Ortofon Cadenza Red MC-Cartridge

• 1 x Stylus brush, fibre
• 1 x Screwdriver
• Leadwires, pair LW-6N
• Screws, pair M2,5 x 3
• Screws, pair M2,5 x 5
• Screws, pair M2,5 x 6

MC Cadenza Red Technical Data

• 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 material - Stainless steel Aluminium
• Cartridge colour - Red/Black
• Cartridge weight - 10,7 g

Reviews

Positive Feedback August 2016

Reviewed by John Hoffman

"... in the case of the Ortofon Cadenza Red, I can tell you without a doubt that you are getting what you pay for, of that I am 100% certain. 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..."

Audiophilia May 2016

Reviewed by Anthony Kershaw

"... I was quite surprised at the detail and sophistication of the first in line Ortofon Cadenza (Red) moving coil. ...it does extract a ton of detail and shades the detail with expression and accurate dynamics.

...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..."

The Cadenza series

At Ortofon, we constantly look for new technology to be used in our products and push the performance of existing technology. Thus we assure the highest level of performance and quality. The Kontrapunkt models and MC Jubilee became market standards and are among our most popular cartridges. Nevertheless, Ortofon decided to develop a new cartridge series that is even more ambitious.

By carefully implementing cobalt-iron pole pieces, new improved winding process on the armature, using extruded aluminium housing in the models as well as other changes, we have been able to reveal new possibilities in performing the analogue information. It was also decided to make a more complete range of cartridges, which meant an introduction of a moving coil Cadenza Mono model to support our customers, who have an extended interest in micro groove mono records.

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

The story about Cadenza

Cadenza (from Italian: meaning cadence) refers to a portion of a concert in which the orchestra stops playing, leaving the soloist to play alone in free time, without a strict, regular pulse. A cadenza can be written or improvised. It’s usually the most elaborate and virtuosic part the solo instrument plays during the whole piece. At the end of the cadenza, the orchestra re-enters and generally finishes off the movement.

During the 19th century, composers began to write cadenzas out in full. Others wrote cadenzas for works, where the composer had intended for the solo to be improvised, in order for the soloist to have a well-formed solo that they could practice in advance. Some of these have become so widely played and sung that they are effectively a part of the standard repertoire.