Description
When Ortofon updates the MC X series, it's always a big deal for the analog world - and the MC X50 is the clearest proof yet of how far an affordable MC cartridge can go without compromising on sound philosophy. It's the flagship of the line, designed for those who have already experienced the potential of MC cartridges and want to hear the limits of what this series can do.
Product information
The heart of the MC X50 is a diamond stylus with a Micro Ridge profile with an extremely narrow side radius (r/R 2.5/75 μm). This geometry allows the stylus to more accurately follow the groove micro-relief, reading high-frequency details with minimal distortion even on the inner tracks of the record - where most cartridges start to "float". The result is durability and tracking stability throughout the entire life of the stylus.
The stylus is paired with a cantilever made of boron - a material that combines extraordinary rigidity with low mass. This gives a fast, clear transient response, high resolution and low distortion - the cartridge reacts to the smallest fluctuations in the groove without "smearing" the sound attack.
While the rest of the MC X series models use a unified rubber suspension, for the flagship MC X50 Ortofon engineers have developed a separate suspension design with a new rubber compound recipe. This allowed for more precise control of the coil movement, reduced unwanted vibrations and achieved maximum musical accuracy - exactly the level of detail you expect from a top model.
The coils are wound with high-purity silver wire - this ensures a clean, low-noise signal path and preservation of the finest nuances of the recording without loss. They work in tandem with the new magnetic system of the MC X series: a solid pole cylinder, integrated with the rear magnetic yoke, provides maximum magnetic efficiency and a powerful, stable signal path.
The cartridge body is made using Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) technology with a stainless steel + frame structure. This approach provides precise control of material density and high internal damping — the enclosure does not add its own "coloration" to the sound, leaving the stage clean.
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