Ortofon Cadenza Red MC Cartridge 

Orotofon is one of the worlds most trusted brands for turntable cartridges - from DJ's and radio stations to Audiophiles and Music lovers. When moving up in the world of vinyl playback it is nearly always going to end up being a Moving Coil cartridge that gives the performance leap above a certain price point. The Ortofon Cadenza range are proof of this. The 2M Moving Magnet range represent the best value to performance with maximum compatibility.  The first of the MC ranges is the Quintet range which is a taste of what MC carts can do... then there is the Cadenza range - taking over from the now defunct Kontrapunkt range. The Cadenza cartridge range is where the benefits of an MC cartridge are readily apparent with the extra detail, smoothness, soundstage and texture that MC carts are renowned for.

Nude Fine Line stylus with a cylindrical aluminium cantilever

The Cadenza Red model is using a Nude Fine Line stylus with a cylindrical aluminium cantilever. The stylus tip radius is r/R 8/40 µm. The coils are made from 6NX (99.9999 %) pure silver wire.

The Cadenza Red's sound signature is on the slightly smooth side with a surprising amount of detail and texture throughout the all important midrange.

Quotes from Reviews - Ortofon Cadenza Red

"My first impression of the Cadenza Red is this cartridge has an astonishingly natural portrayal of the midrange, and this sole characteristic would make it worth owning...

... There is indeed a separation between good and great moving coil cartridges, and the Cadenza Red is certainly in the field where the excellent ones reside in...

..The Cadenza Red is never a cartridge that is in a hurry so to speak, as it encourages a person to experience every facet of an album, and enjoy it on many different levels...

...The Red is intended to be liquid, refined, flowing, with a slightly burnished warmth that is easy to get hooked on...

...The design team at Ortofon has done a splendid job voicing the Cadenza Red, and creating a cartridge that is inviting and easy to listen to, yet capable of presenting the entire palette of shading and texture that may be captured in a recording. This cartridge is a wonderful find for those hobbyists who value an emotionally involving listening experience, where the highlights are tone, harmonic density, and a rich presentation..."  :  POSITIVE FEEDBACK - August 2016

"...As audiophiles we're always looking for the proverbial veil lifting in front of the stage. The Red did just that. More importantly, the cartridge has a very sweet disposition. All carts add their own voices, and some, too many. The sweetness here is tactile. Massed violins had weight and sheen, and a presence that only well designed analogue allows...

...Bass was emphatic. Deep and with the resonances that make it such a satisfying musical component...

...The midrange is always the most elusive to capture, especially voices... The balance is right on so many of their carts. The Red is wonderfully in balance, nothing jars,nothing compresses. You'll get the air and the musical presence...

...I really like this cartridge. For the price, a favourite moving coil..." : AUDIOPHILIA - May 2016

Each of the five Cadenza Series cartridges has its own individual sonic expression, and all five models together represent the ensemble of five classic variations:

• MC Cadenza Mono is a true mono cartridge for playing mono microgroove vinyl records
• MC Cadenza Red delivers open, dynamic sound with a touch of warmth
• MC Cadenza Blue adds more dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details
• MC Cadenza Bronze adds even more details and resolution but in a very evenhanded way that pays respect to all elements
• MC Cadenza Black is the best of everything, true to the groove with resolution and accurate insight into each recording

ORTOFON CADENZA RED SPECIFICATIONS :

Output voltage at 1 kHz 5 cm/sec - 0,45 mV
Channel balance - < 1,5 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz - > 23 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz - > 15 dB
Frequency range at -3 dB - 20 Hz - 50 kHz
Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz - +3/-1
Tracking ability at 315 Hz at recommended tracking force *) - 80 μm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral - 12 μm/mN
Stylus type - Nude Fine Line on Alu cantilever
Stylus tip radius - r/R 8/40
Tracking force range - 2,2-2,7 g (22-27 mN)
Tracking force recommended - 2,5 g (25 mN)
Tracking angle - 20º
Internal impedance, DC resistance - 5 Ohm
Recommended load impedance - 50-500 Ohm
Cartridge body materia - Stainless steel Aluminium
Cartridge colour - Red/Black
Cartridge weight - 10,7 g