[felixscerri]

G'day all, I wonder if anybody has any practical experience with this cartridge.  I have one and tracks very well at the recommended 1.35 grams but mine sounds very bass 'light'.  Is this typical of the cartridge or is my unit faulty perhaps?  Any comments?  Regards, Felix.

[BaMorin]

G'day all, I wonder if anybody has any practical experience with this cartridge.  I have one and tracks very well at the recommended 1.35 grams but mine sounds very bass 'light'.  Is this typical of the cartridge or is my unit faulty perhaps?  Any comments?  Regards, Felix.

Not with that particular number. I've had or played with a couple others......some years back.  In typical japanese fashion I found them to be not as full bodied as Shure or Grado or Empire.

PS: hope you missed all the flooding....hadn't heard from you
Marc

[neobop]

Hi Felix,
I never heard one, but I'm curious. Do you have this cart on a Dual ULM? Seems like the compliance is the same as the AT120 series - might be better on a light arm. Perhaps needs some more hrs? These are NOS and might need some extra time. Did you try 1.5g VTF or loading down?

Keep your powder dry,
neo

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=NAGAOKAJT555&Category_Code=NAGAOKACART

[felixscerri]

G'day all, yes this cartridge seems to be a bit of a mystery item.  I think it dates from the 1970's, but in the last year or so all of a sudden it has become very popular in various vinyl quarters, having a shibata stylus and a carbon fibre cantilever, yet it seems to be little known elsewhere.  There must be thousands of them in a factory somewhere hiding for years! 

Here is a link to an online vendor with general specs.   http://www.turntableneedles.com/JT-555-SHIBATA_p_3900.html

Listening to it, the treble is its strong point but the bass does seem a little recessed to me.  As BaMorin says, it certainly doesn't sound as 'full bodied' as my Shure M97xE for example.  Regards, Felix. 

[BaMorin]

G'day all, yes this cartridge seems to be a bit of a mystery item.  I think it dates from the 1970's, but in the last year or so all of a sudden it has become very popular in various vinyl quarters, having a shibata stylus and a carbon fibre cantilever, yet it seems to be little known elsewhere.  There must be thousands of them in a factory somewhere hiding for years! 

Here is a link to an online vendor with general specs.   http://www.turntableneedles.com/JT-555-SHIBATA_p_3900.html

Listening to it, the treble is its strong point but the bass does seem a little recessed to me.  As BaMorin says, it certainly doesn't sound as 'full bodied' as my Shure M97xE for example.  Regards, Felix.

There was a bit of discussion on this cart about 2 years ago on the "pergatory"
site.  The cantilever is not carbon fiber......read it closely, it says carbon black.
A solid canitlever at that......solid what I don't believe was ever stated.

[neobop]

There was a bit of discussion on this cart about 2 years ago on the "pergatory"
site.  The cantilever is not carbon fiber......read it closely, it says carbon black.
A solid canitlever at that......solid what I don't believe was ever stated.

Interesting that you picked up on that. On LpGear it says carbon-black, and could be denoting a color. Carbon black is a powder used as a pigment mostly, and to reinforce auto tires. It might dissipate heat. Anyway, it must be combined with a plastic like epoxy or polyester to make something like a cantilever. That's carbon fiber.
neo

[felixscerri]

G'day all, thanks for the comments.  What I find so strange is that so little is known about this cartridge in absolute terms. 

It tracks very well and tracks all my 'torture' discs perfectly at the recommended 1.35 grams and is beyond reproach performance wise except for a decided bass 'lightness', and I just wish that there was general information about its history.  Regards, Felix.

[neobop]

Felix,
I don't find that part so strange. Apparently most of these are Tonar branded. Tonar is (was?) a European co that apparently buys carts from OEMs like Nagaoka. Considering this is a 35 yr old model (approx), and Nagaoka never had sales like Shure or AT, it's not so strange. AFAIK, these first appeared, recently, with WM Thakker.
http://williamthakker.eu/Nagaoka-JT-555-Tonar-555-Tonabnehmer_c32-384-400_p12145_x2.htm

Funny, it seems to me that when I first saw this cart listed, and Lini (knowledgeable poster) suggested it might be worth checking out, it was around half this price. LpGear has the best deal now. It does look like a lot for the money with a nude shibata, but the fr response only goes to 28K. I say only because it's suggested this is for 4-channel. I thought 4-ch was encoded at 30K. Even if it was 25K, I'd think this would be marginal. Also says that 50K is recommended load. 4-ch was 100K, so that part is a little confusing. From what you say, I'd think that the bass would be effectively absent at 100K. Regardless, it's 2-ch performance that concerns us now. I assume you've tried different set-ups etc, but maybe being so old it requires extra long break-in. Perhaps we'll get lucky and some other owners will see this thread and chime in.
neo

[stevecramer2]

I didn't realize the Nag555 was that old (someone said 35 years?) or I would have never bought it and its replacement stylus. With that said my Audio-Technica AT-OC9 MLII was mounted on my Sony PS-X600, so I mounted the 555 on another head shell for a listen.
Comparing the Nag555 with the OC9MLII isn't fair price wise I know but was still revealing and a useful comparison.

If the Audio-Technica was a 10, the Nag555 would be a strong 5. Little bass, muted highs, good midrange but shown little excitement in its play.

To my ears it wasn’t an enjoyable listen. Its age must be a factor here. Maybe breaking it in (if there is really such a thing, it’s just me but good better come out of the gate ‘GOOD’) will help.

After an added 10 hours of play, its still plays at a 5 rating with the sound being veiled and lifeless, again to my ears. I should note I put both the original and replacement stylus under the microscope before I test played anything.  Again I’ve seen better and cleaner mounting of the stylus. I also cleaned the stylus before initial play.

At this point I see little use in this cartridge. There are many better sounding cartridges at even lower purchase point.  At present the Shure M97xE is going for under $60 and is a far better sounding unit but again, that’s to my ears.


Note: I’ve been into vinyl for 30plus years; own 6 turntables and more than a dozen cartridges. Current favorite combo in my Music Hall MM-7 and the Goldring Eroica LX M/C cartridge.

[BaMorin]

I didn't realize the Nag555 was that old (someone said 35 years?) or I would have never bought it and its replacement stylus. With that said my Audio-Technica AT-OC9 MLII was mounted on my Sony PS-X600, so I mounted the 555 on another head shell for a listen.
Comparing the Nag555 with the OC9MLII isn't fair price wise I know but was still revealing and a useful comparison.

If the Audio-Technica was a 10, the Nag555 would be a strong 5. Little bass, muted highs, good midrange but shown little excitement in its play.

To my ears it wasn’t an enjoyable listen. Its age must be a factor here. Maybe breaking it in (if there is really such a thing, it’s just me but good better come out of the gate ‘GOOD’) will help.

After an added 10 hours of play, its still plays at a 5 rating with the sound being veiled and lifeless, again to my ears. I should note I put both the original and replacement stylus under the microscope before I test played anything.  Again I’ve seen better and cleaner mounting of the stylus. I also cleaned the stylus before initial play.

At this point I see little use in this cartridge. There are many better sounding cartridges at even lower purchase point.  At present the Shure M97xE is going for under $60 and is a far better sounding unit but again, that’s to my ears.


Note: I’ve been into vinyl for 30plus years; own 6 turntables and more than a dozen cartridges. Current favorite combo in my Music Hall MM-7 and the Goldring Eroica LX M/C cartridge.

One always has to take into account of the "average system" the cart would be most likely played on.  I'm sure it was in the market area where the receivers would have a loudness control along with tone controls....and maybe an additional graphic equalizer........all squeezed through appliance store speakers.  It's tough going back.....ain't it?   

[BaMorin]

I didn't realize the Nag555 was that old (someone said 35 years?) or I would have never bought it and its replacement stylus. With that said my Audio-Technica AT-OC9 MLII was mounted on my Sony PS-X600, so I mounted the 555 on another head shell for a listen.
Comparing the Nag555 with the OC9MLII isn't fair price wise I know but was still revealing and a useful comparison.

If the Audio-Technica was a 10, the Nag555 would be a strong 5. Little bass, muted highs, good midrange but shown little excitement in its play.

To my ears it wasn’t an enjoyable listen. Its age must be a factor here. Maybe breaking it in (if there is really such a thing, it’s just me but good better come out of the gate ‘GOOD’) will help.

After an added 10 hours of play, its still plays at a 5 rating with the sound being veiled and lifeless, again to my ears. I should note I put both the original and replacement stylus under the microscope before I test played anything.  Again I’ve seen better and cleaner mounting of the stylus. I also cleaned the stylus before initial play.

At this point I see little use in this cartridge. There are many better sounding cartridges at even lower purchase point.  At present the Shure M97xE is going for under $60 and is a far better sounding unit but again, that’s to my ears.


Note: I’ve been into vinyl for 30plus years; own 6 turntables and more than a dozen cartridges. Current favorite combo in my Music Hall MM-7 and the Goldring Eroica LX M/C cartridge.

[neobop]

Not sure how old it is, but it is old. LpGear was talking about 4-ch use. The shibata was developed for 4-ch. Maybe they just threw that in the description. It doesn't seem appropriate for 4-ch anyway.
I guess Thakker got over with that one. I'm virtually positive that a couple yrs ago, he was the only one who had it. Now Gear and Needles are stuck with it. There is a possibility that an old suspension could need quite a few hrs to break in.

Oh well, curiosity satisfied.
neo

[felixscerri]

G'day all, it's been a while since I've perused this thread.  Some interesting comments there as I find myself in broad agreement with stevecramer2's comments. 

It seems to be a great tracker, but the light sounding bass response and the somewhat 'lifeless' presentation as was commented upon makes this cartridge difficult to love, in my opinion.  I also find it a bit too 'in your face' for my liking as well.  Perhaps it does need considerable 'break in' time and usage, as mine definitely improved noticeably with use.  Regards, Felix.

[BaMorin]

G'day all, it's been a while since I've perused this thread.  Some interesting comments there as I find myself in broad agreement with stevecramer2's comments. 

It seems to be a great tracker, but the light sounding bass response and the somewhat 'lifeless' presentation as was commented upon makes this cartridge difficult to love, in my opinion.  I also find it a bit too 'in your face' for my liking as well.  Perhaps it does need considerable 'break in' time and usage, as mine definitely improved noticeably with use.  Regards, Felix.

Are you up for a "bicycle" my friend?

[felixscerri]

G'day mate, that's a good idea!  Ok.  Regards, Felix.

[BaMorin]

G'day mate, that's a good idea!  Ok.  Regards, Felix.

E-mail me. If you don't still have the address, PM me for it.

[neobop]

G'day all, it's been a while since I've perused this thread.  Some interesting comments there as I find myself in broad agreement with stevecramer2's comments. 

It seems to be a great tracker, but the light sounding bass response and the somewhat 'lifeless' presentation as was commented upon makes this cartridge difficult to love, in my opinion.  I also find it a bit too 'in your face' for my liking as well.  Perhaps it does need considerable 'break in' time and usage, as mine definitely improved noticeably with use.  Regards, Felix.

Ah ha, the plot thickens. Maybe this cart has more potential than initial impressions indicate. From the earlier descriptions, I didn't realize "lifeless" was also "in your face". I guess the weak bass performance is responsible for that lifeless description.

I don't know the inductance of this one, but some other Nagaokas have high inductance. Perhaps some loading experimentation might yield benefits. I suggest trying with as low capacitance load as possible. If it does have high inductance, too much capacitance will lower the HF resonance into the treble and make it bright. Perhaps a 30 or 40K load would bring up the bass and give a more balanced sound.
neo

[felixscerri]

G'day all, perhaps 'hard sounding' might be a slightly more descriptive and accurate term than 'in your face', but the overall effect is similar. 

I suspect that the somewhat recessed bass might be a factor in this perception.  I did try some loading shift (down from 47 k) without much apparent improvement.  Regards, Felix.

[dlaloum]

Do we know what the inductance of that cartridge is?

I have been experimenting with various inductances/capacitances and getting an understanding of the electrical loading calculations and resonant frequencies...

if we know the inductance and the total C load (and R load) then we can calculate frequency response, resonance and size of peak.... (at least for the electrical side of things....)

All the Shures I have played with have a distinct high bass 'hump' in their frequency response.... part of the signature sound....
Perhaps an AT cart would be a more valid comparison?

[neobop]

Saw this thread on Karma, thought it might be of interest. Apparently some people are getting much better results.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=353660

neo