Cadenza Black is optimized for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound.

The Cadenza Black model is using a Nude Shibata stylus with a boron cantilever. The effective mass of the stylus/cantilever system is extremely low due to the use of a very thin boron rod. This material is extremely stiff and even more lightweight than aluminium.
It also uses the WRD/Wide Range Damping-system applied for MC Windfeld, MC A90, MC Anna, Xpression and MC A95 cartridges, controlling the high and low frequency damping separately.
The coil wire is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated 6NX copper wire.

Cadenza Black is high performing on areas like detail, consistency and sound staging.

MC Cadenza Series' accessories included the package

• 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

Review quotes & Awards

Stereonet Product of The Year Award, 2022

Stereonet Applaus Award, April 2022
Reviewed by David Price

"Ortofon’s Cadenza Black is a great real-world moving coil, being super-accomplished in absolute terms without being crazily priced. It has a calm, measured but highly detailed and intimate presentation that many will love. As such, it’s well worth taking it for a spin."

Hi-Fi World April 2010
Reviewed by Noel Keywood

"...the Black uses many moving parts of the A90...sound is weighty and satisfyingly rhythmic...The Black offered a beautifully smooth, svelte and expansive sound stage. It has generous stage depth and always sounds relaxed and in control of proceedings...

...If you are looking for an ultimately smooth and sophisticated sonic delivery from LP, Ortofon's new Cadenza Black is as good as it gets at what is a 'reasonable' price...the Black is a lovely cartridge..." 

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 develope 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 Mono picture is kindly provided by Martin J. Kunz
  
  
• 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
  
  

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. 

0.33 mV

Channel balance at 1 kHz 

< 0.8 dB

Channel separation at 1 kHz 

> 27 dB

Channel separation at 15 kHz 

> 20 dB

Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz 

+1.5/0

Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force 

90 µm

Compliance, dynamic, lateral 

16 µm/mN

Stylus type 

Nude Shibata on Boron cantilever

Stylus tip radius 

r/R 6/50 µm

Tracking force range 

2.0-2.5 g (20-25 mN)

Tracking force, recommended 

2.3 g (23 mN)

User Reviews