Moving Coil Cartridges - Ortofon
For the finest sound from your turntable and record collection, we always recommend a moving coil (MC) phono cartridge. These are generally a little more expensive than moving magnet (MM) models, and the stylus cannot be replaced, but for absolute sound quality, a moving coil cartridge is the purists choice. Please note, the output level of an MC cartridge is lower than an MM cartridge, so you must use a phono stage that has an MC cartridge input. If you need help with cartridge and turntable matching, please call or e-mail for advice.
Ortofon has produced excellent phono cartridges and styli for over 100 years and is a leading manufacturer of precision hi-fi products. This includes tonearms, headshells, high-end audio cables, as well as turntable and vinyl accessories. For more info, see Ortofon's guide to choosing a cartridge
Cartridges range from the entry-level 2M and Quintet series, mid-level SPU, Cadenza and Royal series up to the ultimate uncompromising Windfeld, Xpression, Century and MC Anna models
Ortofon was founded by Danish engineers, Axel Petersen and Arnold Poulsen in 1918 as the Electrical Phono Film Company.
The company was initially financed and managed by experienced businessmen with the aim to explore the potential of creating truly high-class recordings. In a simple surrounding, Peterson, Poulsen and a handful of staff set out to achieve the impossible.
Most Ortofon’s products relate to analogue and turntables and as the largest global producer of MM phono cartridges, they have a long history of producing top quality products. Due to the outstanding quality, many hifi manufacturers pre-install Ortofon cartridges on their turntable.
Ortofon began by making soundtracks for movies, but in 1948 they moved into cartridge manufacturing with their first moving coil cartridge. They have now developed and manufactured over 300 different cartridges.
They employ over 95 people selling products internationally with over 60 importers and Sales subsidiaries in America and Japan. Ortofon’s unit in Nakskov, south Denmark boasts contemporary gear operated by knowledgeable workers, so craftsmanship is consistently conveyed to excellent standards.
Ortofon's growth and significant social impact has been commended by former-Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who visited the factory in 2015. The brand works closely with DTU Mechanical Engineering within the EU Seventh Framework and Horizon 2020 Programme for Research and Innovation.
Being based in a country known for its strong legacy in acoustics and numerous other high-end manufacturers gave Ortofon a competitive edge. Today, Ortofon is a large manufacturer, producing their world renowned cartridges with 500,000 sold annually.
Ortofon's key technological specialities are in acoustics, materials, technology and micromechanics facilitated by their own engineers supported with sturdy acoustic experience in their R&D department.
Unlike Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges, Moving Coil (MC) cartridges do not feature replaceable styli, meaning that if your stylus becomes worn or broken then the entire cartridge needs to be replaced. Moving Magnet cartridges are therefore more cost-effective. However, while it may seem scary to have to replace the entire cartridge, particularly as some models can be quite expensive, it is not as bad as it seems! Most manufacturers offer an exchange program, allowing you to buy a replacement Moving Coil cartridge at a significantly reduced rate when exchanging your old or broken stylus. It is also worth remembering that phono cartridge styli are made out of diamond, as this is one of the hardest materials available, meaning a well looked after and maintained stylus can last for a long time.
The output of Moving Coil (MC) cartridges is typically much lower than their Moving Magnet counterparts, and so having a phono stage which is able to offer sufficient gain is key in getting the most performance out of your cartridge possible.
Some cartridges are described as High Output Moving Coil, which means their output levels are much higher and closer to those of a Moving Magnet cartridge. High Output cartridges can be used with a wider range of phono stages, and some are suitable for use with Moving Magnet phono inputs, allowing you to use these cartridges with a much wider range of equipment.
The technology employed in Moving Coil (MC) is different to that used in Moving Magnet designs. Two coils within the shell of the cartridge are connected to the cantilever and end of the stylus. The coils are much lighter and smaller than magnets, and so can track and trace the grooves of the record better, which results in greater detail and ultimately sound quality.
Phono cartridges are available with two different types of stylus – tipped or nude. A tipped stylus is a diamond tip on a metal shank which is in turn connected to the cantilever. This is the design typically found on most budget Moving Magnet cartridges. However, this can add weight to the stylus and its tracking, so nude styli are preferred, and virtually always used in Moving Coil cartridges. A nude stylus is a whole diamond attached to the cantilever, offering greater stability and less weight, therefore improving transient reproduction.
Spherical diamond styli are typically found on most budget Moving Magnet cartridges and are the most simple and cost efficient styli to produce. They are arguably the most robust, and make maintaining your cartridge a little easier. However, from a purely sonic perspective, and for the enthusiast, the elliptical stylus found in higher end Moving Magnet and virtually all Moving Coil cartridges is certainly preferred. This stylus shape is much more similar to the cutting stylus used to create grooves in master discs, and is therefore much better suited to tracking the record’s grooves, and offering extra detail, soundstage and insight, particularly towards the inner portions of the record itself.
