Cadenza Black
£1825.00
- High-end moving coil pick-up cartridge
- Pristine-cut nude Shibata stylus on a Boron cantilever
- Reference-quality sound performance
How To Buy
As UK distributors for the brands we represent, our main focus is to give you all the information you need to help assist with your purchase. Once you have the information you need, we want to make the purchase process as simple as possible. So we give you up-to three options on how to buy our products.
Find Your Local Retailer
Our preferred option is for you to visit a nearby store and buy what you need locally. Our authorised stockists are some of the finest specialist hi-fi retailers in the country, and they're equipped to give you the best after-sales and set-up advice possible - all in person. To find your local retailer, either click the 'Buy In-Store' button on your product page for exactly the right recommendation, or head to our comprehensive Where To Buy tool.
Buy Now, Collect Locally
If you want the added convenience of only having to pop-in to store when you know the product you want has arrived, you can use our Click & Collect-style checkout process. With Buy Now, Collect Locally, your purchase takes place online and the product is then delivered direct to your local supporting retailer; ready for you to collect when you're ready. Click here to find out more about Buy Now, Collect Locally.
Buy Now
For smaller items, you can also have the ultimate convenience of purchasing directly through our website. The checkout process is entirely secure, so you can trust your information will be safe - and your desired product will arrive with you as quickly as possible.
Cadenza Series
The Cadenza Series of high-end Moving Coil (MC) cartridges was born out of the success of Ortofon's Kontrapunkt and MC Jubilee models. Though these models are amongst the most popular Ortofon has ever produced, the Danish cartridge masters still decided to develop a new range that was even more ambitious.
The name Cadenza comes from the Italian word for cadence, and refers to the section in a concert where the orchestra stops playing, leaving the soloist to play alone in free time without a strict, regular pulse. A Cadenza can be written or improvised, but it's usually the most elaborate and virtuosic part the solo instrument plays during the whole piece. It therefore seemed fitting that such a capable and nuanced cartridge series should use the same name.
By carefully implementing cobalt-iron pole pieces, using new improved winding processes on the armature, and employing an extruded aluminium housing - amongst other changes - the Cadenza Series is able to out-perform all those that came before it. Like other modern ranges, the Cadenza Series is structured in Ortofon's preferred colour-tier nomenclature; so there are Red, Blue, Bronze, Black and Mono (White) variants available to suit varying budgets and tastes.
As with all modern Ortofon ranges, the top cartridge in the Cadenza Series is the Black model. The Cadenza Black is a flagship-status cartridge that boasts a a pristine-cut Nude Shibata stylus with a boron cantilever. The effective mass of the stylus/cantilever system is extremely low due to the use of a very thin boron rod; this material is extremely stiff and even more lightweight than aluminium, making it a real premium component choice. The coil wire is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated version of the popular 6NX copper wire.
The Black model also uses Ortofon's Wide Range Damping (WRD) system, effectively controlling the high- and low-frequency damping separately. WRD was originally developed in 1979 for the MC 20 MK II, but since that time it has been more commonly reserved only for Ortofon's super-high-end cartridges, such as the MC Windfeld. It works by clamping a small, heavy disc of exotic metal between two rubber absorbers with different properties. The result is superlative tracking ability (90µm with the Cadenza Black) with perfect damping across the whole frequency range and no distortion or resonance. Thanks to WRD, the Cadenza Black spans a very wide frequency range compared to other models in the Cadenza Series.
The Cadenza Black has been optimized for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound. It performs better than any other cartridge at this level in detail, consistency and sound staging.
Key Features:
- Optimized for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound
- The best of everything, true to the groove with resolution and accurate insight into each recording
- Internal coils from the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated 6NX copper wire
- Stainless steel aluminium cartridge body
- Nude Shibata stylus profile with boron cantilever
Technical Data
| Output Voltage (at 1kHz, 5cm/sec): | 330μV |
| Channel Balance at 1kHz: | < 0.8dB |
| Channel Separation at 1kHz: | > 27dB |
| Channel Separation at 15kHz: | > 20dB |
| Frequency Range (at -3dB): | 20Hz - 60kHz |
| Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz: | +1.5 / 0 |
| Tracking Ability at 315Hz: | Typically 90μm |
| Compliance, Dynamic, Lateral: | 16μm / mN |
| Stylus Type: | Nude Shibata |
| Cantilever: | Boron |
| Stylus Tip Radius r / R: | 6 / 50μm |
| Tracking Force Range: | 2.0 - 2.5g (20 - 25mN) |
| Recommended Tracking Force: | 2.3g (23mN) |
| Tracking Angle: | 20º |
| Internal Impedance / DC Resistance: | 5Ω |
| Recommended Load Impedance: | > 10Ω |
| Cartridge Body Material: | Stainless Steel Aluminium |
| Cartridge Colour: | Black / Black |
| Cartridge Weight: | 10.7g |
FAQ
What is a Moving Coil cartridge?
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.
For more on cartridge technology, read our informative article.
How do I install my cartridge?
Cartridge installation takes time and requires a level of understanding for the turntable/tonearm you are fiiting to. We've created a comprehensive guide, 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.
What if I break my Moving Coil cartridge?
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.
For more help and advice visit our Tech Support section
Note: We’re constantly updating our website to ensure all our listings are as accurate as possible.
However, the images and text on this page can be subject to change without notice, and errors and omissions are excepted.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Product Reviews
Many of our products are firm favourites with the global hi-fi press, and this one is no exception. Check out the coveted awards and/or reviews this great product has received. To find out more click the icons below.
