Nagaoka MP-300 Turntable Cartridge | USA Stock

It's almost impossible to know where to start in reviewing the MP-300 MM cartridge, there is so much that could be said. I find the ability of the MP-300 to reproduce multiple genres of music to be nothing short of astounding. It is entirely faithful to each and every nuance, and to the intended impressions so excruciatingly embedded into the vinyl by the recording engineers. I find the cartridge to be extremely accurate in reproducing crisp clean highs, and tight punchy bass. It is equally adept in its delightful portrayal of both male and female vocals, much to my delight. This is a pure joy to hear both of these vocal ranges being projected in such precise fashion, especially when they are both being listened to in the same recording. I find the transient response of the Super-fine elliptical stylus to be beyond belief for a MM cartridge. I don't believe that much improvement in such response could be found in any but the most refined of MC cartridges. It must be heard to be appreciated. When listening to The Dave Brubeck Quartet, and their classic album Time Out, I was simply amazed to hear the breath of Saxophonist Paul Desmond moving across the reed in his iconic composition of Take Five. Simply not something one would hear from a lesser cartridge. The sound stage, and channel separation being produced by the cartridge make for an absolute magical experience, and put me front, and center in the ethereal playground of Mr. Fletcher's world of stereo sound. I am simply amazed at the sound that I am hearing from this cartridge, and I am just approaching the recommended 30 hour break in period. I'm really wondering how it could possibly sound any better than it does, even with so few hours on the cartridge. The heavy lifting in my system is being performed the the Technics Sl-1210G, and the Parasound JC3 JR. These components are perfectly capable of exposing the shortcomings of any cartridge with which they may be matched, and by the same token, they are also capable of extolling the virtues of said cartridge. In my opinion the Nagaoka MP-300 is right at home amongst these beloved components, and to me, the combination of the 3, is a match made in heaven. In summation, my experience with the Nagaoka MP-300 Phono Cartridge is not so much about being impressed with its ability to faithfully reproduce music, but more about its ability to make music sound the way I only dreamed that it could.