Ortofon
Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Phono Cartridge
Best high-end moving coil cartridge for discerning vinyl enthusiasts seeking precision.
Experience unparalleled audio fidelity with the Ortofon Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge. This premium cartridge features a Nude Shibata stylus on a boron cantilever, offering extremely low effective mass for precise tracking. Its advanced WRD system ensures optimal damping across frequencies, while the gold-plated 6NX copper coil wire delivers exceptional detail and clarity. The Cadenza Black is designed to reveal the true essence of your recordings, providing superior sound staging and consistent performance for discerning audiophiles seeking the ultimate vinyl playback.
$2999.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
173
/ 1637
#173 in Turntable Accessories
Price vs Category Average
+138%
Above average
Output voltage
0.3310005
/ mV at Hz, cm/sec
Who it's for
- Audiophiles seeking absolute sonic transparency and lifelike musical detail
- Vinyl collectors prioritizing record preservation and high-fidelity groove tracking
- Serious listeners investing in long-term, high-performance audio hardware
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious listeners looking for entry-level or mid-range equipment
- Owners of basic turntables lacking high-end tonearm and phono stage compatibility
- Novice users intimidated by complex cartridge alignment and delicate handling
Performance breakdown
High-Frequency Detail
The Nude Shibata stylus extracts microscopic nuances from every record groove.
Tracking Precision
Boron cantilever construction ensures rock-solid stability during complex musical passages.
Soundstage Depth
Creates an expansive, three-dimensional listening environment for immersive vinyl playback.
Tonal Neutrality
Delivers a faithful, uncolored rendition of the original studio recording.
Frequency Control
Advanced damping system maintains composure across the entire audible spectrum.
Signal Conductivity
Gold-plated copper coils provide exceptional clarity and low-noise signal transmission.
Key Specs
Output voltage
0.33 mV at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec
Channel balance at 1 kHz
< 0.8 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz
> 27 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz
> 20 dB
Frequency range
20 - 60,000 Hz (-3dB)
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz (+1.5/0)
Tracking ability at 315Hz
90 µm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral
16 µm/mN
Features
- Nude Shibata stylus for superior high-frequency detail retrieval
- Boron cantilever for exceptional stiffness and low mass
- Wide Range Damping (WRD) system for precise frequency control
- Ortofon Aucurum gold-plated copper coil wire for enhanced conductivity
- Designed for ultimate detail, consistency, and sound staging
- Part of Ortofon's ambitious Cadenza series
- Offers true-to-groove playback with accurate insight into recordings
- Optimized for tonal neutrality, dynamics, and sound purity
- Faithful rendition of the original recording
- Premium moving coil technology
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Phono Cartridge for its exceptional sound quality and superior craftsmanship. Listeners frequently highlight its ability to deliver a highly refined, detailed, and dynamic audio experience, revealing new layers in familiar recordings. The cartridge is often described as a significant upgrade, offering a captivating musicality that justifies its premium investment. Its robust build quality further reinforces its reputation as a top tier component, providing both sonic excellence and lasting reliability for discerning audiophiles.
Know before you buy
The Nude Shibata stylus is shaped to extract high-frequency detail from the groove with incredible precision, while the boron cantilever provides the necessary stiffness and low mass to ensure that movement is transmitted accurately. Together, they minimize distortion and allow the cartridge to track complex musical passages with ease.
The WRD system is a proprietary Ortofon technology that uses a small platinum disc sandwiched between two rubber absorbers. This design ensures consistent damping across the entire frequency range, resulting in a more stable, neutral, and accurate sound profile.
The Cadenza Black has an output voltage of 0.33 mV, which is standard for a low-output moving coil cartridge. You will need a phono stage or step-up transformer capable of handling low-output MC cartridges with sufficient gain to achieve optimal volume levels.
The recommended tracking force is 2.3 grams, with an acceptable range between 2.0 and 2.5 grams. It is best to use a high-quality tracking force gauge to set this precisely for the best performance and to protect your vinyl records.
The use of gold-plated 6NX copper wire improves conductivity and signal integrity from the stylus to the output pins. This helps maintain the purity of the signal, ensuring that the fine details and dynamics of your recordings are preserved without coloration.
Yes, the Cadenza Black is designed for tonal neutrality and sound purity, making it an excellent choice for any genre. Its focus on detail and sound staging allows it to reveal the nuances in everything from complex orchestral arrangements to intimate acoustic recordings.
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$2999