Nagaoka Jeweltone JT-80LB MM Boron Cantilever Cartridge

Nagaoka Jeweltone JT-80LB MM Boron Cantilever Cartridge Lapis Blue — a true moving-magnet cartridge from a company famous for not building them, and the first all-new Nagaoka cartridge family in roughly forty years. Everything else Nagaoka makes is Moving Permalloy: magnets and coils fixed in the body, a light permalloy element riding the cantilever. Jeweltone is not that. Introduced for the company's 80th anniversary in 2020, the JT-80 series uses a conventional moving-magnet generator, designed from the ground up rather than adapted from an MP body. It is a genuine alternative to the MP line rather than another rung on the same ladder — the same diamonds, the same cantilever expertise, a different operating principle. The JT-80LB is the more forgiving of the two. It pairs an aluminium cantilever with a bonded elliptical diamond and a high 5.0 mV output, which Nagaoka aimed at an energetic, wide-range presentation at an approachable price. That output figure is worth noting: at 5.0 mV this will drive any moving-magnet phono stage comfortably, including the built-in stages on integrated amplifiers. Nagaoka publishes a dynamic compliance figure for the Jeweltone cartridges — 7.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne — which it does not do for the MP series. That is a medium-compliance figure, suiting medium-mass tonearms. The cartridge tracks at a light 1.3 to 1.8 g and weighs 6.9 g. The JT-80 series has been recognised with a Good Design Award. Features True moving-magnet generator, designed from scratch — not an adapted MP body 0.4 × 0.7 mil bonded elliptical diamond on an aluminium-alloy cantilever High 5.0 mV output — comfortable with any MM phono stage, including those built into integrated amps 23 dB channel separation; 1.5 dB channel balance Dynamic compliance published at 7.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne Light 1.3 – 1.8 g tracking force User-replaceable stylus assembly — genuine Nagaoka JTS-80LB Introduced for Nagaoka's 80th anniversary; JT-80 series holds a Good Design Award Specifications Type: Moving magnet (MM) stereo cartridge Output Voltage: 5.0 mV at 5 cm/sec Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz Channel Separation: 23 dB at 1 kHz Channel Balance: 1.5 dB or less Stylus: 0.4 × 0.7 mil bonded elliptical diamond Cantilever: Aluminium alloy Dynamic Compliance: 7.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne Tracking Force: 1.3 – 1.8 g Load Resistance: 47 kΩ Load Capacitance: 100 pF Cartridge Weight: 6.9 g Colour: Lapis Blue Replacement Stylus: Nagaoka JTS-80LB Mounting: Half inch (1/2") standard mount Released: 20 November 2020 Origin: Made in Japan