This product is no longer available to order and will not be coming back into stock.
In Stock products are those that are currently held in stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse. This stock status is updated regularly but is subject to change at very short notice.
Products that are Awaiting Stock are items that we would normally carry on stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse, but are currently unavailable. Chances are there is already more on the way, but if you would like a more accurate availability status please feel free to Contact Us.
Urgent order items are products that we do not normally carry on stock, but they are typically held on stock by our European suppliers. Depending on availability, we will seek to order these products quickly, when we have an enquiry. They can therefore be subject to quicker availability times than "Special Order" products.
Special Order items are those that are most often built to order. For these items, we tend to experience longer lead times as we negotiate them into the production line with our suppliers.
Exclusive products are sold only through one, or sometimes a very small number of dealers. As part of their commitment to the product’s exclusivity, they carry most of the available stock. To find out your best dealer for this product and to check its availability with them, click the ‘Recommended Dealers’ button under the product gallery on this page.
The MC X40 features a Nude Shibata diamond, widely regarded as one of the finest stylus profiles, mounted on a high-performance Boron cantilever. This combination provides an expansive contact area with the groove walls, ensuring exquisite detail and purity across the entire frequency range. The Boron cantilever further elevates performance, offering remarkable clarity and precision, even with the most challenging high-frequency information.
The MC X40 delivers exceptional clarity and purity across the full spectrum, offering a precise and open soundstage with excellent dynamic range. Unconstrained by genre, this cartridge brings Ortofon’s signature accuracy to life, making it one of the most transparent and detailed offerings in its class.
The MC X series brings together a collection of refined moving coil cartridges, each designed to deliver outstanding performance with its own distinct character. Crafted with premium materials and engineered to exacting standards, the MC X range showcases Ortofon’s commitment to musicality, precision, and versatility. To learn more about the shared features and innovations across the MC X series, Click Here.
Henley Says...
I’ve been really impressed with the new MC X Series. It takes everything we liked about the Quintet range and just feels like a step forward in every way - more refined, more confident, and still unmistakably Ortofon.
It’s the perfect place to start if you’re thinking about moving coil for the first time. The sound is clear, balanced, and full of life, whether you’re spinning something mellow or more upbeat. There’s real musicality here - nothing sterile or over-analysed, just a cartridge that makes your records sound how they’re meant to.
What I really like is how each model has its own personality, so you can choose one that fits your taste and setup. And even though it’s entry-level, it doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on the good stuff. It’s proper hi-fi without the price tag shock.
Cartridge installation takes time and requires a level of understanding for the turntable/tonearm you are fiiting to. We've put together some comprehensive advice and size guides, available here, which will help you through each step of the procedure.
However, if at any time you feel uncomfortable with the task at hand, be sure to contact us or your local retailer for assistance.
Moving Coil (MC) cartridges generate an electrical signal by moving a tightly wound coil between two magnets. The movement is created by the cantilever, which houses the diamond stylus at its end and rides within the modulations of a record groove.
As opposed to Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges, MC designs are more difficult to produce - but often result in a more nuanced sound. For that reason, they are also often more expensive and boast better components than MM designs.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the powerful magnet inside, Moving Coil cartridges cannot be installed on turntables with magnetic (i.e. steel) platters.
For more on cartridge technology, read our informative article.
The Ortofon Moving Coil Cartridge Exchange Scheme is designed to help existing Ortofon customers update or renew their Moving Coil cartridge in a much more cost-effective way.
Through the scheme, Ortofon offer a trade-in value for the current range of moving coil cartridges, as well as an extensive list of discontinued models. Through this program, we are able to help customers upgrade, replace or slightly downgrade their current phono cartridge in a more economical way than usual.
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