Cellule Ortofon MC Diamond

Driven by passion and engineering, innovation and craftsmanship, Ortofon is offering a third version of its flagship, the MC Diamond. It replaces the two previous versions, the MC Heritage and the MC Diamond.

This new Ortofon MC Diamond low-level cartridge is an evolution of the famous Ortofon MC Diamond. It has most of the same technical features as the MC Diamond, but with a few notable improvements.

Ortofon MC Diamond: Body

The case and body are made of titanium (SLM Titanium), using the selective laser fusion technique.

The MC Diamond's generator is designed around a high-performance iron-cobalt alloy.

The highly complex damping system has completely eliminated unwanted resonances in the cartridge and moving coil.

Ortofon MC Diamond

But to make it as high-performance as possible, Ortofon has equipped this cartridge with its famous Replicant 100 diamond mounted on a diamond cantilever!

The Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond is the thinnest and lightest available today. What's more, thanks to its complex profile, it offers an extraordinarily large contact surface and unrivalled tracking. The Replicant 100 diamond features a long, narrow contact surface that is as close as possible to the original stylus. This guarantees the most accurate reproduction, the lowest distortion and a wide frequency range.

Combined with the diamond cantilever of the Ortofon Century MC cartridge, the result is unequalled performance! The use of this cantilever has brought previously impossible mechanical improvements.

The specific profile of the stylus, combined with the use of diamond, offers the best possible interface between the moving element and the cartridge frame, due to its hardness and totally crystalline structure.

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

Ortofon MC Diamond: magnetic system

The geometry of the magnetic system has been optimised as far as possible. It is combined with top-of-the-range materials such as neodymium and iron-cobalt. The result is unprecedented uniformity of magnetic flux.

The increase in active material inside the magnetic system means that the magnetic field is delivered more uniformly. This means that each coil in the Ortofon MC Diamond receives the same flux density, whatever its position.

As a result, the dynamics and linearity of the pulses are preserved at an unprecedented level.

The use of this magnetic system allows the use of a light, non-magnetic armature iron, offering the advantage of preserving an enormous dynamic capacity.

The coil conductor is made of ultra-pure oxygen-free copper. This ensures perfect reproduction of cantilever movements without compromise.

Ortofon MC Diamond: testing and listening

It's always difficult to test a phono cartridge of this quality and range objectively, and try not to use too many superlatives.

The easiest way was to compare it to the Ortofon MC Heritage cartridge we've been living with for several years... Like its predecessor, it's advisable to take great care with assembly and adjustment. Even if it's not insurmountable and doesn't require the help of NASA! We opted for a pressure force of 2.6 g, as recommended by Ortofon.

The first few minutes of listening were quite surprising, as we found all the qualities of the Diamond, but with just about everything better!

Neutrality and transparency have been pushed to the limit. However, this does not mean at the expense of timber quality or by emphasising the high midrange register.

The finesse and articulation are spectacular and, on an excellent recording, verge on perfection. We often have the impression of hearing a master tape!

Added to this are remarkable dynamics and nuance. The Diamond takes a back seat to the music and its interpretation. The realism is striking.

Like the MC Century, the MC Diamond reacts to the slightest pressure on the groove with a total absence of surface noise. The MC Diamond offers cutting-edge technology, unrivalled performance and precision. The MC Diamond offers the best low-spectrum reproduction we've heard to date.

If you have an excellent phono preamplifier, an arm that can support its 17.5g and, it has to be said, a bit of thrift, this Ortofon MC Diamond cartridge is certainly made for you and the best choice you can make!

Our favourite! The reference!