Ortofon X5-MC High Output Moving Coil Cartridge

Now all that has changed.
With the introduction of the first X Series cartridges, the X1 and X3, Ortofon demonstrated to the world that it is possible to produce MC cartridges with sufficiently high output to eliminate the need for additional step-up devices-without compromising the construction principles and unique sound quality of moving coil designs.

What this means to you is that pure Ortofon Moving Coil Sound is now available for the first time at "real world" prices. And now we have taken things one step further. By building on our experience with the X1 and X3, as well as our unparalleled background in MC design, Ortofon has made the supreme statement in high output MC technology, the Ortofon X5 moving coil cartridge. The X Series cartridges are extremely compact, ultra-light samples of the audio engineering art. The powerful Samarium Cobalt magnet weighs a mere 0.45 gram, a fraction of the normal two grams found in the average cartridge. While the pole pieces in most MC designs usually consist of as many as three of even four separate metal parts, the Ortofon X Series employs a single iron yoke encircling the magnet and weighing a negligible 0.35 grams. This construction detail not only contributes to the compact design of the X Series; it also provides improved mechanical integrity and an exceptionally powerful and uniform magnetic field. In addition , absolute phase is ensured by correct polarization of the magnet.

High-Output Moving Coil Cartridges
Four decades ago Ortofon introduced the world's first moving coil playback cartridge. Since then, the MC principle has been universally acknowledged as the ultimate sonic performance. Unfortunately, the high price of moving coil technology and the necessity of an outboard step-up device to boost the low output voltage made MC cartridges a luxury available only to the select few.

The Ortofon X5 is fitted with the new, nude Fritz Gyger II diamond, with a shape and contact surface very close to the theoretical ideal, the profile of the record cutting stylus, The high end of the Ortofon X5 goes up to 45 kHz.

The Moving System
The advanced construction of the moving system and the employment of only the finest select components are two more significant factors in the audible superiority of the Ortofon X1, X3 and X5 over other High Output MC designs.

The X Series moving system consists of diamond stylus, cantilever and armature with coils mounted to the damping system and suspension wire.

The cross-shaped miniature armature for the coil windings offers dramatic improvements in channel separation. The armature is also extremely rigid with a shape which allows more windings than in conventional low output MC designs.

The equivalent stylus tip mass of the X Series is kept at an absolute minimum to allow the cartridge to respond accurately and rapidly to variations in the music signal. This is achieved through the use of ultra-fine copper. Ortofon has been able to reduce the number of windings to less than half that of competitive High Output MC designs because of the high magnetic induction in the air gap. As a result of these efforts the X Series armature weighs a minuscule 0.0012 grams, with possibly the lowest equivalent stylus tip mass ever in a High output MC cartridge.

The cantilever is tooled from lightweight, rigid aluminum and the damping system in all three X Series models consists of a layer of asymmetric butyl rubber to ensure the shortest possible distance to the magnet and good damping characteristics over the entire frequency range.

The suspension wire is manufactured from piano wire-an Ortofon speciality-in an exclusive galvanic process mastered only by Ortofon.


Ortofon Moving Coil Cartridges PDF

Ortofon X5-MC Technical Specifications


Ortofon X Series Literature PDF


Ortofon X Series Reviews PDF


I have had the X5-MC for about 5 months and I am very happy with it. I've played 535 LP sides on it. It sounds as good, although different, as the Grado Sonata it replaced in my system. I rate a little bit ahead of the Sonata because it is such a good value. The Ortofon is very well balanced top to bottom, has very good detail and transparency, good stereo imaging, and is a good tracker. The X5 sounds lean by comparison to the Sonata, which I believe has a mid-bass emphasis. It is not at all edgy or spitty in my system.

The slightly lean sound is a great match in my system. I never believed in PRAT, but I do now. I think the bass emphasis of the Sonata was holding my system back in that department.

There are some minor down sides.

The X5-MC has a slightly lean sound. I noticed this right away after my stint with the Sonata. Sorry, I don't have a test sweeep record and an SPL meter. The bass is good enough to satisfy me, especially with the adjustable subwoofer in place. When I was using the Fried/A6 speakers, which are bass masters, the sound was also very satisfying. Still, I think if your system is already lean, and you wanted help in the bass, the X5 is not the cartridge for you.

The tracking VTF is slightly high at 2 grams.

The output is not very high at 2 mv. This is a minor incovenience for me. Since it does not match my tuner or CD, when I switch to and fro between tuner and phono, I have to adjust the volume (like I said, very minor).

Finally, it is a very light cartridge at 4.1 grams. It runs beautifully in an unmodified Rega P3 2000 (with a spacer), but might not balance with a Heavyweight. I suppose you can always add some blu tack or some other weight to the headshell for a little extra weight.


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