Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Cartridge

The Ortofon Cadenza Black is the flagship of the Cadenza series. Designed for audiophiles who demand absolute transparency and detail, this Moving Coil (MC) cartridge represents the pinnacle of Ortofon’s engineering. It delivers high-end performance that is both clinically precise and emotionally engaging.

The sound signature of Cadenza Black is defined by its neutrality, speed, and holographic imaging. Unlike warmer cartridges that add "character", the Black is a truth-teller. It offers a massive, well-defined soundstage where every instrument occupies its own precise physical space. It is the ideal choice for listeners who want to hear the record exactly as it was mastered in the studio.

KEY FEATURES

• Nude Shibata Stylus: Featuring the same diamond profile as the legendary MC Anna, the Shibata stylus offers an exceptionally large contact area with the record groove. This results in incredible high-frequency retrieval, ultra-low distortion, and minimal record wear.
• Boron Cantilever: Known for its extreme stiffness and low mass, the Boron cantilever is lightning-fast. It allows the stylus to track complex micro-transients with surgical accuracy, bringing the finest textures of the recording to life.
• Wide Range Damping (WRD) System: Ortofon’s patented WRD system controls low and high-frequency damping separately. This ensures that the cartridge remains perfectly stable across the entire audible spectrum, delivering a clean, vibration-free signal.
• Aucurum Coils: The internal wiring consists of Gold-plated 6-nines (99.9999%) oxygen-free copper, ensuring zero signal loss and a natural, highly conductive path for the delicate MC signal.
• Stainless Steel & Aluminum Body: The heavy, resonance-damped housing provides a rock-solid foundation for the generator system, eliminating unwanted colorations and micro-vibrations.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Channel balance at 1 kHz: < 0.8 dB
  
• Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5cm/sec: 330 μV
  
• Channel separation at 1 kHz: > 27 dB
  
• Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz: +1,5/0
  
• Tracking ability at 315 Hz: 90 μm
  
• Compliance, dynamic, lateral: 16 µm/mN
  
• Stylus type: Nude Shibata on Boron cantilever
  
• Stylus tip radius: r/R 6/50 μm
  
• Tracking force range: 2.0-2.5 g
  
• Tracking force, recommended: 2.3 g
  
• Tracking angle: 20°
  
• Internal impedance, DC resistance: 5 ohm
  
• Recommended load resistance: > 10 Ω
  
• Cartridge body material: Stainless steel Aluminium
  
• Cartridge colour: Black/Black
  
• Cartridge weight: 10.7 g