Головки звукоснимателя — Ortofon MC X40

The MC X40 is a moving coil phono cartridge in the Ortofon MC X series, introduced at High End Munich 2025 above the MC X10, MC X20 and MC X30. Ortofon lists it at EUR 999, and the UK price is GBP 875. It keeps the generator and body shared by the series but changes two parts of the moving system, adopting a different stylus shape and a different cantilever material from the lower models.

Key specs that matter

A nude Shibata diamond with an r/R 6/50 micrometre tip radius sits on a boron cantilever, replacing the aluminium used in the X20 and X30. Output is 0.4 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm per second. Internal impedance as DC resistance is 6 ohms, with recommended load resistance above 50 ohms. The response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz stays within plus or minus 1 dB, channel separation at 1 kHz is above 26 dB and channel balance is 0.5 dB. Dynamic lateral compliance is 15 micrometres per mN and the recommended tracking force is 2.0 g. The cartridge weighs 8.6 g, and the body colour is black. Against the entry MC X10, which uses an elliptical diamond on aluminium, the X40 has wider channel separation, a tolerance half as wide and higher compliance.

Engineering and use context

The Shibata tip on this model has the smallest minor radius in the series at 6 micrometres and the largest major radius at 50 micrometres, against 8 and 40 micrometres on the MC X30. The coil wire is high-purity silver. The magnet system combines a one-piece pole cylinder with a rear magnet yoke, specified by Ortofon for maximum magnetic efficiency. The body is a honeycomb core structure in stainless steel produced by Metal Injection Molding, the same construction used across the X series. Ortofon aims the model at audiophiles and presents the boron cantilever and Shibata stylus as the step up from the MC X30, priced EUR 300 above it between the two. Ortofon has since added an MC X50 to the series beyond the four launch models.

Pairing

The low output means the signal should go into an MC phono stage, or through an SUT or head amp into a moving magnet stage. Ortofon gives the load only as a minimum, so the MC input setting just needs to exceed that figure.

Alternatives

One step down in the Ortofon X family is the MC X30, which uses a nude Fine-Line diamond on an aluminium cantilever.