SPU #1 E (Elliptical) and SPU #1 S (Spherical)

Perfect all-rounders for the newcomers to the world of SPU

The SPU #1 S and SPU #1 E feature:  
-    Respectively Spherical and Elliptical stylus. The SPU #1 E elliptical stylus profile provides more detailed sound reproduction and expansive imaging.
-    High Purity Copper armature windings and terminal leads
-    Grinded wood and resin composite housing

These SPU cartridges embodies the essence of the original Moving Coils and are a perfect solution for the playback of both early and modern and contemporary stereo recordings.  Excellent price-to-performance ratio.

GOLDENES OHR AWARD 2018

The readers of the German HiFi magazine STEREOPLAY voted for the best Hifi products of the year. With votes coming in from across Germany, the SPU #1S won in the category phono cartridges. Almost 150 industry members attended the Award ceremony in Munich.

Perfect solution for stereo recordings

The SPU #1 models, with their universal connector, ensure the ability to mount the units in a wider range of tonearms with universal (SME) mount, e.g. Ortofon TA-110 and TA-210 tonearms. The combination of SPU #1, ST-7 Moving Coil transformer and TA-110/TA-210 tonearms gives a supreme experience.

With their linearity and full bodies, the SPU #1 models are a perfect solution for the playback of stereo recordings.

Sonically, the SPU #1 models are genuine SPUs, known for their full-bodied and powerful music image, minimum of intermodulation distortion and an impressive channel separation.

Review quote SPU #1

Stereophile September 2016
By Michael Fremer

"...To this day, Ortofon SPU cartridges enjoy cult followings in Japan and elsewhere. ...There are many variants of the basic, iconic SPU design, but most are highmass, low-output, heavy trackers known for their old-school warmth and musicality...

...when I played my first record with the SPU #1... I immediately, and much to my surprise got what the SPU cult is all about. Most of what seemed to be missing were playback artifacts that ride along with the detail, along with the "visual" elements that help produce spatial context, including reverberant trails, initial transients, decay elements, etc. What was left were vivid, generously sezed, richly drawn aural images laden with textures and harmonic vitality. Whether you hear this as thick and slow or as a rich and full is a matter of sonic perspective...

...I've got plenty of mono and vintage stereo LPs. I spent a few days playing them through these SPUs (SPU #1 S or SPU #1 E - red.), and they all just sounded right and "of a time"...

...If you're considering buying one of these (SPU #1 S or SPU #1 E - red.) - and assuming you have a compatible tonearm, in terms of both the SME collet and a medium to high effective mass - I suggest using a tubed phono preamplifier and a loading of less than 100 ohms. Unloaded, the new Ortofon SPUs could sound bright on top; that, in combination with their rich, full bottoms, produced an unpleasant discontinuity of sound.

I'm still not thrilled to track stereo LPs at 4 g - but the sound was so rich, warm, flowing, and relaxing, the images so round and so generously sized, that I conquered my fears of worn record grooves and spent many pleasant evenings drinking wine and visiting the 1950s and '60s. If only I knew then what I know now!"

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec.

0.18 mV

Channel balance at 1 kHz 

1.5 dB

Channel separation at 1 kHz 

20 dB

Channel separation at 15 kHz 

10 dB

Frequency response

20-20.000 Hz ± 3 dB

Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force *) 

60 µm

Compliance, dynamic, lateral

10 µm/mN

Stylus type

Spherical / Elliptical

Stylus tip radius

R 18 µm  / r/R 8/18 μm

Tracking force range

3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)

Tracking force, recommended

4.0 g (40 mN)

Tracking angle

20°