Головки звукоснимателя — Kensington Audio C-700

The C-700 is the middle model in the five-cartridge moving coil line from Kensington Audio, a British maker within the Talk Electronics family, whose history in UK hi-fi design and manufacture spans more than 25 years. Kensington cartridges are assembled by hand in the UK by musicians. Priced at GBP 1,499.95, the C-700 moves from the plain elliptical tip of the lower models to a fine line elliptical stylus on a boron cantilever, and the maker positions it around extended bandwidth and tracking ability.

Key specs that matter

The C-700 produces 0.35 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm per second. Its frequency response of 20 Hz to 25 kHz carries a tighter tolerance of plus or minus 1 dB, compared with 2 dB on the C-500 and C-600. Internal impedance rises to 6 ohm, and Kensington recommends a 200 ohm load. Separation between channels is greater than 30 dB, and channel balance is within 1 dB. Dynamic compliance is 15 to 20 cu, recommended tracking force 1.3 to 1.5 grams and vertical tracking angle 20 degrees. Weight is 10 grams, the same as the other two lower models.

Engineering and use context

Like the C-600, the C-700 keeps a boron cantilever and coils of 4N OCC ultra-pure copper, so the main mechanical change is the fine line stylus profile, listed by Kensington as Elliptical - fine line, in place of the plain elliptical tips fitted to the C-500 and C-600. The electrical changes are the lower output, the higher coil impedance and a recommended load twice that of the C-600. Kensington introduced the whole range at UK Hi-Fi Show Live 2025 in Ascot on 27 and 28 September. Above the C-700 sit the C-800, with its ruby cantilever at GBP 1,999.95, and the C-900 with a sapphire cantilever and 30 kHz response at GBP 2,999.95, while the C-500 opens the line at GBP 599.95. The cartridges are sold direct by Kensington, and at launch the company invited approaches from overseas distributors. Kensington describes its design approach as led by musicians. Buyers can register a C-700 with the company, which lists warranty and repair services, and a 30-Day Hire Scheme allows a trial period with a cartridge before purchase.

Pairing

The C-700 has the lowest output of the three lower models, so it requires an MC preamplifier with enough gain or a step-up transformer, loaded at the value Kensington gives. A tonearm for it must suit the body mass and tracking force listed above.

Alternatives

The Kensington Audio C-800 is the next model up, replacing boron with a ruby cantilever.