Nagaoka MP-500 cartridge

I could have explained that more carefully. I believe there is a 100, 200, 300, and 500 series. I was surprised they carried Nagaoka, so I asked the sales guy what the sweet spot was. He said the 200 series. So just to be clear, he did not say the 200 was as good as the 500. What I got out of it was the 300 is marginally better than the 200, thus making the 200 the Sweet spot. The 500 is clearly the best of the current models.

I have the MP-500--a fine cart, tho I haven't listened to it lately. In terms of MMs, my current fave is a Shelter 201 w/SAS stylus. Signet TKLca is a top performer as well. I'd put the Nagaoka on a tier below that, along with the AT-50ANV. 

You've inspired me to mount it now.

Maxson:

In terms of MMs, my current fave is a Shelter 201 w/SAS stylus. Signet TKLca is a top performer as well. I'd put the Nagaoka on a tier below that, along with the AT-50ANV.

Is that SAS stylus still available for the 201? Which stylus is it--the one for the Sumiko Pearl? Also, did you mean the AT150ANV? 

Yes, it's the SAS-1. Just became available again, now with sapphire instead of boron cantilever. I bought it to fit the Arcam P-77, but it fits the 201 fine. Not sure about the Pearl.

And, yes, I did mean the 150ANV.

Maxson: Thanks for the info. How did you know the SAS-1 would fit the Shelter 201? I have an AT150MLX, which comes standard with the boron cantilever (like many Nagaokas) but the AT150ANV has a sapphire cantilever like the SAS-1. The boron replacement stylus for the AT150MLX runs about $258 but I notice that the Jico SAS-1 with sapphire cantilever is $211. Strikes me as a relatively good deal. 

I picked up a Shelter 201 just to check it out and I'm pretty impressed. I take it that the SAS-1 replacement stylus noticeably elevates its performance?

Thanks in advance.