Ortofon MC90X
Moving coil (MC) cartridge by Ortofon, fitted with a Replicant 100 Nude diamond and a boron cantilever, designed for high-end turntables.
Description
The MC90X is a low-output moving coil (MC) cartridge from Ortofon, designed to fit a headshell with half-inch mounting on a suitable tonearm. It converts the vinyl record groove into an electrical signal intended for an MC phono input, upstream of a phono preamplifier or a dedicated MC stage.
It is built around an Ortofon Replicant 100 Nude diamond, mounted on a boron cantilever, with a tip radius of 5/100 µm and a recommended compliance of 11 µm/mN: this fine tip geometry allows finer tracking of the modulations cut into the groove. The coil system is of the quadruple type, using Aucurum wire, gold-plated 6NX OFC copper, chosen for signal transmission quality at very low levels. Output voltage is 0.25 mV at a resistance of 10 ohms, values typical of a low-output MC cartridge requiring a suitable gain stage. Frequency response is stated as 20 Hz to 20 kHz at ±1 dB, with a channel balance at 1 kHz of less than 0.2 dB and channel separation greater than 28 dB at the same frequency, two indicators of stereo reproduction accuracy.
The recommended tracking force is 2.3 g, within an acceptable range of 2.0 to 2.5 g. This cartridge is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts with a well-built turntable and tonearm, as well as an MC phono stage or a step-up transformer capable of handling an output voltage as low as 0.25 mV.
Technical specifications
| Type | Low-output moving coil cartridge (MC) |
| Weight | 9.5 g |
| Diamond | Ortofon Replicant 100 Nude |
| Cantilever | Boron |
| Stylus suspension | Ortofon exclusive |
| Tip radius | r/R 5/100 µm |
| Tip compliance | 11 µm/mN recommended |
| Coil system | Quadruple coils |
| Coil wire material | Aucurum (gold-plated 6NX OFC copper) |
| Output voltage | 0.25 mV |
| Resistance | 10 ohms |
| Amplifier connection | MC phono |
| Channel balance at 1 kHz | < 0.2 dB |
| Channel separation at 1 kHz | > 28 dB |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz ±1 dB |
| Tonearm mounting | Headshell with half-inch mounting |
| Tracking force range | 2.0 - 2.5 g (20 - 25 mN) |
| Recommended tracking force | 2.3 g (23 mN) |
What to check before buying used
The Replicant 100 Nude diamond stylus and boron cantilever are vulnerable to impact during handling or when changing headshell: examination under magnification can reveal a worn tip or a misaligned cantilever. The internal suspension, unique to each unit, may have softened with age and altered the optimal tracking force, hence the value of checking compliance with the recommended 2.0-2.5 g. Checking coil resistance and channel balance during playback remains the best indicator of the cartridge's actual condition.
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