Ortofon MC X50 Moving Coil Audio Cartridge

MC X50 – Master the Groove

With the MC X50, the MC X Series reaches its most advanced implementation. Building on the established platform, the MC X50 introduces a refined combination of stylus and cantilever, designed to achieve a higher level of control and consistency in groove tracing.

At the core is a nude Micro Ridge diamond, engineered for precise contact with the groove and accurate tracing of fine modulations, particularly at high frequencies and across inner grooves. This is paired with a boron cantilever, providing high stiffness with low moving mass for fast and controlled response to signal variations.

A rubber suspension, designed and produced in-house by Ortofon using a newly developed compound specific to the MC X50, plays a central role in its performance, working in balance with the Micro Ridge stylus and boron cantilever to ensure stable tracking and consistent groove contact.

The MC X Series

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.

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.

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.

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.

For the MC X50 a newly developed rubber suspension featuring a newly formulated compound has been engineered.

The New Flagship Cartridge in the X Series

The MC X50 represents the most advanced expression of the MC X platform. By combining a Micro Ridge stylus profile with a boron cantilever and a dedicated suspension system, it achieves the highest level of tracking stability, lowest distortion, and most precise retrieval of recorded detail within the series.

Technical Specifications

• Output voltage: 0.4 mV
• Cantilever material: Boron
• Stylus profile: Micro Ridge
• Stylue type: Nude
• Stylus tip radius: r/R 2.5/75 µm
• Stylus suspension: Ortofon exclusive
• Coil system: Quad coils
• Coil wire: High-purity silver
• Channel balance at 1 kHz: 0.5 dB
• Channel separation at 1 kHz: 28 dB
• Frequency resp. 20 Hz - 20 kHz: +/-1 dB
• Dynamic lateral compliance: 14 µm/mN
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 grams
• Recommended load resistance: > 50 Ω
• Internal impedance, DC resistance: 6 Ω
• Cartridge weight: 8.6 grams