Головки звукоснимателя — Ortofon MC X30

The MC X30 is the third model in the Ortofon MC X line of moving coil phono cartridges, unveiled with its siblings at High End Munich 2025. It is priced at EUR 699 (GBP 599 in the UK), placing it between the MC X20 at EUR 499 and the MC X40 at EUR 999. It keeps the shared X series housing, generator and silver coil wire, and changes the stylus shape compared with the lower models.

Key specs that matter

Its stylus is a nude Fine-Line diamond with an r/R 8/40 micrometre tip radius, mounted on an aluminium cantilever. Output voltage measures 0.4 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm per second. DC resistance of the coils is 6 ohms, with the recommended load resistance given as more than 50 ohms. Frequency response across 20 Hz to 20 kHz is held within plus or minus 1 dB, channel separation at 1 kHz is better than 26 dB and channel balance is 0.5 dB. Dynamic lateral compliance is 15 micrometres per mN, with 2.0 g as the suggested tracking force. The cartridge body is finished in black and weighs 8.6 g.

Engineering and use context

That profile has a 40 micrometre major radius, compared with 18 micrometres on the nude elliptical diamond of the MC X20, while the minor radius of 8 micrometres is the same on both. The coils use high-purity silver wire. Ortofon developed a new magnet system for the series with an integrated rear magnet yoke, and the moving system is controlled by rubber dampers of the company's own formulation. The frame is produced through Metal Injection Molding in stainless steel with a honeycomb core structure, which Ortofon specifies for mechanical stability. Across the range the entry MC X10 uses an elliptical stylus, the X20 a nude elliptical, the X30 a nude fine line and the X40 a nude Shibata. Against the entry MC X10, the X30 adds 2 dB of channel separation, halves the response tolerance and raises lateral compliance, while output, coil resistance and weight stay the same. The MC X series has since grown to include an MC X50 in addition to these four launch models.

Pairing

Its low output places the MC X30 in the low output moving coil class, and Ortofon's figures point to a dedicated MC phono section, or else a step-up stage in front of MM. The maker quotes loading purely as a lower limit, and its tracking force and compliance numbers are the figures to use when adjusting the arm.

Alternatives

Next up in Ortofon's X lineup, the MC X40 moves to a nude Shibata diamond on a boron cantilever.