The Nagaoka es a fantastic cartridge. (I tried Shure, Ortofon, Audiotechnica, Rega Carbon before) The Nagaoka fix my Inner Groove Distortion in around 85-90%. For the money, best cartridge in the market. SO FAR
I have set up a lot of carts on a lot of tables. I have not gotten inner groove distortion on any of my tables for many years now. I know you will not believe me, but it is alignment. I also sent my Fluance table back years ago soon after I got it. They are not great turntables.
@seano218 It was an early model with the AT95 on it. The internal preamp had tons of disthortion, and the plinth had a lot of feedback. I had several other tables to compare it to at the time, some costing many thousands of dollars. The early Fluance table did not sound as good as the atlp120 with the same cart. It was so early, it only had internal preamp outs that could not be run passive. I hated the table, it was unlistenable. Everything was so loud and exaggerated I could not listen to it. I have owned over 30 tables, so, I do know my turntables. The Fluance was a gorgeous looking table though.
@Victrola777 excellent, thank you for your info! Funny enough, I just got off the phone with my hifi dealer and he's going to give me a Pro-Ject T1 normally $450 for $314! I think I'm gonna go that route! I already have a Debut Carbon Evo and absolutely love it!
Swapping my Rega P1 cartridge to the Nagapka Mp110 reduced much of the inner groove distortion. Swapping it again for the AT VM 95ML (Microline Stylus) solved the problem completely. Its not even a thing anymore. Love the Nagaoka, but the VM95ML is just so much better with the highs. So much cleaner sound overall. I would love to hear the nagaoka cart with a Microline or Shibata Stylus. It would be perfection.
That Audio Technica MicroLine works magic on the inner grooves. I actually upgraded to their more expensive Special Line Contact stylus, and while it is fantastic, the MicroLine was actually better on the inner grooves.
I’m using the 2M Blue, I’m not noticing any distortion. What swayed me was the 1,000 hour stylus life compared to the Nagaoka’s 400 hours. Orbit w/ OA3 magnesium arm.
@@onisdid you ever use a liquid stylus cleaner? Others have and had their stylus self destruct. The little pamphlet that comes with the 2M series says to use no alcohol based cleaner as it melts the glue holding the diamond to the cantilever. If this isn’t the case with you I guess I’ll find out. I use the Zero Dust gel stylus cleaner by the way, and am satisfied with the results. Anyway I’d probably go back to the Grado Red or Gold myself. Very natural and carts I know. I’m sure the MP110 is nice too. 😊
Did you not worry about the cartridge height, does the tracking angle not play they much into the sound? I am asking because i have an RT85 and i was thinking about trying the at95vmsh
I did some research before getting this cartridge and it met the height and weight requirements. Not sure about the tracking angle since the Nagaoka was fine in that respect.
This is not great advice. For the amount of money that you spent on the Nagaoka MP-110 you could have just bought the VMN-95ML stylus for the AT95 cartridge and it would have killed the MP-110 in regards to tracing/tracking distortion which you call IGD. Yes the VMN-95 styli will fit the AT95 series cartridges just fine and some claim VM series styli sound better on the AT cartridges than the VM series. I can't comment on that. However, I have an AT95EX and replaced the stylus with the VM series microline and It sounds great. Listen to comparisons of the Nagaoka 110 against the vm95ml and you will hear that the Nagaoka falls short. One would have to spend over $300 in the Nagaoka line to get close to the $169 microline stylus + AT cartridge in regards to tracking and tracing distortion.
@@onis There really is no reason for me to make a video on how to do it. Cartridges have instruction with them regarding the steps required to replace the stylus. For the AT95 all one does is pull the stylus down and it un-clips. Clip new stylus into place. The newer style VM styli clip into place on the older AT95 cartridge bodies that you are talking about in your video. I was just trying to be a service to anyone that really wants to limit the traking/tracing distortion that is generally most pronounced closest to label. The MP-110 If I remember has a conical stylus and based on clips I have heard of it the MP-110 I would not be happy with the amount of distortion I've heard for the price if I was someone that already had an AT95 or AT-VM95 cartridge since the top of the line microline stylus is $149. For those that are interested there are audio clips on youtube comparing the AT cartridge with microline stylus and Nagaoka MP-110.
@@biowebset4581 The Fluance table has a removable standard head shell and platter mat doesn't it? There are head shells that provide adjustment for azimuth if I remember correctly. Shims can be used for VTA unless the cartridge is too tall. Since the Fluance comes with the Audio Technica cartridges the VTA should already be really close. VTA is constantly changing while a stylus tip is in the spinning groove of a record.
I have the rt 81 but thought you had to be able to adjust the vta on the turntable to use this cartridge.....you haven't had any issues with it have you?
Did you have trouble lining it up on the protractor? I'm using the fluance headshell but it seems like I can't go far back enough to get it lined up....when the stylus is in the crosshairs the yellow part of the nagoaka seems to be over the line way too much
Haha. CDs were pretty much the golden age of consistent high quality. Everything sounded good on CD. Not everything sounds great on vinyl. But the best sounds are on vinyl imo.
@@borohhh you cant blame the format for bad audio engineering or poor taste. That's like saying blu Ray was good until Wonder Woman 84 was released on it.
@@onis i never blamed cds. i just told you what you said is not 100% truthful or accurate. there isn't a one size fits all solution, even if technologically there should be
@@borohhh I meant more from a consistency perspective. You have to take a lot of care from a mixing/mastering perspective to get a superb vinyl quality. On CD it was easy and consistent. You didn't have to worry about record length, inner grooves, or anything like that.
Do you seriously stack all your components on top of each other, with the final being your turntable on top of you receiver blocking the vents designed to disipate heat, which heat rises, since you obviously don't know?!! And people are supposed to take you seriously that you know what you're talking about?! That's basic knowledge right there. I'm sure the whole picture is much worse...
The receiver and CD player are designed to stack. The top of the receiver barely gets warm. This is 90s tech it's running on. Not some receiver that's supposed to run pc games on it too. The heat is completely negligible. It probably gets hotter inside my house
@@seano218 not sure why a video on inner groove distortion warrants so much aggression, but I hope you have a nice holiday season. And thanks for stopping by.
@onis it's not aggression as much as it is caring for your gear properly, if you can't do that, what value does you words hold? I told you why and you want to argue. I get that you're new, but you need to be able to learn. Get your house in order before you start making videos. I hope you have a great holiday season as well.
The Nagaoka es a fantastic cartridge. (I tried Shure, Ortofon, Audiotechnica, Rega Carbon before)
The Nagaoka fix my Inner Groove Distortion in around 85-90%.
For the money, best cartridge in the market. SO FAR
I have set up a lot of carts on a lot of tables. I have not gotten inner groove distortion on any of my tables for many years now. I know you will not believe me, but it is alignment. I also sent my Fluance table back years ago soon after I got it. They are not great turntables.
What was your issue with the table? What did you get instead?
@seano218 It was an early model with the AT95 on it. The internal preamp had tons of disthortion, and the plinth had a lot of feedback. I had several other tables to compare it to at the time, some costing many thousands of dollars. The early Fluance table did not sound as good as the atlp120 with the same cart. It was so early, it only had internal preamp outs that could not be run passive. I hated the table, it was unlistenable. Everything was so loud and exaggerated I could not listen to it. I have owned over 30 tables, so, I do know my turntables. The Fluance was a gorgeous looking table though.
@Victrola777 so the preamp was the main issue as well as the plinth? Did the plinth just resonate a lot? Earlier models were just kinda wonky then?
@seano218 Yes to everything. The newer tables have all been improved.
@Victrola777 excellent, thank you for your info! Funny enough, I just got off the phone with my hifi dealer and he's going to give me a Pro-Ject T1 normally $450 for $314! I think I'm gonna go that route! I already have a Debut Carbon Evo and absolutely love it!
Swapping my Rega P1 cartridge to the Nagapka Mp110 reduced much of the inner groove distortion. Swapping it again for the AT VM 95ML (Microline Stylus) solved the problem completely. Its not even a thing anymore. Love the Nagaoka, but the VM95ML is just so much better with the highs. So much cleaner sound overall. I would love to hear the nagaoka cart with a Microline or Shibata Stylus. It would be perfection.
Same for me AT VM 95ML is the ticket to happiness
That Audio Technica MicroLine works magic on the inner grooves. I actually upgraded to their more expensive Special Line Contact stylus, and while it is fantastic, the MicroLine was actually better on the inner grooves.
I had bad IGD with the ortofon 2m red, it got better with the 2m blue. I gave an AT VM540ML a try and IGD is a thing of the past.
Did you not worry about the cartridge height, does the tracking angle not play they much into the sound?
I have an 85 and would like to get an atvm540ml but I am worried about the tracking angle
I’m using the 2M Blue, I’m not noticing any distortion. What swayed me was the 1,000 hour stylus life compared to the Nagaoka’s 400 hours. Orbit w/ OA3 magnesium arm.
@@bradrapp3697 my 2m broke so quickly! I used it for a year and then it broke so I went back to the nagaoka.
@@onisdid you ever use a liquid stylus cleaner? Others have and had their stylus self destruct. The little pamphlet that comes with the 2M series says to use no alcohol based cleaner as it melts the glue holding the diamond to the cantilever. If this isn’t the case with you I guess I’ll find out. I use the Zero Dust gel stylus cleaner by the way, and am satisfied with the results. Anyway I’d probably go back to the Grado Red or Gold myself. Very natural and carts I know. I’m sure the MP110 is nice too. 😊
@@bradrapp3697 never used that, no
@@onisgot it, thanks! I stand forewarned. I’ve never had a stylus break and I’ve been using them 40+ years. Should be educational.
Microline or shibata should solve the problem,also a better arm and a better cantilever with cartridge
I run a vm95ml on my sl1200 and love it, also having vta helps, perhaps a thicker platter mat will help in that regard with the fluance
Did you not worry about the cartridge height, does the tracking angle not play they much into the sound? I am asking because i have an RT85 and i was thinking about trying the at95vmsh
I did some research before getting this cartridge and it met the height and weight requirements. Not sure about the tracking angle since the Nagaoka was fine in that respect.
@@onis thanks
I love my mp 110. I just threw it on my table last week and have been spinning at least 3 to 4 hours a day
This is not great advice. For the amount of money that you spent on the Nagaoka MP-110 you could have just bought the VMN-95ML stylus for the AT95 cartridge and it would have killed the MP-110 in regards to tracing/tracking distortion which you call IGD. Yes the VMN-95 styli will fit the AT95 series cartridges just fine and some claim VM series styli sound better on the AT cartridges than the VM series. I can't comment on that. However, I have an AT95EX and replaced the stylus with the VM series microline and It sounds great. Listen to comparisons of the Nagaoka 110 against the vm95ml and you will hear that the Nagaoka falls short. One would have to spend over $300 in the Nagaoka line to get close to the $169 microline stylus + AT cartridge in regards to tracking and tracing distortion.
Feel free to make your own video explaining how to do this. Most people like the MP-110 and this is a pretty easy switch
@@onis There really is no reason for me to make a video on how to do it. Cartridges have instruction with them regarding the steps required to replace the stylus. For the AT95 all one does is pull the stylus down and it un-clips. Clip new stylus into place. The newer style VM styli clip into place on the older AT95 cartridge bodies that you are talking about in your video. I was just trying to be a service to anyone that really wants to limit the traking/tracing distortion that is generally most pronounced closest to label. The MP-110 If I remember has a conical stylus and based on clips I have heard of it the MP-110 I would not be happy with the amount of distortion I've heard for the price if I was someone that already had an AT95 or AT-VM95 cartridge since the top of the line microline stylus is $149. For those that are interested there are audio clips on youtube comparing the AT cartridge with microline stylus and Nagaoka MP-110.
Fluance turntables lack VTA and azimuth adjustment. This is required for microline stylui
@@biowebset4581 The Fluance table has a removable standard head shell and platter mat doesn't it? There are head shells that provide adjustment for azimuth if I remember correctly. Shims can be used for VTA unless the cartridge is too tall. Since the Fluance comes with the Audio Technica cartridges the VTA should already be really close. VTA is constantly changing while a stylus tip is in the spinning groove of a record.
I have the rt 81 but thought you had to be able to adjust the vta on the turntable to use this cartridge.....you haven't had any issues with it have you?
No issues at all! All the tools you need for adjustment are on the turntable
@@onis right on pal, thanks
Did you have trouble lining it up on the protractor? I'm using the fluance headshell but it seems like I can't go far back enough to get it lined up....when the stylus is in the crosshairs the yellow part of the nagoaka seems to be over the line way too much
@@hellbus80 I'm not sure what could be wrong, but I didn't have that issue.
Will this cartridge work with the fluance rt80?
Yes!
All these problems with analogue its suprising no one has figured out a solution ...........
Haha. CDs were pretty much the golden age of consistent high quality. Everything sounded good on CD. Not everything sounds great on vinyl. But the best sounds are on vinyl imo.
@@onis that's not true. early cds were pretty terrible. then they got amazing and then went to shit again because of loudness war etc
@@borohhh you cant blame the format for bad audio engineering or poor taste. That's like saying blu Ray was good until Wonder Woman 84 was released on it.
@@onis i never blamed cds. i just told you what you said is not 100% truthful or accurate. there isn't a one size fits all solution, even if technologically there should be
@@borohhh I meant more from a consistency perspective. You have to take a lot of care from a mixing/mastering perspective to get a superb vinyl quality. On CD it was easy and consistent. You didn't have to worry about record length, inner grooves, or anything like that.
Another really good upgrade for a Fluance turntable is gasoline and a match.
Let us know how much it costs to get past the gate that you are keeping
The best upgrade to a Fluance is a real turntable. Period.
Good one
Inner groove distortion, is a geometric issue, and cannot be solved with a weight or a clamp. You have been hit with the placebo effect.
Who is talking about a weight or a clamp?
@@onisSomeone went straight to the comments without watching the video...
Do you seriously stack all your components on top of each other, with the final being your turntable on top of you receiver blocking the vents designed to disipate heat, which heat rises, since you obviously don't know?!! And people are supposed to take you seriously that you know what you're talking about?! That's basic knowledge right there. I'm sure the whole picture is much worse...
The receiver and CD player are designed to stack. The top of the receiver barely gets warm. This is 90s tech it's running on. Not some receiver that's supposed to run pc games on it too. The heat is completely negligible. It probably gets hotter inside my house
@@onis whatever, it's your sh*t.
@@seano218 not sure why a video on inner groove distortion warrants so much aggression, but I hope you have a nice holiday season. And thanks for stopping by.
@onis it's not aggression as much as it is caring for your gear properly, if you can't do that, what value does you words hold? I told you why and you want to argue. I get that you're new, but you need to be able to learn. Get your house in order before you start making videos. I hope you have a great holiday season as well.
@@seano218 I've been using this stuff since the 90s. Trust me they'll be fine