Ortofon Cadenza Series
The Cadenza Series of high-end Moving Coil (MC) cartridges was born out of the success of Ortofon’s Kontrapunkt and MC Jubilee models.
Though these models are amongst the most popular Ortofon has ever produced, the Danish cartridge masters still decided to develop a new range that was even more ambitious.
The name Cadenza comes from the Italian word for cadence, and refers to the section in a concert where the orchestra stops playing, leaving the soloist to play alone in free time without a strict, regular pulse.
A Cadenza can be written or improvised, but it’s usually the most elaborate and virtuosic part the solo instrument plays during the whole piece. It therefore seemed fitting that such a capable and nuanced cartridge series should use the same name.
By carefully implementing cobalt-iron pole pieces, using new improved winding processes on the armature, and employing an extruded aluminium housing – amongst other changes – the Cadenza Series is able to out-perform all those that came before it.
Like other modern ranges, the Cadenza Series is structured in Ortofon’s preferred colour-tier nomenclature; so there are Red, Blue, Bronze, Black and Mono (White) variants available to suit varying budgets and tastes.
As with all modern Ortofon ranges, the introductory cartridge in the Cadenza Series is the Red model. The Cadenza Red is a stylish, high-quality cartridge that boasts a nude fine line stylus with a cylindrical aluminium cantilever.
The stylus tip radius is r/R 8/40µm, allowing the diamond to a read significant amount of the recorded information. The internal coils are made from 6NX (99.9999%) pure silver wire for optimal signal generation, and the improved winding process on the armature allows a better channel balance for good stereo imaging.
The Cadenza Red delivers a sound performance that is open and dynamic, with a touch of warmth. It is more relaxed, homogeneous and moderately dynamic when compared to the Cadenza Blue.
It also has a great space and depth in the stereo image. All-in, it is a very capable high-end cartridge.
Cadenza Series Models
Key Features: Cadenza Red
- Delivers open, dynamic sound with a touch of warmth
- Relaxed, homogeneous and moderately dynamic with great space and depth in the stereo image
- Internal coils made from 6NX (99.9999%) pure silver wire
- Stainless steel aluminium cartridge body
- Nude Fine Line stylus profile with cylindrical aluminium cantilever
the second cartridge in the Cadenza Series is the Blue model. The Cadenza Blue is a high-quality cartridge that boasts a Nude FG 70 stylus with a very thin ruby cantilever. The improved winding process of the armature ensures better channel balance than any model that came before it at the price. The styling is the same as adorned by it’s kin, and the build-quality reflects Ortofon’s 100% commitment to a reputable product, and happy customers.
The soundstage of the Cadenza Blue is wide, open and grandiose as soon as you take it out of the box. Micro dynamics and ambience will be evident when listening to complex compositions creating a full and involving performance. The Blue also reaches a very high degree of detail and positioning. It is a true to the music cartridge with a tremendous clarity.
Key Features: Cadenza Blue
- Greater dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details
- Micro dynamic and ambience will be evident when listening to complex compositions
- Internal coils made from 6NX (99.9999%) pure silver wire
- Stainless steel aluminium cartridge body
- Nude FG 70 stylus profile with thin ruby cantilever
the third cartridge in the Cadenza Series is the Bronze model. The Cadenza Bronze is a premium cartridge that boasts a Replicant 100 stylus and a conical aluminium cantilever. The coil wire used is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold-plated version of the popular 6NX copper wire. A Field Stabilizing Element (FSE) is used for optimal linearity, especially during complex crescendo passages, making this cartridge perfect for classical genres.
The Cadenza Bronze is a true high-end reference cartridge, conveying music with supreme precision, impact and dynamics. Its stereo imaging capabilities illuminate the farthest corners of the soundstage in all three dimensions, creating an uncompromising, involving performance.
Key Features: Cadenza Bronze
- Stereo imaging capabilities illuminate the farthest corners of the soundstage in all three dimensions
- More details and resolution but in a very evenhanded way that pays respect to all elements
- Internal coils from the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated 6NX copper wire
- Stainless steel aluminium cartridge body
- Replicant 100 stylus profile with conical aluminium cantilever
As with all modern Ortofon ranges, the top cartridge in the Cadenza Series is the Black model. The Cadenza Black is a flagship-status cartridge that boasts a a pristine-cut Nude Shibata stylus with a boron cantilever. The effective mass of the stylus/cantilever system is extremely low due to the use of a very thin boron rod; this material is extremely stiff and even more lightweight than aluminium, making it a real premium component choice. The coil wire is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated version of the popular 6NX copper wire.
The Black model also uses Ortofon’s Wide Range Damping (WRD) system, effectively controlling the high- and low-frequency damping separately. WRD was originally developed in 1979 for the MC 20 MK II, but since that time it has been more commonly reserved only for Ortofon’s super-high-end cartridges, such as the MC Windfeld. It works by clamping a small, heavy disc of exotic metal between two rubber absorbers with different properties. The result is superlative tracking ability (90µm with the Cadenza Black) with perfect damping across the whole frequency range and no distortion or resonance. Thanks to WRD, the Cadenza Black spans a very wide frequency range compared to other models in the Cadenza Series.
The Cadenza Black has been optimised for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound. It performs better than any other cartridge at this level in detail, consistency and sound staging.
Key Features: Cadenza Black
- Optimized for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound
- The best of everything, true to the groove with resolution and accurate insight into each recording
- Internal coils from the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated 6NX copper wire
- Stainless steel aluminium cartridge body
- Nude Shibata stylus profile with boron cantilever
