x
Finding the right Ortofon cartridge
Which cartridge suits your turntable, your phono preamp and your ears?
Hardly any component shapes the sound of a record as much as the cartridge. It is the only part of the system in direct contact with the record – whatever it fails to retrieve from the groove, no amplifier can bring back. Ortofon from Denmark has been building cartridges for more than a century, from robust entry-level MM models to hand-built moving-coil reference cartridges.
This guide walks you through everything that matters when choosing: design, phono preamp, tonearm, stylus profile and the right series. Everything about replacement styluses, upgrades and care can be found in our Ortofon Stylus Guide.
Ortofon: over 100 years of experience from Denmark
Ortofon was founded in Copenhagen in 1918 as the Electrical Fono Film Company and initially developed a process for recording sound in sync on film. This expertise in converting mechanical motion into electrical signals gave rise to today’s core business: phono cartridges. The name means ‘correct sound’ – from the Greek orto (correct) and fon (sound).
The first moving-coil cartridge followed in 1948, and in 1959 came the SPU (‘Stereo Pick-Up’), one of the very first stereo cartridges, which is still made today. In 1978 the Concorde, with its integrated headshell, set new standards among DJs. Production continues in Nakskov on the island of Lolland, with many MC cartridges still built by hand. For you, this means tight manufacturing tolerances and original styluses that remain available for years.
How a cartridge works
When a coil moves in a magnetic field – or a magnet moves near a coil – a voltage is generated. Fittingly for Ortofon, this relationship was discovered in 1820 by the Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted. In a cartridge, three elements work together to make use of it.
The diamond follows the groove at a tracking force of around 1 to 4 g – a nude diamond has less mass than a tipped one and tracks more accurately. The cantilever transmits the motion; aluminium is standard, while high-end cartridges use ruby, sapphire, boron or diamond, such as the 2M Black LVB 250 with its boron cantilever. In the generator, magnet and coils convert the motion into voltage.
MM or MC – which design suits you?
In a moving-magnet system (MM), the cantilever moves a tiny magnet between stationary coils. In a moving-coil system (MC), the coils – usually just 15 to 20 hand-wound turns – sit directly on the cantilever. The moving mass is therefore extremely low: finer resolution, more precise transients, airier spatial imaging. The price is a very low output voltage. Incidentally, the cutting head at the pressing plant also works on the moving-coil principle.
A special Ortofon feature: OM and Concorde use the patented VMS principle (Variable Magnetic Shunt), a variant of the moving-iron principle – yet electrically fully compatible with any MM input.
| Feature | Moving Magnet (MM) | Moving Coil (MC) |
|---|---|---|
| Output voltage | approx. 4 to 5.5 mV – any MM phono input | approx. 0.2 to 0.5 mV – MC input or step-up transformer |
| Sound character | powerful, full-bodied, uncomplicated | finely resolving, fast, spacious |
| Stylus replacement | do it yourself in seconds | via the manufacturer or a specialist dealer |
| Ortofon series | 2M, OM, Concorde | Quintet, Cadenza, MC X, SPU, Reference |
| Ideal for | Getting started, upgrades, frequent listeners, DJs | ambitious systems |
With a simple phono preamp or an MM phono input on your amplifier, the 2M series is the ideal match. With an MC-capable phono stage, Quintet, Cadenza and the MC X series take you to the next level of sound.
The phono preamp: the underrated counterpart
The phono preamp amplifies the tiny signal and equalises it according to the RIAA curve. Gain and electrical load must match the cartridge.
MM cartridges need around 40 dB of gain and an input impedance of 47 kΩ. The capacitance of the phono input and tonearm cable also matters – for the 2M series, Ortofon recommends around 150 to 300 pF.
MC cartridges need 60 to 70 dB and a low-impedance load. Ortofon MCs usually work from around 20 Ω, and many sound particularly balanced at 100 to 200 Ω – a listening comparison is worthwhile.
An MC step-up transformer (SUT) passively raises the MC voltage to MM level – very low in noise and a proven solution, especially for low-impedance cartridges such as the SPU. Ortofon offers the ST-7, ST-70, ST-M25 and ST-80 SE, among others.
Tonearm, weight and mounting
Tonearm mass, cartridge weight and stylus compliance determine the resonance frequency. Ortofon considers 7 to 12 Hz optimal and 6.5–7 and 12–14 Hz generally unproblematic. If it is too low, the cartridge reacts to record warps; if it is too high, resonances colour the sound.
Rule of thumb: resonance ≈ 159 ÷ √(M × C), where M = total mass in grams and C = compliance in µm/mN. Example: a 2M Red (7.2 g, 20 µm/mN) on an 11 g arm with 0.6 g of screws gives 159 ÷ √(18.8 × 20) ≈ 8.2 Hz – a good match.
| Tonearm type | Effective mass | Matching compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Light | up to 10 g | high: 20 to 35 µm/mN |
| Medium | 11 to 25 g | medium: 10 to 20 µm/mN |
| Heavy | over 25 g | low: 5 to 10 µm/mN, e.g. SPU |
Most Ortofon cartridges use the standard half-inch mount (12.7 mm). The OM series is also available pre-mounted on a headshell; Concorde and classic SPU models have an integrated headshell with an SME bayonet. An SPU therefore weighs around 30 g – it needs a heavy tonearm with sufficient counterweight, or an SPU variant in a standard body such as the SPU #1 S.
The stylus profile determines the depth of detail
The more closely the stylus contact area resembles the cutting stylus that cut the groove, the more precisely it reads high frequencies and inner grooves. Fine profiles also spread the pressure over a larger area and are therefore gentler on the record.
| Profile | How it works | Ortofon examples |
|---|---|---|
| Spherical | robust, simple, ideal for DJs and shellac | Concorde DJ, 2M 78 |
| Elliptical | follows the groove more closely, less distortion | 2M Red, OM 10, Quintet Red |
| Nude elliptical | unmounted diamond, less mass | 2M Blue |
| Fine Line | narrow, large groove contact area | 2M Bronze, Quintet Blue and Bronze |
| Shibata | line contact, very accurate tracking | 2M Black, Quintet Black S |
| Replicant 100 / FG 70 | Ortofon’s top profiles, close to the cutting stylus | MC Cadenza Bronze, Reference |
A prerequisite for fine profiles: careful alignment of overhang, azimuth and tonearm height.
All Ortofon series at a glance
Within each series, colours indicate the level – Red as the entry point, followed by Blue, Bronze and Black. You will find all models under Ortofon cartridges.
| Series | Design & character | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| 2M | MM · Ortofon’s best-selling hi-fi cartridge, from Red to Black LVB 250 | From beginners to demanding MM listeners |
| OM | MM (VMS) · light, robust, upgradeable with styluses 5E to 40 | First equipment, second turntable |
| Concorde | MM (VMS) · integrated headshell, DJ and hi-fi | DJs, interchangeable cartridges on SME bayonet |
| MC Quintet | MC · entry into moving coil, including mono | Switchers with an MC phono stage |
| MC Cadenza | MC · upper class, fine profiles, excellent channel separation | ambitious analogue listeners |
| MC X | MC · new generation X10 to X40 | Listeners looking for current MC technology |
| SPU | MC · a legend since 1959, rich and musical | Classical and jazz, heavy tonearm |
| Reference | MC · Windfeld Ti, Verismo, Anna Diamond | High end without compromise |
Mono and shellac: True mono cartridges such as the 2M Mono SE or MC Cadenza Mono do not output vertical groove information as a signal – mono pressings sound quieter. For shellac there is the 2M 78.
Which Ortofon for which setup?
| Your setup | Typical equipment | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | Entry-level turntable, MM phono input | 2M Red or OM 10 |
| Step-up | Mid-range turntable, separate phono stage | 2M Blue or 2M Bronze |
| MM maximiser | high-quality turntable, adjustable MM stage | 2M Black or 2M Black LVB 250 |
| MC entry | MC input or step-up transformer | MC Quintet Red or Blue |
| Upper class | Medium-mass arm, good MC stage | MC Cadenza or MC X |
| Classic | heavy tonearm, vintage sound | SPU Classic, SPU #1, SPU Synergy |
| DJ & scratch | direct drive, S-shaped arm, SME bayonet | Concorde |
Already own an Ortofon MM? A higher-grade stylus is often the more affordable route to better sound – more on this in our Ortofon Stylus Guide.
Frequently asked questions about Ortofon cartridges
Which is better: an MM or an MC cartridge?
Neither design is better across the board. MC cartridges usually resolve more finely but require an MC phono preamp or a step-up transformer. A high-quality MM such as the 2M Black can outperform a basic MC – what matters is how well it is matched to the system.
Ortofon 2M Red or 2M Blue – what is the difference?
Both use the same generator; the difference lies in the stylus: the 2M Red has a tipped elliptical diamond, the 2M Blue a nude elliptical with less moving mass. The 2M Blue sounds more detailed and dynamic. A 2M Red can be upgraded to a 2M Blue simply by changing the stylus.
Do I need a new phono preamp for an MC cartridge?
Only if your phono stage has no MC input. Alternatively, an MC step-up transformer raises the voltage to MM level so that your existing MM input can be used.
Does an Ortofon SPU fit every tonearm?
No. Classic SPU models weigh around 30 g with their integrated headshell and need a heavy tonearm with an SME bayonet and enough counterweight. For lighter arms there are SPU variants in a standard body.
Is a mono cartridge worthwhile?
For many mono pressings, yes: a mono cartridge such as the 2M Mono SE ignores vertical groove information and audibly reduces noise and surface interference.
Still unsure? We are happy to help.
Tell us your turntable, tonearm and phono preamp – we will recommend the right Ortofon cartridge.
Ortofon cartridgesOrtofon 2MMC step-up transformersStylus guideAll Ortofon products
