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Ortofon MC X50

A friend just returned from High End Vienna and has mailed myself and a friend to let us know they had a tremendous experience with an Ortofon Engineer who stated the MC X50 has shown itself to be a Cartridge that really does create sound with substantial qualities. I won't elaborate on what was actually in the mail, but will state my friends being compelled to pass on this information.

An X40 and X50 were being demo'd with the same TT>Tonearm>Headshell.

My friend and those with him were extremely impressed by the MC X50 and stated it is quite bit beyond the X40 in the finesse able to be perceived.

The X50 was causing excitement and was being whispered about as being very close to the best on offer from ortofon, not that my friends were given that comparison.

For myself, the use of a Silver Coil is a big Tick in the box, especially now Orton has vastly improved their winding methodology on these new Cartridges. Eddy influences are substantially reduced as a result. The new damper compound selected for this Cartridge is very, very interesting; I already know the benefits of improving an Ortofon Rubber compound in a Cartridge, I have to believe the X50  compound is a superior rubber to my own damper in use. New materials selected for the structure are also very, very interesting; a lot can be done with the Cartridge Voicing by changing the mass of the structure. It would be good to know if the X50 has been designed as a heavier or lighter design to other earlier produced models?. 

My friend couldn't make it clear enough that my friend and I need to arrange to hear this Cartridge.  

I could easily fall for this one, using the owned Cadenza Black as a trade-in. 

The Video in the Links made me go all gooey, like a new baby was being met.

 https://ortofon.com/products/mc-x50?srsltid=AfmBOoqvah0sifPVOzo36fE7y7zlrrC3PFt3UBTyGrcArDFQ6P20wcQO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwzZW95sT_o&t=18s

 

pindac
tobes's avatar
tobes
444 posts
 
lewm

14,714 posts

 

Pindac, Can you explain further your last comment?  I assume Ortofon buys the cantilever and MR stylus as conjoined parts, from one of the few suppliers of same.

I believe he's just saying that while MR is a common stylus shape within cartridge price tiers, it's unusual for Ortofon to utilize it. So the fact they have chosen it for this cartridge, against their traditional choices, deserves a closer look.

Who knows why Ortofon have steered away from this stylus shape, maybe its simply down to supply contracts? 

tobes's avatar
tobes
444 posts
 

FWIW, the X50 now being listed by local retailers here in Aust - MSRP is A$2699, which is A$1000 more than the X40. Though already some retailers are discounting about $200. 

I just read Michael Fremer’s review of the X40 - seems to gel with my impressions:

"Well, the X40 out of the box produced the sonic gut punch and more. I’d substituted it for the $5499 MC 90X which seemed like a good way to compare and hear what $1200 vs. $5499 gets one and it was! The X40 is no 90X in terms of image focus precision and macrodynamic subtlety, but it was also not the sonic letdown i was expecting and in fact it was surprisingly easy to "let go" of the 90X and just settle into the X40. That is how good it is, particularly in terms of timbral balance,, macrodynamics, image solidity, soundstage depth and three-dimensionality."

"This cartridge’s sonic performance is world’s beyond the old Quintet Black"

For the moment I’ll stick with the X40 which seems something of a bargain.

pindac's avatar
pindac OP
4,039 posts
 

@tobes Commonly left unsaid in discussions seen on Ortofon Cartridges, is the Damper being used. Rubber compounds for a Damper are produced within an umbrella company associated with Ortofon.

Ortofon-Microtech specialise in medical technologies where micro-mechanics is a critical application for the produced products.

My own investigations of rubber compounds produced by Ortofon-Microtech has shown evidence of a large range of rubber compounds with variances to the compounds inherent properties. I don't think inference is needed to suggest custom Rubber Compounds are produced that are used for the Ortofon Cartridges.

In more recent times, Ortofon are making it better known that their cartridges use damper materials that are developed for the design of the Cartridge. My limited investigations of a broad range of brands producing Cart's, has not discovered anything to suggest brands are producing their own rubber compounds as a damper material. AT can be suspected of this, as there is a history of their using rubber compounds for damping purposes. 

With my acquired knowledge about Ortofon's rubber compounds and the new information being supplied by Ortofon about their development and usage of rubber compounds in new developments for Cartridges. I know good Cartridge experiences are able to be had and expected to continue being had. 

Your own assessment of the X40 is not a surprise to see written, nor is that from my friend or the quoted Michael Fremer's review.   

 

 

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