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Ortofon MC X – Four New Cartridges for Vinyl

22.05.2025 19:16 | ~2 minutes read

Ortofon has introduced a new series of MC cartridges – Ortofon MC X10, MC X20, MC X30 and MC X40. The new models are equipped with coils wound with pure silver wire, and they differ in cantilever materials and diamond stylus profiles.

The main development of the Ortofon MC X series is a frame made of stainless steel with a honeycomb structure, manufactured using a technology called Metal Injection Moulding (MIM). This solution guarantees excellent mechanical stability and serves as an ideal basis for accurate reproduction. After the casting and sintering processes, the surface is coated using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method.

All Ortofon MC X cartridges are equipped with four coils wound with high-purity silver wire and a new magnetic system with a solid pole tube integrated into the magnetic anchor at the rear. And the rubber compounds developed and produced in-house form the basis of the mechanical damping system of the Ortofon MC X series cartridges.

 

Ortofon MC X10
Ortofon MC X10. Image source - (c) Ortofon

The Ortofon MC X10 cartridge is equipped with an elliptical diamond stylus (r/R 8/18 µm) with an aluminum cantilever. The declared channel separation at 1 kHz is 24 dB.

The Ortofon MC X20 cartridge is also equipped with an elliptical diamond stylus (r/R 8/18 µm) on an aluminum cantilever. The channel separation at 1 kHz has increased to 25 dB.

The Ortofon MC X30 cartridge uses a more precise stylus with a nude fine-line sharpening (r/R 8/40 µm) with an aluminum cantilever. The channel separation is 26 dB.

Finally, the top model of the series, the Ortofon MC X40 with a Shibata-ground diamond stylus (r/R 6/50 µm) mounted on a boron cantilever, the cartridge provides the highest resolution and channel separation of 26 dB.

All cartridges in the line weigh 8.6 grams. The recommended tracking force is 2 grams and the load resistance is more than 50 ohms. Recommended retail prices for MC cartridges of the Ortofon MC X series in Europe:

Ortofon MC X10: 299 euros

Ortofon MC X20: 399 euros

Ortofon MC X30: 599 euros

Ortofon MC X40: 999 euros

Specifications

This product is in the Hi-Fi and High End Electronics and Acoustics database

Cartidges — Ortofon MC X40

  • Model name

    MC X40

  • Type

    MC

  • Stylus

    Diamond

  • Body

    N/A

  • Cantilever

    Aluminium

  • Coils

    Silver

  • Output voltage (mV@5cm/sec)

    N/A

  • Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20

  • Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20 000

  • Internal impedance (Ohm)

    N/A

  • Channel separation (dB / 1,000 Hz)

    26

  • Compliance (×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz)

    N/A

  • Recommended load (Ohm)

    50

  • Recommended tonearms

    N/A

  • Weight (g)

    8.6

  • Official link

Specifications

This product is in the Hi-Fi and High End Electronics and Acoustics database

Cartidges — Ortofon MC X30

  • Model name

    MC X30

  • Type

    MC

  • Stylus

    Diamond

  • Body

    N/A

  • Cantilever

    Aluminium

  • Coils

    N/A

  • Output voltage (mV@5cm/sec)

    N/A

  • Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20

  • Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20 000

  • Internal impedance (Ohm)

    N/A

  • Channel separation (dB / 1,000 Hz)

    26

  • Compliance (×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz)

    N/A

  • Recommended load (Ohm)

    50

  • Recommended tonearms

    N/A

  • Weight (g)

    8.6

  • Official link

Specifications

This product is in the Hi-Fi and High End Electronics and Acoustics database

Cartidges — Ortofon MC X20

  • Model name

    MC X20

  • Type

    MC

  • Stylus

    Diamond

  • Body

    N/A

  • Cantilever

    Aluminium

  • Coils

    Silver

  • Output voltage (mV@5cm/sec)

    N/A

  • Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20

  • Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20 000

  • Internal impedance (Ohm)

    N/A

  • Channel separation (dB / 1,000 Hz)

    25

  • Compliance (×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz)

    N/A

  • Recommended load (Ohm)

    50

  • Recommended tonearms

    N/A

  • Weight (g)

    8.6

  • Official link

Specifications

This product is in the Hi-Fi and High End Electronics and Acoustics database

Cartidges — Ortofon MC X10

  • Model name

    MC X10

  • Type

    MC

  • Stylus

    Diaomond

  • Body

    N/A

  • Cantilever

    Aluminium

  • Coils

    Silver

  • Output voltage (mV@5cm/sec)

    N/A

  • Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20

  • Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)

    20 000

  • Internal impedance (Ohm)

    N/A

  • Channel separation (dB / 1,000 Hz)

    24

  • Compliance (×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz)

    N/A

  • Recommended load (Ohm)

    50

  • Recommended tonearms

    N/A

  • Weight (g)

    8.6

  • Official link

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