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Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge — close-up product view
Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge — upper rear view

Ortofon

Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

$3,200

Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

The MC Cadenza Black is Ortofon's flagship Cadenza cartridge, pairing a Nude Shibata diamond with a rigid boron cantilever, Aucurum gold-plated copper coils, and higher compliance than the other models in the series.

Pearl Audio’s Take

This is the Cadenza for a highly resolved, carefully optimized analog front end. Its boron cantilever and Shibata profile are capable of exposing both the quality of a record and the accuracy of the installation, so tonearm and phono-stage matching should be deliberate.

Shibata on boron

The long-contact Nude Shibata diamond is mounted to a low-mass, highly rigid boron cantilever. The combination is designed to follow short-wavelength groove information with precision.

Aucurum moving-coil engine

Gold-plated 6NX copper wire, 5-ohm internal impedance, and a specified 330 µV output place a premium on a low-noise phono stage or correctly selected step-up transformer.

Higher compliance and tracking ability

At 16 µm/mN and a recommended 2.3-gram tracking force, the Black differs mechanically from the other Cadenza models. Ortofon specifies 90 µm tracking ability.

System Matching and Setup

Match the 10.7-gram body and 16 µm/mN compliance to the tonearm, then select gain and loading for a 330 µV source. Ortofon recommends a load above 10 Ω; system-level evaluation is preferable to choosing a value in isolation.

Key Specifications

Cartridge principle
Low-output moving coil
Stylus
Nude Shibata
Cantilever
Boron
Output at 1 kHz
330 µV
Channel separation at 1 kHz
>27 dB
Compliance
16 µm/mN
Tracking ability at 315 Hz
90 µm
Recommended tracking force
2.3 g
Tracking-force range
2.0–2.5 g
Internal impedance
5 Ω
Recommended load
>10 Ω
Cartridge weight
10.7 g

Talk with Pearl Audio

Contact Pearl Audio for cartridge matching, installation guidance, or help confirming the correct replacement stylus for your turntable. We can review your tonearm and phono-stage details before you make a decision.

Need help choosing?

Pearl Audio can help with cartridge matching, installation, and alignment.

Call (503) 222-2599 to start a conversation.

Request cartridge guidance

Cartridge matching request

Product: Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

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Product overview

Ortofon MC Cadenza Black Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

The MC Cadenza Black is Ortofon's flagship Cadenza cartridge, pairing a Nude Shibata diamond with a rigid boron cantilever, Aucurum gold-plated copper coils, and higher compliance than the other models in the series.

Pearl Audio’s Take

This is the Cadenza for a highly resolved, carefully optimized analog front end. Its boron cantilever and Shibata profile are capable of exposing both the quality of a record and the accuracy of the installation, so tonearm and phono-stage matching should be deliberate.

Shibata on boron

The long-contact Nude Shibata diamond is mounted to a low-mass, highly rigid boron cantilever. The combination is designed to follow short-wavelength groove information with precision.

Aucurum moving-coil engine

Gold-plated 6NX copper wire, 5-ohm internal impedance, and a specified 330 µV output place a premium on a low-noise phono stage or correctly selected step-up transformer.

Higher compliance and tracking ability

At 16 µm/mN and a recommended 2.3-gram tracking force, the Black differs mechanically from the other Cadenza models. Ortofon specifies 90 µm tracking ability.

System Matching and Setup

Match the 10.7-gram body and 16 µm/mN compliance to the tonearm, then select gain and loading for a 330 µV source. Ortofon recommends a load above 10 Ω; system-level evaluation is preferable to choosing a value in isolation.

Key Specifications

Cartridge principle
Low-output moving coil
Stylus
Nude Shibata
Cantilever
Boron
Output at 1 kHz
330 µV
Channel separation at 1 kHz
>27 dB
Compliance
16 µm/mN
Tracking ability at 315 Hz
90 µm
Recommended tracking force
2.3 g
Tracking-force range
2.0–2.5 g
Internal impedance
5 Ω
Recommended load
>10 Ω
Cartridge weight
10.7 g

Talk with Pearl Audio

Contact Pearl Audio for cartridge matching, installation guidance, or help confirming the correct replacement stylus for your turntable. We can review your tonearm and phono-stage details before you make a decision.

Pearl Audio’s Cartridge Method

A cartridge is part of a system

The right cartridge is the one that works as a complete mechanical and electrical match with your tonearm and phono stage. Pearl Audio evaluates the generator, output, compliance, stylus profile, and setup requirements together—so the cartridge can perform as its designer intended.

  • Generator & output

    Moving-magnet and moving-coil designs ask different things of phono-stage gain, noise performance, capacitance, and loading.

  • Tonearm match

    Cartridge mass and compliance work with the tonearm’s effective mass. A good match supports stable tracking and controlled resonance.

  • Stylus & cantilever

    Stylus geometry and cantilever construction influence groove contact, setup sensitivity, tracking behavior, and long-term care.

  • Setup & service

    Alignment, tracking force, azimuth, vertical geometry, anti-skate, and the maker’s replacement or rebuild path all matter after purchase.

Selection, setup & ownership

Build the match, not just the spec sheet

A specification is useful when it answers a system question. Use the product details above together with the guidance below, then let Pearl Audio confirm the final match for your turntable, tonearm, records, and phono stage.

Output, gain & loading

Output voltage and internal impedance help determine required phono gain and loading. MM designs may also specify capacitive loading. Low-output MC designs demand especially quiet gain.

Mass, compliance & arm

Cartridge weight and dynamic compliance should be considered with tonearm effective mass, headshell hardware, counterweight range, and mounting geometry.

Groove contact

Stylus profile, cantilever material, tracking ability, and recommended tracking force describe how the cartridge traces a record—and how carefully it must be aligned.

Installation precision

Overhang, offset angle, tracking force, azimuth, vertical geometry, and anti-skate should be established with suitable tools and checked as a connected system.

Record format

Stereo, true-mono microgroove, and historical record formats are different use cases. The cartridge and stylus must be selected for the records it will actually play.

Ownership & service

Confirm stylus replacement, exchange, rebuild, and inspection options before purchase. Policies differ between replaceable-stylus and fixed-stylus designs.

Specifications worth confirming

Look for the manufacturer’s current values for:

  • Generator type, output voltage, and internal impedance
  • Recommended load resistance, capacitance, and phono gain
  • Cartridge mass, dynamic compliance, and mounting standard
  • Stylus profile, cantilever material, and tracking ability
  • Recommended tracking force and permitted range
  • Channel balance, separation, and frequency response
  • Replacement-stylus, exchange, or factory rebuild eligibility
How to read the key numbers
Output voltage
Helps establish whether the phono stage can provide enough clean gain.
Internal impedance
Informs MC loading and step-up-transformer matching; it is not itself the final load setting.
Compliance
Describes suspension flexibility and must be considered with tonearm effective mass and the maker’s measurement frequency.
Tracking force
Use the maker’s recommended value as the starting point; alignment and arm calibration must also be correct.
Stylus profile
Describes groove contact geometry and influences alignment sensitivity, tracing behavior, and care.
Choosing within a cartridge family

Do not assume that the highest-priced model is automatically the best fit. Compare adjacent models for:

  • Output level and compatibility with your phono stage
  • Compliance and cartridge mass relative to your tonearm
  • Stylus and cantilever differences—and the setup precision they require
  • Stereo, mono, high-output, low-output, and mounting variants
  • Replacement, exchange, rebuild, and upgrade paths
Stereo, mono & historical records

A true-mono cartridge can be valuable for mono microgroove records, while older coarse-groove records require a purpose-appropriate stylus and setup. Confirm the record format, groove type, stylus profile, and electrical configuration; “mono” alone is not enough information.

Pearl Audio can help determine whether a dedicated mono cartridge, a stereo cartridge, or a second arm/headshell is the most practical approach.

Replacement, exchange & rebuild paths

Service is part of cartridge value. Depending on the model, the maker may offer a user-replaceable stylus, dealer exchange, factory rebuild, or no field-serviceable stylus at all.

  • Confirm the exact current program for the exact model
  • Keep the stylus guard, packaging, serial information, and proof of purchase
  • Do not assume a family member’s stylus or service policy applies to another body
  • Have damage, wear, and channel problems evaluated before ordering a replacement
Information for a Cartridge Consultation

For a useful recommendation, tell us:

  • Your turntable and exact tonearm model
  • Your current cartridge and what you would like to improve
  • Your phono stage, available gain settings, and loading options
  • The types of records you play, including any mono or historical formats
  • Whether Pearl Audio will perform the installation and alignment
  • The listening priorities that matter most to you
Installation & ongoing care

Use the manufacturer’s current instructions for mounting hardware, tracking force, alignment, cleaning, inspection, and service. Protect the cantilever during installation, keep the stylus clean with an approved method, and recheck setup after any change to the cartridge, headshell, arm height, or mat.

Pearl Audio can install and align compatible cartridges and verify the initial phono-stage settings.

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