Ortofon
Ortofon MC X30 Moving Coil Cartridge | The Grid HiFi
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Ortofon MC X30 Moving Coil Cartridge | The Grid HiFi
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FAQ’s
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Overview
Ortofon MC X30 Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
Nude Fine Line stylus. High-purity silver coils. Precision-engineered moving coil performance.
The Ortofon MC X30 brings a significant stylus upgrade to the MC X Series, replacing the MC X20's Nude Elliptical diamond with a Nude Fine Line stylus. Its narrower profile is engineered to trace fine groove information with greater precision, revealing subtle musical details across your vinyl collection.
The MC X30 combines an aluminum cantilever, high-purity silver quad-coil system, optimized magnetic circuit, and rigid stainless-steel frame. Ortofon's proprietary rubber suspension controls unwanted movement for accurate tracking and low distortion.
OUTPUT
0.4 mV
TRACKING FORCE
2.0 g
CHANNEL SEPARATION
26 dB
Key Features
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Nude Fine Line diamond stylus with an 8/40 µm profile.
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Aluminum cantilever for precise groove tracking.
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Quad-coil system wound with high-purity silver wire.
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Redesigned magnet system with an integrated pole cylinder and rear magnet yoke.
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Proprietary rubber suspension for controlled coil movement.
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Honeycomb-structured stainless-steel frame manufactured using Metal Injection Molding (MIM).
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Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) surface treatment.
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Standard ½-inch mounting for compatible turntables.
Complete Technical Specifications
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Specification |
Ortofon MC X30 |
|---|---|
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Cartridge type |
Moving coil (MC) |
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Mounting type |
Standard ½-inch |
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Stylus type |
Nude Fine Line |
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Stylus tip radius |
r/R 8/40 µm |
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Cantilever material |
Aluminum |
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Stylus suspension |
Ortofon proprietary suspension |
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Coil system |
Quad coils |
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Coil wire material |
High-purity silver |
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Magnet system |
One-piece pole cylinder integrated with rear magnet yoke |
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Cartridge frame |
Honeycomb-structured stainless steel |
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Frame manufacturing |
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) |
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Surface treatment |
Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) |
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Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec |
0.4 mV |
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Channel balance at 1 kHz |
0.5 dB |
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Channel separation at 1 kHz |
26 dB |
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Frequency response, 20 Hz–20 kHz |
±1 dB |
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Dynamic lateral compliance |
15 µm/mN |
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Recommended tracking force |
2.0 g |
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Internal impedance / DC resistance |
6 Ω |
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Recommended load resistance |
Greater than 50 Ω |
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Cartridge weight |
8.6 g |
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Cartridge color |
Black |
The MC X30 Difference
More precise groove contact
The MC X30's Nude Fine Line stylus features an 8/40 µm profile, compared with the 8/18 µm Nude Elliptical stylus of the MC X20. The longer contact profile is designed to retrieve fine groove information with greater accuracy.
The X30 retains the MC X Series' silver coils, redesigned magnetic circuit, and stainless-steel frame while introducing this more sophisticated stylus geometry.
MC X Series Comparison
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Model |
Stylus |
Cantilever |
Output |
|---|---|---|---|
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MC X10 |
Elliptical |
Aluminum |
0.4 mV |
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MC X20 |
Nude Elliptical |
Aluminum |
0.4 mV |
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MC X30 |
Nude Fine Line |
Aluminum |
0.4 mV |
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MC X40 |
Nude Shibata |
Boron |
0.4 mV |
Model configurations from Ortofon's MC X Series documentation.
Compatibility & Installation
The MC X30 features standard ½-inch mounting and requires a compatible tonearm. Its 0.4 mV output requires a suitable moving coil phono stage or an appropriately matched step-up transformer and phono preamplifier.
Ortofon recommends a load resistance greater than 50 ohms.
Discover Ortofon at The Grid HiFi. Our Houston team can help with cartridge selection, turntable setup, 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.