Ortofon

We benefit from being established in Denmark, a country recognized for its strong tradition in acoustics and its wealth of other high-end manufacturers, acoustic measurement equipment, in addition to all aspects of high-end audio.
Ortofon is owned by Danish businessmen and employs a staff of 95 people. The Ortofon manufacturing unit in Nakskov in the south of Denmark has modern machinery combined with experienced operators, so human craftsmanship is delivered with uniform industrial quality.


- Description
- Awards
- Specs
- Shipping Information (domestic & international)
- Want to hear it?
- Express Delivery
- Trade In
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 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 optimized 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:
- 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

Hi-Fi Choice, March 2018
Comments of Note:
"The good news is that this system seems completely unfazed by what you throw at it."
"The speed and drive that this system musters is a source of constant joy."
"Where the appeal deepens is that the presentation itself is exceptionally natural and even handed regardless of what you choose to throw at it."

Hi-Fi World, April 2010
Reviewed By: | Noel Keywood |
Score: | 5/5 Globes |
Comments of Note:
"...the Black uses many moving parts of the A90..."
"Cantilever behaviour is controlled by Ortofon's wide range damping system, also used in the A90 and Cadenzas...this is responsible for the cartridge's peak-free treble. It set Ortofons apart from most rivals..."
"...making the track sound full bodied and authoritative."
"...sound....is weighty and satisfyingly rhythmic..."
"...CDs never did sound right and the Cadenza Black shows just how much was on the LP in the first place, and how a cartridge of its ability shades CD."
"The Shibata stylus...In the Cadenza Black it shimmered with delicately wrought fine detail..."
"...ability to deliver some of the finest treble I have ever heard from LP."
"...it's a cartridge of immense ability..."
"...the Black offered a beautifully smooth, svelte and expansive sound stage. It has generous stage depth and always sounds relaxed and in control of proceedings."
"If you are looking for an ultimately smooth and sophisticated sonic delivery from LP, Ortofon's new Cadenza Black is as good as it gets at what is a 'reasonable' price..."
"...the Black is a lovely cartridge..."
Output Voltage (at 1kHz, 5cm/sec): | 330μV |
Channel Balance at 1kHz: | < 0.8dB |
Channel Separation at 1kHz: | > 27dB |
Channel Separation at 15kHz: | > 20dB |
Frequency Range (at -3dB): | 20Hz - 60kHz |
Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz: | +1.5 / 0 |
Tracking Ability at 315Hz: | Typically 90μm |
Compliance, Dynamic, Lateral: | 16μm / mN |
Stylus Type: | Nude Shibata |
Cantilever: | Boron |
Stylus Tip Radius r / R: | 6 / 50μm |
Tracking Force Range: | 2.0 - 2.5g (20 - 25mN) |
Recommended Tracking Force: | 2.3g (23mN) |
Tracking Angle: | 20º |
Internal Impedance / DC Resistance: | 5Ω |
Recommended Load Impedance: | > 10Ω |
Cartridge Body Material: | Stainless Steel Aluminium |
Cartridge Colour: | Black / Black |
Cartridge Weight: | 10.7g |
UK Deliveries
Within the UK we aim to ship all items same day, however during busy periods it can take 1-3 days for dispatch. We ship all items with premium courier services which quote 1-2 days for delivery. Please note these times may be effected due to circumstances outside our control. Shipping is free on all orders over £50.
Ireland Deliveries
Following Brexit, We are still able to ship into Ireland, and no further VAT or charges apply. All Irish orders will dispatch from our N.Ireland warehouse, and therefore no charges apply. Shipping is free on all Irish orders over £50.00.
Europe Deliveries
For deliveries in Europe, we have two options which can be chosen by the customer.
N.Ireland - We can ship your goods from our N.Ireland warehouse, in which case we must charge VAT however due to N.Ireland's free trade agreement with Europe you will therefore not be charged any import duty or further costs. Shipping costs are calculated at the checkout based on destination.
Britain - We can ship orders from our British warehouse (UK Mainland) which will be charged ex VAT, however this will require export paperwork, and import duty and applicable charges will apply. VAT is removed at the checkout if your destination is applicable.
Non EU Countries
If you are purchasing from a Non-EU country, you will not be charged VAT which will be deducted at the checkout. Import duties and further applicable charges may apply depeding on your country. Shipping is calculated at the checkout based on destination.
We have several deomonstation areas in both of our branches. Please give us a call on 03435236169 or email support@kronosav.com to enquire about hearing products at your local branch.
Please always contact us before to make sure the product(s) are available
Express Deliveries
Express Delivery is FREE on all orders over £50. Express Delivery offers delivery in 24-72 hours from time of purchase. We use premium couriers for this service, mainly DPD & Royal Mail. DPD will offer you a one hour window for delivery to make sure someone is at home, or you can reschedule the delivery if no one is around.
Standard Deliveries
Here at Kronos AV, we have vast experience with e-commerce sales. Making sure that your parcel arrives undamaged is a huge priority for us. That’s why at Kronos AV, we only use premium couriers for all our orders. All our parcels are shipped with DPD or Royal Mail and are always sent Signed For to make sure it gets to the right person.
If for any reason your parcel does arrived damaged, please get in touch, and we will be happy to get everything resolved for you. We are always on hand to help!
Details
Delivery is FREE on all orders over £50. In order to offer FREE delivery to UK customers, we use several premium couriers to ensure your delivery arrives safe.
Most large orders (over 2kg) ship using DPD or DHL courier and smaller orders (under 2kg) by Royal Mail signed for services.
The most appropriate courier will be chosen for the items ordered to ensure the quickest possible delivery.
We can offer very generous trade in offers across the majority of our product range.
Why not ask and see how much you HiFi is worth!
To find out how much your HiFi is worth... Click Here
If you have any question, please feel free to call us on 03435236169 or email support@kronosav.com
Ortofon

We benefit from being established in Denmark, a country recognized for its strong tradition in acoustics and its wealth of other high-end manufacturers, acoustic measurement equipment, in addition to all aspects of high-end audio.
Ortofon is owned by Danish businessmen and employs a staff of 95 people. The Ortofon manufacturing unit in Nakskov in the south of Denmark has modern machinery combined with experienced operators, so human craftsmanship is delivered with uniform industrial quality.

- Description
- Awards
- Specs
- Shipping Information (domestic & international)
- Want to hear it?
- Express Delivery
- Trade In
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 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 optimized 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:
- 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

Hi-Fi Choice, March 2018
Comments of Note:
"The good news is that this system seems completely unfazed by what you throw at it."
"The speed and drive that this system musters is a source of constant joy."
"Where the appeal deepens is that the presentation itself is exceptionally natural and even handed regardless of what you choose to throw at it."

Hi-Fi World, April 2010
Reviewed By: | Noel Keywood |
Score: | 5/5 Globes |
Comments of Note:
"...the Black uses many moving parts of the A90..."
"Cantilever behaviour is controlled by Ortofon's wide range damping system, also used in the A90 and Cadenzas...this is responsible for the cartridge's peak-free treble. It set Ortofons apart from most rivals..."
"...making the track sound full bodied and authoritative."
"...sound....is weighty and satisfyingly rhythmic..."
"...CDs never did sound right and the Cadenza Black shows just how much was on the LP in the first place, and how a cartridge of its ability shades CD."
"The Shibata stylus...In the Cadenza Black it shimmered with delicately wrought fine detail..."
"...ability to deliver some of the finest treble I have ever heard from LP."
"...it's a cartridge of immense ability..."
"...the Black offered a beautifully smooth, svelte and expansive sound stage. It has generous stage depth and always sounds relaxed and in control of proceedings."
"If you are looking for an ultimately smooth and sophisticated sonic delivery from LP, Ortofon's new Cadenza Black is as good as it gets at what is a 'reasonable' price..."
"...the Black is a lovely cartridge..."
Output Voltage (at 1kHz, 5cm/sec): | 330μV |
Channel Balance at 1kHz: | < 0.8dB |
Channel Separation at 1kHz: | > 27dB |
Channel Separation at 15kHz: | > 20dB |
Frequency Range (at -3dB): | 20Hz - 60kHz |
Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz: | +1.5 / 0 |
Tracking Ability at 315Hz: | Typically 90μm |
Compliance, Dynamic, Lateral: | 16μm / mN |
Stylus Type: | Nude Shibata |
Cantilever: | Boron |
Stylus Tip Radius r / R: | 6 / 50μm |
Tracking Force Range: | 2.0 - 2.5g (20 - 25mN) |
Recommended Tracking Force: | 2.3g (23mN) |
Tracking Angle: | 20º |
Internal Impedance / DC Resistance: | 5Ω |
Recommended Load Impedance: | > 10Ω |
Cartridge Body Material: | Stainless Steel Aluminium |
Cartridge Colour: | Black / Black |
Cartridge Weight: | 10.7g |
UK Deliveries
Within the UK we aim to ship all items same day, however during busy periods it can take 1-3 days for dispatch. We ship all items with premium courier services which quote 1-2 days for delivery. Please note these times may be effected due to circumstances outside our control. Shipping is free on all orders over £50.
Ireland Deliveries
Following Brexit, We are still able to ship into Ireland, and no further VAT or charges apply. All Irish orders will dispatch from our N.Ireland warehouse, and therefore no charges apply. Shipping is free on all Irish orders over £50.00.
Europe Deliveries
For deliveries in Europe, we have two options which can be chosen by the customer.
N.Ireland - We can ship your goods from our N.Ireland warehouse, in which case we must charge VAT however due to N.Ireland's free trade agreement with Europe you will therefore not be charged any import duty or further costs. Shipping costs are calculated at the checkout based on destination.
Britain - We can ship orders from our British warehouse (UK Mainland) which will be charged ex VAT, however this will require export paperwork, and import duty and applicable charges will apply. VAT is removed at the checkout if your destination is applicable.
Non EU Countries
If you are purchasing from a Non-EU country, you will not be charged VAT which will be deducted at the checkout. Import duties and further applicable charges may apply depeding on your country. Shipping is calculated at the checkout based on destination.
We have several deomonstation areas in both of our branches. Please give us a call on 03435236169 or email support@kronosav.com to enquire about hearing products at your local branch.
Please always contact us before to make sure the product(s) are available
Express Deliveries
Express Delivery is FREE on all orders over £50. Express Delivery offers delivery in 24-72 hours from time of purchase. We use premium couriers for this service, mainly DPD & Royal Mail. DPD will offer you a one hour window for delivery to make sure someone is at home, or you can reschedule the delivery if no one is around.
Standard Deliveries
Here at Kronos AV, we have vast experience with e-commerce sales. Making sure that your parcel arrives undamaged is a huge priority for us. That’s why at Kronos AV, we only use premium couriers for all our orders. All our parcels are shipped with DPD or Royal Mail and are always sent Signed For to make sure it gets to the right person.
If for any reason your parcel does arrived damaged, please get in touch, and we will be happy to get everything resolved for you. We are always on hand to help!
Details
Delivery is FREE on all orders over £50. In order to offer FREE delivery to UK customers, we use several premium couriers to ensure your delivery arrives safe.
Most large orders (over 2kg) ship using DPD or DHL courier and smaller orders (under 2kg) by Royal Mail signed for services.
The most appropriate courier will be chosen for the items ordered to ensure the quickest possible delivery.
We can offer very generous trade in offers across the majority of our product range.
Why not ask and see how much you HiFi is worth!
To find out how much your HiFi is worth... Click Here
If you have any question, please feel free to call us on 03435236169 or email support@kronosav.com