Ortofon MC X50

The MC X50 is a moving-coil (MC) cartridge from Ortofon, positioned at the top of the MC X range. It is designed to be fitted to a tonearm to convert the modulations engraved in the groove of a vinyl record into an electrical signal, with the aim of faithfully reproducing the finest details of the recording.

Its Nude Micro Ridge diamond stylus ensures precise contact with the groove, particularly useful for reproducing high frequencies and passages cut in the inner section of the record, which are often more demanding to track. This diamond is paired with a boron cantilever, a material valued for its rigidity combined with low moving mass: this lightness allows the cartridge to respond quickly to signal variations without accumulating unwanted inertia. The rubber suspension, designed and manufactured in-house by Ortofon using a compound specific to this model, completes the assembly by maintaining stable contact with the groove.

Electrically, the MC X50 delivers an output voltage of 0.4 mV via four coils mounted on split-pole pieces, wound with high-purity silver-plated copper. Its internal impedance of 6 Ω and recommended load resistance of above 50 Ω guide the choice of phono preamplifier or associated MC stage. The stated frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz at +/- 1 dB, channel separation of 28 dB at 1 kHz and channel balance of 0.5 dB reflect a pursuit of consistency and precision in stereo reproduction.

This cartridge is aimed at audiophiles who already own a good-quality turntable and tonearm, as well as an MC-compatible phono preamplifier with low load resistance. It will suit those looking to get the best from a well-maintained record collection, in a system where every link in the chain has been carefully chosen.