Shibata or Line Contact

[S0und Dragon]

I will say that I found the TK100 a bit more time consuming to set up. The fact that the ruby stylus is about as visible as wonder woman’s jet doesn’t help much. That said, once you have it dialed in, it just takes things to a level that is very much in the ultra cart realm. I said this to another Haven member in private but I will state it publicly now. This Signet sounds as good if not better than all the Transfiguration carts I have owned. It may very well be one of the finest carts I have personally owned at any price point.

 

[JohnVF]

I will say that I found the TK100 a bit more time consuming to set up. The fact that the ruby stylus is about as visible as wonder woman’s jet doesn’t help much. That said, once you have it dialed in, it just takes things to a level that is very much in the ultra cart realm. I said this to another Haven member in private but I will state it publicly now. This Signet sounds as good if not better than all the Transfiguration carts I have owned. It may very well be one of the finest carts I have personally owned at any price point.

Sitting here listening to it, that doesn't come across as any sort of hyperbole to me. This cartridge is astounding.

 

[Rudy]

Sitting here listening to it, that doesn't come across as any sort of hyperbole to me. This cartridge is astounding.

It's good to know the cart is absolute rubbish. A shame to every tonearm on which it is mounted.

(So yeah...that's my subtle way of tamping down prices in case I ever want to find one of my own. 🤫)

 

[MikeT.]

Did I buy that Mp-200? I know I bought one here and almost immediately moved up to an MP500 after finding a used one with two styluses, one brand new. The 200 sounded more like a 103. The 500 is more neutral and refined. Both are nice carts.

This is crazy @JohnVF ! I bought the MP200 in 2019, you bought it from me and then you moved up to the Nagaoka MP500 which I in turn bought from you. I’ve moved on from the DL103 and thanks to both you and @jimreeves for the loan of the AT150Sa cart to make my decision.

The Nagaoka MP500 has been a little more finicky to set up than many but has rewarded patience and determination. I knew the reward was there. When I finally got it “just right”, using a Stevenson A Rega protractor, I was astonished with the detail of double bass detail emerging from the grooves. But I did have to get it just right, with perfect perpendicular alignment to the protractor grid and the stylus EXACTLY on the spot. It was a “what was that sound” moment, more than a moment since it showed up in several different albums. Same on details of percussion and small detail up top. Perfect midrange and vocal reproduction, to my ear, particularly at low to moderate volume.

So thank you to both John and Jim for allowing me a trial before making up my mind.

 

[JohnVF]

This is crazy @JohnVF ! I bought the MP200 in 2019, you bought it from me and then you moved up to the Nagaoka MP500 which I in turn bought from you. I’ve moved on from the DL103 and thanks to both you and @jimreeves for the loan of the AT150Sa cart to make my decision.

The Nagaoka MP500 has been a little more finicky to set up than many but has rewarded patience and determination. I knew the reward was there. When I finally got it “just right”, using a Stevenson A Rega protractor, I was astonished with the detail of double bass detail emerging from the grooves. But I did have to get it just right, with perfect perpendicular alignment to the protractor grid and the stylus EXACTLY on the spot. It was a “what was that sound” moment, more than a moment since it showed up in several different albums. Same on details of percussion and small detail up top. Perfect midrange and vocal reproduction, to my ear, particularly at low to moderate volume.

So thank you to both John and Jim for allowing me a trial before making up my mind.

Wow, what a series of events. My memory is dodgy (a byproduct of my work where I have to scrap things and start over daily) but now remember buying it from you...but for some reason I swore I had it longer. I bought the MP-500 in 2017... and thought the MP-200 was in the same year but again, my memory SUCKS.