Ortofon MC X10
The entry level to the new MC X range builds on the success of the Quintet range that came before it.
MC X10 lays the foundation for high-fidelity sound. Its refined elliptical diamond stylus delivers clarity and precision, bringing your records to life with stunning detail. It’s the perfect starting point for an exceptional audio journey.
What we say:
There’s no doubt that this cart is a great introduction to the finer detail that MC carts are capable of reproducing, and a significant step in making such a level of performance at such a competitive price.
Hana EL/EH
The Hana EL cartridge has a synthetic Elliptical diamond stylus fitted to a high rigidity aluminium cantilever with cross-shaped armature, offering super transparency and excellent trackability. The body is manufactured from a composite low resonance plastic material in dark green.
This competitively priced Low output moving coil cartridge offers great quality sound referenced against similar priced cartridges. The EL (Elliptical Low output) offers 0.5mv/1KHz output.
What e say:
The EH balances a rich, detailed, and refined presentation with impressive tonal accuracy…is emotionally engaging and has a sense of air and space that is unusual at the price.
Perhaps just as importantly, the Hana manages to sound fun as well. it rewards with an exceptional sonic performance!
Ortofon MC X20
Go deeper into your music with the MC X20. Featuring a nude elliptical diamond stylus, it reveals greater depth and definition, uncovering the full character of each track. Rediscover your favorite records with fresh excitement and vivid precision.
All MC X cartridges feature coils wound with high-purity silver wire. The use of premium materials is to ensure exceptional signal clarity, delivering sound with unmatched precision and preserving every detail without interference.
The MC X Series introduces a newly developed magnet system with a one-piece pole cylinder integrated into a rear magnet yoke. Engineered for maximum magnetic efficiency and paired with pure silver coils, this configuration ensures a clean, powerful signal path that elevates overall performance.
What we say:
This offers a significant jump over the X10 and is definitely one of the sweet spots of the range.
Ortofon MC X30
Push your listening experience further with the MC X30. Featuring a nude fine line diamond stylus, it offers extraordinary accuracy and resolution, rendering your music and every track with breathtaking detail and dynamic range.
The Ortofon MC X30 is a high-performance moving coil cartridge featuring a Nude Fine Line stylus and high-purity silver coils for exceptional detail, tracking ability, and a refined, balanced sound. It utilizes a rigid, lightweight Metal Injection Moulded (MIM) body to minimize vibration, making it a strong, modern successor to the Quintet series.
What we say:
The fine detail this cart offers is a step into the sophistication that can normally only be achieved by investing more money with other cartridges. An excellent performer.
Hana SL/SH/Mono MkII
The new SL MK II has upgrades to enhance both the musical performance, and also to offer greater value at the S Series price point.
A new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity offers a remarkable improvement in transferring groove modulation from the vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series Mk II indeed features many higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes, drawn from Hana’shigher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana “brilliant and gorgeous” sound.
The heavier Mk II cartridge offers better coupling, improving bass and dynamics; and with expanded compatibility to a wider range of tonearms. The SL MK II generator, is as found in the Umami Blue and ML; incorporating an Alnico magnet and cross-coil design, using high purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance, for improved signal to noise, and reduction of moving mass.
These improved design features offer higher resolution and traceability, optimizing performance for a broader range of phono stages.
What we say:
This is now our personal favourite of the range. It offers incredible performance for the money and really closes the gap on it’s bigger brother, the ML.
It take a very accomplished turntable and system to show this up, which is why it’s such a competitive option.
Ortofon MC X40
The Ortofon MC X40 is the flagship Moving Coil cartridge in the MC X Series featuring a nude Shibata diamond on a boron cantilever and pure silver coils. It offers high-end performance with exceptional, detailed, and transparent sound, characterized by a well-balanced timbral presentation and precise bass. Designed for high-end turntables, it features a rigid stainless-steel honeycomb body.
Key Features and Performance
Stylus & Cantilever: Employs a Nude Shibata diamond, known for excellent tracking, mounted on a stiff, lightweight boron cantilever, enhancing speed and high-frequency resolution.
Sound Profile:
Described as "clear and open" providing a "top gun" performance that punches above its price class.
Coils: Uses pure silver wiring, enhancing signal clarity and reducing resistance.
Body Design: Features a black-coated stainless-steel honeycomb frame using Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) for maximum rigidity.
What we say:
This rightly deserves it’s place at the top of the X series tree. A superb performer that takes cues from the excellent Quintet Black and amplifies them further than any other previous Ortofon cartridge at this price point. Stunning.