Description
The Nagaoka NMP 2.0 replacement needle fits MP-10(11), MP-100 or other Nagaoka MP series cartridges and is used for playing monophonic discs with tracks that are already quite worn (expanded), as well as 78 rpm discs.
To maintain the accuracy of your mono recordings, you need to use a stylus specifically designed for this type of record. A 1.0 mil (0.001 inch) wide mono stylus is standard for monaural recordings. It is a very common misconception that you can use a regular LP stylus to play such records and get excellent results. This is not true because an LP stylus is narrower than a 1.0 Mil wide audio track, so the tip of such a needle will slip into the lowest part of the groove where debris collects over the years of use of the disc. A standard LP stylus will also wander from side to side and not track the track properly. Thus, using an LP stylus will only result in poor sound quality and high surface noise.
Frequent playback of old recordings with very high stylus pressure or even with steel needles causes great damage to the grooves of the disc. This damage causes a lot of sound distortion and noise in the background. Sometimes, better playback results can be achieved by playing the recording either at the lower part or at a higher part of the track, which may be less damaged than the average height. To play back at a higher level, you can use 3.5 Mil or 4.0 Mil needles. To play at a lower groove level, use a 2.0 Mil or 2.5 Mil stylus. When you find the optimum height, put a sticker on your recording so you know which stylus tip width to use next time for best results.
