About The Ortofon MC Quintet Blue Moving Coil Cartridge
The Ortofon Quintet Blue Moving Coil Cartridge adds more dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details than the Quintet Red. Is it worth the extra cost? Absolutely! Please call us to discuss its suitability to your set-up.
Nothing demonstrates Ortofon's long-standing resilience more than its commitment to the refinement of analogue sound quality and its continued development of new cartridge models. Since 1948 Ortofon has introduced about 100 different moving coil models, with the latest being the Quintet Series.
Ortofon believe the cartridges in this new series are more than worthy successors to the long line of models that has made Ortofon the global leader in the manufacture and supply of phono cartridges.
The MC Quintet Series is congruent with Ortofon's unrelenting commitment to providing the most precise and accurate reproduction possible without colouration. A special ABS (Acrylonitrile/Butadiene/Styrene) thermoplastic material is used for manufacturing of the body. This light-weight, impact resistant material is very suitable for injection-moulding and provides a very durable scratch resistant surface. Neodymium magnets are implemented to achieve an optimal output and the low internal impedance makes the cartridge less sensitive to load and therefore ensures compatibility with the widest range of preamps and transformers.
The Quintet Blue is a very homogeneous cartridge: The Quintet Blue's sound image will tend to more smooth reproduction compared to Quintet Red and moderate dynamic strength compared to Quintet Bronze. It features a Nude Elliptical diamond mounted on an aluminium cantilever. The Quintet Blue will bring more space, depth and detail into the sound and is a very good choice for any kind of music, especially rhythmic.
Ease Of Use: Top-mounting of the Quintet cartridges is easy and secure using the screws supplied. The aluminium frame has threaded mounting holes and is fitted easily with the 5mm or 7mm screws depending on the thickness of the head-shell.
The Quintet series' right angles, straight lines, stylus visibility and ample distance between the record surface and the cartridge's bottom will make it easy to mount and align the cartridge and tonearm correctly. The Quintet Series gives excellent results with most common tonearms.
Quintet In The News
"... It offers the most comprehensive and enjoyable performance with all music, showing Ortofon has clearly hit upon another magic formula...it presents all the detail in the track with real dynamism … its soundstage is expansive left to right…and it also possesses a greater talent for bringing instruments within it to life...Each instrument gets the space to let its notes grow, which it knits together into a cohesive whole, revealing its measured and neutral presentation…Bass is well articulated and evenly presented without being overly emphasized or rolling off too early, making its presence and detail felt without becoming overwhelming on more demanding bass-heavy music."
"Verdict: Superb sounding all-rounder that shows analogue at its best. Excellent value." Hi-Fi Choice October 2014 Reviewed and tested by Andrew Simpson
"...The Quintet Blue has few faults, particularly at its price point. It plays relatively neutral, without obvious colorations or frequency dips, and strikes a good balance between musical and analytical. While it's not the last word in resolving power, it is detailed, dynamic and casts a three-dimension soundstage. Its weaknesses are apparent only when compared to more expensive cartridges. Happily, I have been listening to the Quintet Blue for several months and it continues to be a satisfying performer. Highly recommended!" TNT USA October, 2015 Reviewer: Todd Bromgard
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
- Output voltage at 1 kHz 5 cm/sec - 0.5 mV
- Channel balance - < 1.5 dB
- Channel separation at 1 kHz - > 21 dB
- Channel separation at 15 kHz - > 14 dB
- Frequency range at -3 dB - 20 - 25.000Hz
- Frequency response 20-20.000 Hz - +/-2.5 dB
- Tracking ability at 315 Hz at recommended tracking force *) - 70 μm
- Compliance, dynamic, lateral - 15 μm/mN
- Stylus type - Nude Elliptical
- Stylus tip radius - r/R 8/18 μm
- Tracking force range - 2.1-2.5 g (21-25 mN)
- Tracking force recommended - 2.3 g (23 mN)
- Tracking angle - 20º
- Internal impedance, DC resistance - 7 Ohm
- Recommended load impedance - >20 Ohm
- Cartridge body material - ABS/Aluminium
- Coil wire material - Copper
- Cartridge colour - Blue
- Cartridge weight - 9 g
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years Against Manufacturing & Materials Defects
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.