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Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Cadenza Red Moving Coil Cartridge

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Cadenza Red Moving Coil Cartridge

$2,349.00
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Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Cadenza Red Moving Coil Cartridge

Ortofon

Country of origin: Denmark

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Cadenza Red Moving Coil Cartridge

SKU: ORT-CADENZ-MC-CTG-RED 5
Sale price$2,349.00

Includes GST. 🚚 Free shipping on orders over $100 Australia wide at checkout.

A Nude Fine Line stylus on an aluminum cantilever. Sound is delivered with an open, dynamic presentation and a touch of warmth, offering great depth in the stereo image. This design provides an emotionally involving and tonally neutral listening experience, especially suited for jazz, vocals, and classic rock.

In stock
Colour:Red
Quantity:

Every order ships free to any address in Australia via fully tracked, insured delivery. You’ll receive a tracking link once your order is dispatched so you can follow it the whole way. Estimated delivery is 1-4 business days.

We handle your warranty so you don’t have to. If something isn’t right, simply get in touch and we will coordinate directly with the Australian importer on your behalf. Find out more. click here to lodge a warranty claim.

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Description

The sound picture of Cadenza Red is relaxed, homogeneous and moderately dynamic and have great space and depth in the stereo image.

The Cadenza Red model is using a Nude Fine Line stylus with a cylindrical aluminium cantilever. The stylus tip radius is r/R 8/40 µm.

The coils are made from 6NX (99.9999 %) pure silver wire.

An improved winding process on the armature allows a better channel balance.

GOLDENES OHR AWARD 2018

The readers of the German HiFi magazine  AUDIO voted for the best Hifi products of the year. With votes coming in from across Germany, the MC Cadenza Red won in the category phono cartridges. Almost 150 industry members attended the Award ceremony in Munich.

Review quote MC Cadenza Red

Positive Feedback August 2016
Reviewed by John Hoffman

"... in the case of the Ortofon Cadenza Red, I can tell you without a doubt that you are getting what you pay for, of that I am 100% certain. My first impression of the Cadenza Red is this cartridge has an astonishingly natural portrayal of the midrange, and this sole characteristic would make it worth owning...

... There is indeed a separation between good and great moving coil cartridges, and the Cadenza Red is certainly in the field where the excellent ones reside in...

..The Cadenza Red is never a cartridge that is in a hurry so to speak, as it encourages a person to experience every facet of an album, and enjoy it on many different levels...

...The Red is intended to be liquid, refined, flowing, with a slightly burnished warmth that is easy to get hooked on...

...The design team at Ortofon has done a splendid job voicing the Cadenza Red, and creating a cartridge that is inviting and easy to listen to, yet capable of presenting the entire palette of shading and texture that may be captured in a recording. This cartridge is a wonderful find for those hobbyists who value an emotionally involving listening experience, where the highlights are tone, harmonic density, and a rich presentation..."

MC Cadenza Series' accessories included the package

  • 1 x Stylus brush, fibre
  • 1 x Screwdriver
  • Leadwires, pair LW-6N
  • Screws, pair M2,5 x 3
  • Screws, pair M2,5 x 5
  • Screws, pair M2,5 x 6

Review quote MC Cadenza Red

Audiophilia May 2016
Reviewed by Anthony Kershaw

"... I was quite surprised at the detail and sophistication of the first in line Ortofon Cadenza (Red) moving coil. ...it does extract a ton of detail and shades the detail with expression and accurate dynamics.

...As audiophiles we're always looking for the proverbial veil lifting in front of the stage. The Red did just that. More importantly, the cartridge has a very sweet disposition. All carts add their own voices, and some, too many. The sweetness here is tactile. Massed violins had weight and sheen, and a presence that only well designed analogue allows...

...Bass was emphatic. Deep and with the resonances that make it such a satisfying musical component...

...The midrange is always the most elusive to capture, especially voices... The balance is right on so many of their carts. The Red is wonderfully in balance, nothing jars,nothing compresses. You'll get the air and the musical presence...

...I really like this cartridge. For the price, a favourite moving coil..."

German HiFi magazine STEREOPLAY's GOLDENES OHR Award 2017

The readers of the STEREOPLAY voted for the best Hifi products of the year. With votes coming in from across Germany, MC Cadenza Red won in the category phono cartridges. 

The Cadenza series

At Ortofon we constantly look for new technology to be used in our products and push the performance of existing technology. Thus we assure the highest level of performance and quality. The Kontrapunkt models and MC Jubilee became market standards and are among our most popular cartridges. Nevertheless Ortofon decided to develope a new cartridge series that is even more ambitious.

By carefully implementing cobalt-iron pole pieces, new improved winding process on the armature, using extruded aluminium housing in the models as well as other changes, we have been able to reveal new possibilities in performing the analogue information. It was also decided to make a more complete range of cartridges, which meant an introduction of a moving coil Cadenza Mono model to support our customers, who have an extended interest in micro groove mono records.

Each of the five Cadenza Series cartridges has its own individual sonic expression, and all five models together represent the ensemble of five classic variations:

  • MC Cadenza Mono is a true mono cartridge for playing mono microgroove vinyl records

    MC Cadenza Mono picture is kindly provided by Martin J. Kunz

  • MC Cadenza Red delivers open, dynamic sound with a touch of warmth
  • MC Cadenza Blue adds more dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details
  • MC Cadenza Bronze adds even more details and resolution but in a very evenhanded way that pays respect to all elements

  • MC Cadenza Black is the best of everything, true to the groove with resolution and accurate insight into each recording

 

Tech Specs

Output voltage at 1 kHz 5 cm/sec

0.45 mV

Channel balance

< 1.5 dB

Channel separation at 1 kHz

> 23 dB

Channel separation at 15 kHz

> 15 dB

Frequency response 20 Hz

20 kHz - +3/-1

Tracking ability at 315 Hz at recommended tracking force *)

80 μm

Compliance, dynamic, lateral

12 μm/mN

Stylus type

Nude Fine Line on Alu cantilever

Stylus tip radius

r/R 8/40 μm

Tracking force range

2.2-2.7 g (22-27 mN)

Tracking force recommended

2.5 g (25 mN)

Tracking angle

20º

Internal impedance, DC resistance

5 Ohm

Recommended load impedance

50 - 500 Ohm

Cartridge body material

Stainless steel Aluminium

Cartridge colour

Red/Black

Cartridge weight

10.7 g

Customer Reviews

User Reviews

Warranty Information
warranty shield 2 Years Warranty

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Why Choose Ortofon

Ortofon is one of the most historic and widely recognised names in analogue audio, with a cartridge manufacturing heritage that stretches back to Denmark in 1918. Over more than a century, Ortofon has become one of the most influential brands in vinyl playback, producing cartridges used across home Hi-Fi, professional mastering studios, archival applications, and DJ environments worldwide.

What makes Ortofon particularly interesting is the breadth of the range and the consistency of its engineering philosophy. From accessible moving magnet models through to highly specialised reference moving coil cartridges, Ortofon products are generally known for precision, strong tracking ability, low coloration, and excellent retrieval of detail from vinyl recordings. Their cartridges often appeal to listeners seeking a clean, accurate, and highly organised presentation with strong image focus and neutrality.

At HeyNow Hi-Fi, Ortofon tends to appeal most to customers who already know the brand through its strong global reputation and long-standing presence within analogue audio. Models such as the 2M series and Quintet range have become extremely popular internationally due to their reliability, broad compatibility, and approachable performance across many turntable and tonearm combinations.

Signature Design and Sound

Manufactured in Denmark, Ortofon cartridges are developed using extensive in-house engineering, advanced stylus technologies, and decades of analogue research and production experience. The company remains one of the few large-scale cartridge manufacturers still deeply invested in analogue playback development at every level of the market.

Sonically, Ortofon cartridges are generally recognised for their precision, clarity, and tracking performance. The presentation often feels clean and well controlled, with strong separation, articulate bass, and excellent retrieval of fine musical information. Depending on the model range, the sound can vary from smooth and approachable through to highly revealing and reference-focused.

Compared with some more overtly romantic or tonally rich cartridge brands, many Ortofon models lean toward a more neutral and technically balanced presentation. This makes them particularly attractive for listeners wanting strong detail retrieval, system versatility, and dependable performance across a wide variety of music genres and system types.

Ortofon Product Range

The Ortofon range includes moving magnet cartridges, moving coil cartridges, replacement styli, tonearms, step-up transformers, and specialised professional audio products. Popular ranges including the 2M series, Quintet series, Cadenza range, and flagship MC cartridges cover everything from entry-level vinyl systems through to serious high-end analogue playback.

Ortofon cartridges are available in a broad variety of output levels, stylus profiles, and compliance configurations, allowing compatibility across many different tonearm and turntable designs. Their extensive product range and strong worldwide support network have helped establish Ortofon as one of the most recognisable and enduring names in analogue audio.

At HeyNow Hi-Fi, Geoff and his analogue setup team can assist with cartridge selection, installation, tonearm matching, and phono stage optimisation to ensure customers achieve the best possible performance from their vinyl playback systems.

Explore the Ortofon range:

Cartridges

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WHY CHOOSE HEYNOW HI-FI?

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Whether you're starting from scratch, refining your set up, or upgrading your gear, Geoff is always happy to have a chat. Call or book a private consultation directly with Geoff today.

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