Ortofon Cadenza Red MC cartridge

With MaPlatine.com, trade in your old Ortofon MC cartridges for similar or higher end Ortofon cartridge models. 

Cadenza is Ortofon's latest range. It builds on the famous 'Kontrapunkt' range. This innovative series deserves the best technology available. Ortofon Cadenza Red may be the most affordable model, but it can be fitted with 6NX gold-plated silver coil wires and neodymium magnets. The Nude Fine Line stylus is mounted onto a cylindrical alloy cantilever. To ward off resonance and vibration, its body is made of an aluminium and stainless steel alloy. It provides perfect stiffness and enables the weight to remain acceptable. Threaded inserts replace the unattractive nuts, also making the assembly process easier and allowing optimal mounting to the headshell. Tests with a load at 350 Ohms and tracking force at 2.5g, as recommended by Ortofon, have yielded excellent results.

the stereo image of Cadenza Red is extensive, giving the sound stage great width and depth. However, the instruments remain extremely precise and you can distinguish much space between the sections The dynamic range is there with powerful and expressive basses. The tracking ability in this register is outstanding, but the most impressive remains the midrange! It is not emphasised in the manner of some cartridges. Its timbre is superb and emanates uncommon realism and presence. It appears very neutral and this gives it incredible versatility, whether on saturated guitars, violins or brass, the result is great each time! The treble is airy on reproduction which is not a disadvantage in itself, as it enhances the recording locations, atmospheres and natural reverberations without any sharpness.

For a low-end product, the Cadenza Red 'strikes' well and you wonder what the differences will be on the three more ambitious models!