Ortofon Hi-Fi MC X40 Moving Coil Cartridge

MC X40

MC X40 is designed for audiophiles seeking exceptional transparency, speed, and refinement. Featuring a nude Shibata diamond stylus mounted on a rigid and lightweight boron cantilever, it delivers outstanding detail retrieval, expansive soundstaging, and highly accurate musical reproduction.

Honoured with StereoNet’s “Product of the Year” award in the Phono Cartridge category, the MC X40 is celebrated for delivering a “lovely, smooth, delicate and open sound that echoes the character of genuine high-end designs."

A New Benchmark in Analog Perfection

In the world of vinyl playback, the cartridge is where the journey begins. A pivotal point where music rises from the groove and transforms into immersive soundscapes. With the MC X Series, Ortofon sets a new benchmark in MC cartridge design, pushing premium Moving Coil technology to unprecedented levels of performance.

Exceptional Signal Clarity

Pure Silver Coil System

All MC X cartridges feature coils wound with high-purity silver wire. The use of premium materials is to ensure exceptional signal clarity, delivering sound with unmatched precision and preserving every detail without interference.

Maximum Magnetic Efficiency

Magnet system

The MC X Series introduces a newly developed magnet system with a one-piece pole cylinder integrated into a rear magnet yoke. Engineered for maximum magnetic efficiency and paired with pure silver coils, this configuration ensures a clean, powerful signal path that elevates overall performance.

Precision Engineering for Unmatched Stability

Custom-Developed Rubber Dampers

In-house produced and developed rubber compounds form the core of the MC X Series’ mechanical damping system. Rubber dampers are essential for controlling the physical movement of the coils, maintaining stability, minimizing unwanted vibrations, and enabling precise coil motion. The result is superior tracking, reduced distortion, and musical accuracy.

MIM-Molded Honeycomb-Structured Core

Experience the depth.Hear every detail.

At the core of the MC X Series is an advanced honeycomb-structured stainless-steel frame, created using Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology. This refined construction ensures superior mechanical stability, providing an ideal foundation for precise and accurate sound reproduction.

After molding and sintering, a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) surface treatment is applied to enhance surface appearance and maintain material integrity over time.

Modern Elegance with Distinctive Design

The Shape of Sound

The MC X Series embodies modern elegance with a distinctive design that seamlessly complements the tonearm. From afar, its silhouette speaks of minimalist refinement; up close, its intricate detailing reveals craftsmanship at every level. True to Ortofon’s signature aesthetic, it’s a sophisticated fusion of form and function.

Awards

Reviews

“Its trackability was also superb… even on demanding recordings… channel separation was excellent.

Dynamics and transient information were delivered with speed… a natural level of sustain, and spotless transparency…

I couldn’t have been more impressed with the MC X40’s overall performance… it didn’t put a foot wrong in any groove it was asked to track.“

-Neil Gader,The Absolute Sound

“With the new MC X series, Ortofon has landed at least two, possibly even four big hits. The two Generation X cartridges tested are certainly at the top of the charts in their price ranges.“

-Lothar Brandt,Audio+Stereoplay, September 2025

“Honoured with StereoNet’s “Product of the Year” award in the Phono Cartridge category, the MC X40 is celebrated for delivering a “lovely, smooth, delicate and open sound that echoes the character of genuine high-end designs.“

-StereoNet

“...the X40 out of the box produced the sonic gut punch and more.

…it was surprisingly easy to "let go" of the 90X and just settle into the X40. That is how good it is, particularly in terms of timbral balance, macrodynamics, image solidity, soundstage depth and three-dimensionality.

This cartridge's sonic performance is world's beyond the old Quintet Black“

-Michael Fremer,Tracking Angle, July 2025

“It doesn’t get much better than this… I couldn’t think of a better cartridge to track the grooves of this reissue than the MC X40.

Bass response was another delight… not just extension but pitch reproduction too… like I was hearing it for the first time.

Strings were individually delineated and superbly layered… resolved and free of any veiling…“

-Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound

Videos

Cartridge Dimensions

Open Dimensions Chart

User Reviews

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