Nagaoka JT-80BK

Nagaoka JT-80BK

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of NAGAOKA

The new JEWELTONE JT-80 series of MM type cartridges
This time, the cartridge housing, stylus and stylus holder have been completely redesigned to confuse the new NAGAOKA design.
The newly designed elements are Moving Magnet MM type and it is the first time for Nagoako in 40 years before the release of the "MP type" elements
The JT-80 series also won the Good Design Award 2020 a very prestigious award

The JEWELTONE JT-80 series lineup consists of two models, the JT-80LB and the top model JT-80BK are both available from stock by ALBEPRO

Regarding the bodies of JT-80BK and LB , they are different.
Although exactly the same looking , but the coil and other parts inside are different.

We cover the Nagaoka JT-80BK here

JT-80BK (Black) Nagaoka High-End model that uses a boron cantilever and a solid naked elliptical diamond stylus, and is characterized by a good sound balance from high to low frequencies.

Output voltage (1kHz, 5cm/sec.): 5,6 mV
Tracking Force: 1,8 gr.
Weight: 6,7 g

Similarly, we can‘t stop sympathizing with the „Black“ edition.
Although it is more expensive, it also plays on a completely different level.
To keep it short: We have hardly ever listened to a better pickup for this price.
The extremely linear top-of-therange Jeweltone (see frequency response) sounds so natural, resolved and fanned out that it provides nothing but pleasure.
It doesn‘t throw itself at the listener like its little brother – which appears somewhat fuller –, and it even seems a bit distant and uninvolved with its straightforward tone, in contrast.
To make up for that, the „BK“ displays an inhere ntly noble perfection, especially since it also does without „artificial freshness“ in the form of brightened upper frequencies.
In addition, it features a gnarly bass, differentiated down to the smallest facets, which perfectly complements the fine trebles at the other end of the spectrum.
In any case, our top reference system was a good fit for the JT-80BK.
These new sounds suit the analog traditionalists from Nagaoka very well!


Jeweltone JT-80BK won the "Best Buy Compo 2022" by Music no Tomosha and stereo magazine.
Jeweltone JT-80BK was published in the June 2021 issue of Audio, a German audio magazine. The JT-80BK received a sound quality rating of 91 out of 100 from editor Lothar Brandt.
Jeweltone JT-80BK/LB was evaluated in the German audio magazine Stereo. JT-80BK was awarded five stars, the highest rating, from Editor-in-Chief Mathias Böde.
Jeweltone JT-80BK/LB was published in audio magazine "Tube Kingdom" Vol. 99