Ortofon Anna Diamond MC cartridge

This Ortofon Anna Diamond low output MC cartridge is the evolution of the famous Ortofon MC Anna Heritage. It includes most of the technical characteristics of this latter.

But to make it even more effective, Ortofon has equipped it with its famous Replicant 100 stylus, mounted on a diamond cantilever!

ORTOFON ANNA DIAMOND: BODY

We find a housing and body made of titanium, using the technique of selective laser fusion.

Anna Diamond’s generator is designed around a high-performance iron-cobalt alloy.

The very complex damping system has made it possible to completely remove unwanted resonances in the cartridge and the moving equipment.

ORTOFON ANNA DIAMOND: STYLUS

The Ortofon Replicant 100 stylus is the thinnest and lightest stylus available today. In addition, with its complex profile, it offers an extraordinarily large contact surface and unrivalled tracking.

Ortofon associated it to the diamond cantilever of the Ortofon Century MC cartridge! The use of this cantilever has brought mechanical improvements that were impossible before.

The specific profile of the stylus, associated to the use of diamond, offers the best possible interface between the mobile equipment and the cartridge frame, thanks to its hardness and fully crystalline structure.

The resonances of the whole system have also been minimized by the use of thermoplastic elastomer compound (TPE) at the bottom of the box.

ORTOFON ANNA DIAMOND: MAGNETIC SYSTEM

The geometry of the magnetic system has been optimized as much as possible. It is associated to very high-end materials such as neodymium and iron-cobalt. This provides unprecedented uniformity at magnetic flux level.

By increasing the active material into the magnetic system, the magnetic system can be delivered more uniformly. This allows each coil of the Ortofon Anna Diamond to receive the identical flux density, regardless of its position.

As a result, dynamics and linearity of the impulses are preserved at an incredible level.

The use of this magnetic system allows the use of a light, non-magnetic iron that preserves a huge dynamic capacity.

The conductor of the coils is made of ultra-pure oxygen-free copper. It allows a perfect reproduction of cantilever movements, without compromise.

ORTOFON ANNA DIAMOND: TEST AND LISTENING

It is always difficult to test a phono cartridge of this quality and range, while remaining objective, and trying not to use too much superlative.

The simplest way was to compare it to the Ortofon MC Anna Heritage cartridge, which we have been living with for several years... Like its big sister, it is advisable to take great care when mounting and adjusting it. Even if this is not insurmountable either and does not implies NASA's help! We opted for a tracking force of 2.4g, as Ortofon’s recommendation.

The first minutes of listening are quite surprising, because we find all the Anna Heritage’s qualities, but with just about everything better!

Neutrality and transparency have been pushed to the limit. However, this does not mean less quality of the timbres or by emphasize the high middle register.

Finesse and articulation are outstanding and, on an excellent recording, it is near perfection. We often feel like we are auditioning for a master band!

There are also remarkable nuance and dynamics. The Anna Diamond totally fades in front of the music and interpretation. The realism is unrivalled.

Like the Century MC cartridge, the MC Anna Diamond reacts to the slightest groove stress with a total absence of surface noises.

If you own an excellent phono preamplifier, a tonearm that can support its 16g, it must be said, economy, this Ortofon Anna Diamond MC cartridge is certainly made for you!

Our favorite!