Головки звукоснимателя — Ortofon MC X10

The MC X10 is the entry model in the MC X series of moving coil cartridges from Ortofon of Denmark, a range introduced at the Munich High End exhibition as the replacement for the MC Quintet series. It opened with the X10, X20, X30 and X40 and later gained the MC X50 at the top. The X10 has been listed at EUR 299 and GBP 269, the lowest price in the series. Ortofon presents the MC X line as a new benchmark for its moving coil designs, and the X10 shares the frame, coil wire and magnet system of the dearer models while stylus and cantilever choices change from model to model.

Key specs that matter

An elliptical diamond tip of 8/18 um radius sits on an aluminium cantilever. Output is 0.4 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm/sec, and internal impedance is 6 ohm DC resistance. Ortofon quotes channel separation above 24 dB and channel balance of 0.5 dB, both at 1 kHz, with frequency response held within plus or minus 2 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Dynamic lateral compliance is 13 um/mN, the recommended tracking force is 2.0 g, and the recommended load is above 50 ohm. The black body weighs 8.6 g and uses the common half-inch mounting.

Engineering and use context

The body is a stainless steel frame with a honeycomb core, produced by Metal Injection Moulding, a process that allows a stiff, complex shape in metal. Its surface is finished by Physical Vapor Deposition for durability. All MC X models use quad coils wound with high-purity silver wire. The magnet system is new for the series, with a one-piece pole cylinder integrated into the rear magnet yoke to raise magnetic efficiency. Rubber dampers mixed in-house by Ortofon control the movement of the coil armature and limit unwanted vibration. Within the range, the X10 and X20 both use elliptical profiles on aluminium, the X30 moves to a nude Fine Line stylus, and the X40 and X50 combine boron cantilevers with nude Shibata and Micro Ridge tips.

Pairing

The X10 is a low output moving coil, so it needs a moving coil phono stage or a step-up transformer rather than a moving magnet input. The low coil resistance leaves wide freedom in the choice of input load. The medium compliance and body mass suit arms of medium effective mass, and the tracking force is within the range of most arms.

Alternatives

The Ortofon MC X20 keeps the same body and output but uses a nude elliptical stylus, a tighter plus or minus 1 dB response and 15 um/mN compliance.