Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Cadenza Red Moving Coil Cartridge

The sound picture of Cadenza Red is relaxed, homogeneous and moderately dynamic and have great space and depth in the stereo image.

The Cadenza Red model is using a Nude Fine Line stylus with a cylindrical aluminium cantilever. The stylus tip radius is r/R 8/40 µm.

The coils are made from 6NX (99.9999 %) pure silver wire.

An improved winding process on the armature allows a better channel balance.

GOLDENES OHR AWARD 2018

The readers of the German HiFi magazine  AUDIO voted for the best Hifi products of the year. With votes coming in from across Germany, the MC Cadenza Red won in the category phono cartridges. Almost 150 industry members attended the Award ceremony in Munich.

Review quote MC Cadenza Red

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..."

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 quote MC Cadenza Red

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..."

German HiFi magazine STEREOPLAY's GOLDENES OHR Award 2017

The readers of the STEREOPLAY voted for the best Hifi products of the year. With votes coming in from across Germany, MC Cadenza Red won in the category phono cartridges. 

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 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 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 μm

Tracking force range

2.2-2.7 g (22-27 mN)

Tracking force recommended

2.5 g (25 mN)

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