more stylus choices, like the Analogis Black Diamond N95ED, which is very good for the money (EUR 46,4 from dacapoaudio) and you can save money for buying the Nagaoka MP-110 later, if you want.
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Good advice. I’ll go with the replacement needle, should be here in a couple days now. I’ll then pool in some money and grab a Nag somewhere down the line, perhaps even an MP-150 to get a taste of a nude stylus and compare. Although I’m more inclined to a warm fuzzy tone than crystal clear perfection. Perhaps more research is needed. All in all I’m excited to see how this old cart will sound with a bleeding edge Vivid Line needle as they seem to be well regarded and supposedly JICO built.
 
I would not put too much stock on their being Jico stylus. Japan has many specialty stores run by "mom and pop" who may have experiences working at major companies, for example Jico. You may be getting a quality stylus but its definitely not made in Jico factory.
 
I can speak for my Nag 110....I think it was one of the best improvements I made on my system. Take it with a grain of salt, my system is very mid fi! :rflmao:
 
666mcnugget said:
Hello. I just joined this website 5 minutes ago in hopes of getting some opinions on which route i should go with this.
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I just got a Technics SL-220 that came with an old Shure R47XT cartridge installed on it. Never used it yet, but decided to order a new replacement stylus rather than get a new cartridge. This led me down a bit of a rabbit hole of replacement needles, having known nothing of the subject before. I ultimately decided to bite for this one on LP Gear, as some speculate the Vivid Line, “Japanese shokunin”, and blue dart markings all to be hints toward the manufacturer being Jico.

www.lpgear.com

LP Gear Vivid Line Upgrade for Shure 5X stylus / R5X stylus

Check out the deal on LP Gear Vivid Line Upgrade for Shure 5X stylus / R5X stylus at LP Gear
www.lpgear.com www.lpgear.com

Being from Canada, I’d have to currency convert through PayPal and pay for shipping to get it. It all totals to about the same price of a brand new Nagaoka MP-110 from amazon. Free shipping, yadda yadda.

Seems like a lot of folks really super love the Nagaoka MP-110. So, am I a big dumb idiot for going for the LPGear Vivid Line replacement stylus for the R47XT? Would I fare better with the MP-110? What are your takes on this?
Click to expand...
I think the Nagaoka MP-110 would be a nice upgrade. And something you'd enjoy a lot.
 
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