Audio-Technica AT95E vs Nagaoka MP-200

Could be wrong here, but the cartridge (the thing at the end of the tonearm where the needle goes on) looks like the venerable Audio Technica AT95E-commonly included on turntables that cost upwards of $500. Great sounding cartridge, and it’s the cartridge and stylus that actually determine how good a turntable sounds.

Yes, I hear a distinct and beautiful difference with the Nagaoka MP-200 stylus on an MP-110 cartridge body. Big improvement!. Brighter (in a good way), much more nuanced, more detail, more separation in voices and instruments, great bass, and mids, and highs without harshness nor sibilance.

Sadly, it sounds awful compared to the AT85EP. It's very quiet, sounds tinny, and just doesn't offer the dynamic range that the AT85EP does. I had friends listen to it to ensure that I wasn't crazy, and the results were unanimous. Do yourself a favor and try the AT85EP, and don't forget the AT-PMA1 1/2" mount adapter (not needed if you already have a P-Mount head shell)

These speakers were very difficult to find in the US as they were primarily marketed in Asia. The setup provides a very engaging sound that makes you tap your foot along to the music.

At95e is bright compared to AM30s, and my ears tell me that the AM30s has a wider frequency response. Play the same record with both with my eyes blind, I'll tell you which cart is which. Which one I like? I like them both, but I'd rather listen to classics with the Signet. Rock tends to like the AT

I have one and it’s sibilant which will be especially noticeable for you coming from the Grado which is IMO too far the opposite of sibilant and is somewhat muted. After a couple years of the Red, I saved up and bought a Nagaoka MP-110, and then the MP-200. A world of difference over the 2M Red. The MP-110 is good (better than the 2M Red), and the MP-200 is stellar

If you don't trust YouTube compression to adequately represent the sound, follow the link in my description to an uncompressed wav file that you can l...

.vinyl sounds more detailed, with a bigger, more expansive soundstage. (I'm pretty sure the MP-200 and Duo are helping bring out that detail as well