Ortofon
Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Cartridge | The Grid HiFi
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Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Cartridge | The Grid HiFi
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Overview
Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
Nude Shibata stylus. Boron cantilever. Wide Range Damping system.
The Ortofon MC Cadenza Black is the flagship stereo cartridge in the five-model Cadenza Series, engineered for exceptional resolution, tonal neutrality, and precise soundstage reproduction.
Its Nude Shibata diamond stylus features a 6/50 µm profile mounted on a thin boron cantilever. The combination provides a lightweight, rigid stylus assembly designed to trace intricate groove information with accuracy.
The Cadenza Black also incorporates Ortofon's Wide Range Damping (WRD) system, which controls high- and low-frequency damping separately. Aucurum coil wire—gold-plated 6NX copper—and a rigid aluminum and stainless-steel body complete this high-performance moving coil design.
OUTPUT
0.33 mV
TRACKING FORCE
2.3 g
TRACKING ABILITY
90 µm
Key Features
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Nude Shibata stylus: 6/50 µm diamond profile for precise groove tracing.
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Boron cantilever: Lightweight, rigid construction with low effective moving mass.
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Wide Range Damping (WRD): Separately controls high- and low-frequency damping.
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Aucurum coil wire: Gold-plated, 6NX high-purity copper.
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90 µm tracking ability: Measured at 315 Hz.
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Excellent channel separation: Greater than 27 dB at 1 kHz.
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Low internal impedance: 5 ohms, with a recommended load greater than 10 ohms.
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Rigid construction: Aluminum and stainless-steel cartridge body.
Complete Technical Specifications
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Specification |
Ortofon MC Cadenza Black |
|---|---|
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Cartridge type |
Moving coil (MC), stereo |
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Mounting type |
Standard ½-inch |
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Stylus type |
Nude Shibata |
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Stylus tip radius |
r/R 6/50 µm |
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Cantilever material |
Boron |
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Damping system |
Wide Range Damping (WRD) |
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Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec |
330 µV / 0.33 mV |
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Channel balance at 1 kHz |
Less than 0.8 dB |
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Channel separation at 1 kHz |
Greater than 27 dB |
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Channel separation at 15 kHz |
Greater than 20 dB |
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Frequency range at −3 dB |
20 Hz–60 kHz |
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Frequency response, 20 Hz–20 kHz |
+1.5 / 0 dB |
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Tracking ability at 315 Hz |
90 µm |
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Dynamic lateral compliance |
16 µm/mN |
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Tracking force range |
2.0–2.5 g (20–25 mN) |
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Recommended tracking force |
2.3 g (23 mN) |
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Tracking angle |
20° |
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Internal impedance / DC resistance |
5 Ω |
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Recommended load impedance |
Greater than 10 Ω |
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Coil wire material |
Aucurum: gold-plated 6NX copper |
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Cartridge body material |
Aluminum and stainless steel |
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Cartridge color |
Black / Black |
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Cartridge weight |
10.7 g |
What Makes the Cadenza Black Different?
The Cadenza Black introduces three defining changes over the Bronze: a Nude Shibata stylus, boron cantilever, and Wide Range Damping system.
While both cartridges use Aucurum coil wire, the Black features a different stylus assembly and damping architecture. It also has a higher published tracking-ability figure and greater channel separation.
|
Specification |
Cadenza Bronze |
Cadenza Black |
|---|---|---|
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Stylus |
Nude Replicant 100 |
Nude Shibata |
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Stylus profile |
5/100 µm |
6/50 µm |
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Cantilever |
Conical aluminum |
Boron |
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Coil wire |
Aucurum |
Aucurum |
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Additional technology |
Field Stabilizing Element |
Wide Range Damping |
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Output voltage |
0.4 mV |
0.33 mV |
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Channel separation at 1 kHz |
Greater than 24 dB |
Greater than 27 dB |
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Tracking ability |
80 µm |
90 µm |
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Dynamic compliance |
12 µm/mN |
16 µm/mN |
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Recommended tracking force |
2.5 g |
2.3 g |
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Recommended load |
50–200 Ω |
Greater than 10 Ω |
Compatibility & Installation
The MC Cadenza Black uses standard ½-inch mounting and requires a compatible tonearm. Its low 0.33 mV output calls for a suitable moving coil phono stage or an appropriately matched step-up transformer and phono preamplifier.
Ortofon specifies a recommended tracking force of 2.3 grams and a load impedance greater than 10 ohms. Proper alignment, azimuth, anti-skating, and vertical tracking angle adjustments are important for achieving the cartridge's intended performance.
Discover Ortofon at The Grid HiFi. Our Houston team can assist with cartridge selection, turntable compatibility, and moving coil phono stage matching.
FAQs
Please read our FAQs page to find out more.
Do you price match?
Yes. We match any authorised dealer, including big-box retailers. If you find the same product at a lower price, contact us and we'll match it.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes — free shipping on every order, with 2-day delivery available on most products. Easy returns and exchanges are included.
Where is your showroom?
We're at 6362 Alder Drive, Houston, Texas. The showroom lets you hear and compare reference-level systems in person before making any decisions. If you're considering a larger purchase or installation, it's well worth the visit.
Can I buy online without visiting the showroom?
Yes. The full product range is available through the online store with free nationwide shipping. For more complex system builds, speaking with one of our advisers first tends to lead to a better result.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Special financing is available through the BrandSource Credit Card for qualifying purchases, allowing you to spread payments over time with no annual fee. Promotional rebate savings are also available periodically. See the financing page for full details.
Do you install systems as well as sell equipment?
Yes — installation is central to what we do. We design and install whole-home audio and video, home theaters, media rooms, outdoor audio, lighting and motorised shades, and full smart home automation.
Do you provide support after installation?
Yes. We provide ongoing service and support to ensure systems continue performing as intended — not just on installation day, but over the long term.