Ortofon Announces MC X Series Of Cartridges

All Image Credit: Ortofon

Danish cartridge specialist Ortofon have released the replacement for its long-running Quintet series of moving-coil cartridges, the new MC X Series. The series is composed or four models, the; MC X10, MC X20, MC X30 and MC X40. Each model shares the same generator system and housing, with their differences revolving around the type of cantilever and stylus tip.

At the core of this MC X series is a new honeycomb stainless-steel core to which the generator and housing attach, made using Metal Injection Molding technology.

Each model is hand-built and features a newly developed magnet system and hand-wound coils made of ultra-thin, high-purity silver wire. With most parts, including the rubber used for the cartridge’s suspension, manufactured on site.

This manufacturing control ensures that each 8.6 gm model measures consistently all providing an output level of 0.4mV with a 2.0g recommended tracking force. Electrically all models provide a 6 ohm resistance so typical loadings of 100 ohm will let the cartridges perform optimally.

While the core body and internals remain consistent throughout the range, the cantilever and stylus is continually improved. The X10, X20 and X30 all use an aluminum cantilever while the X40 gets an upgrade to Boron. The entry level X10 uses an elliptical stylus, the X20 a nude elliptical stylus, the X30 a nude fine-line stylus with the top-of-the-line X40 having a nude Shibata stylus.

These upgrades in cantilever and stylus supporting improved separation and frequency response.

• Channel balance at 1 kHz: 0.5 dB
• Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5cm/sec: 0.4 mV
• Channel separation at 1 kHz:
  • X10, X20: 24 dB
  • X30: 25 dB
  • X 40: 26dB
• Frequency response:
  • X10, X20, X30: 20 Hz – 20 kHz +/-2 dB
  • X40: 20 Hz – 20 kHz +/-1 dB
• Compliance, dynamic, lateral:
  • X10: 13 μm/mN
  • X20, X30, X40: 15 μm/mN
• Cantilever material:
  • X10, X20, X30: Aluminum
  • X40: Boron
• Stylus type:
  • X10: Elliptical
  • X20: Nude Elliptical
  • X30: Nude Fine-Line
  • X40: Nude Shibata
• Stylus tip radius:
  • X10, X20: r/R 8/18 μm
  • X30: r/R 8/40 μm
  • X40: r/R 6/50 μm
• Stylus suspensions: Ortofon exclusive
• Coil system: Hand wound quad coils
• Coil wire material: High-purity silver
• Internal impedance DC resistance: 6 Ω
• Tracking force, recommended: 2.0 grams
• Cartridge weight: 8.6 grams
• Recommended load resistance: > 50 Ω

MSRP (x10,x20,x30,x40):

• US: $279,$468,$655,$938
• UK: £269,£429,£599,£875
• EU: €299,€499,€699,€999

For more information visit the Ortofon web site.

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