Ortofon Quintet Blue MC Cartridge
A Nude Elliptical diamond mounted on an aluminium cantilever. The Quintet Blue will bring more space, depth and detail into the sound.
Please allow 5-10 Days GB Mainland Delivery on this item
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 have introduced about 100 different moving coil models, with their 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 have made Ortofon the global leader in the manufacturing and supplying of phono cartridges.
The Quintet Blue is a very homogeneous cartridge whose 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.
The MC Quintet Series is congruent with Ortofon’s unrelenting commitment to providing the most precise and accurate reproduction possible without colouration.
Features:
- 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.
- Low internal impedance makes the cartridge less sensitive to load and therefore ensures compatibility with the widest range of preamps and transformers.
Essential Information
- This item is supplied with a 1 year warranty
- Please allow 5-10 Days GB Mainland Delivery on this item
Hi-Fi News, December 2014
Score: 85%, 'Outstanding Product'
“The Blue’s straight-sided body and threaded mounting holes makes it easy to align”
“A few bars into Little Dragon’s ‘Paris’ from their Nabuma rubberbandAlbum [Because Music BEc5 161771] lets the Blue show how it can pull out plenty of detail from the track with ease, which it presents with real dynamism. The synthesised percussion has ample depth and attack, and I could feel each note’s texture as they were served up in rapid succession...”
(REM’s ‘ turn You Inside-Out’ [Green-Warner Bros WX 234 925 795-1]) “Under the Blue’s influence, the track’s guitars are still given free rein to sound raw and edgy, but without being allowed to become ‘spitty’, especially at high SPLs.”
“what’s more striking is the Ortofon’s talent for separating out instruments within it.”
“Turning to Nick Drake’s ‘Fly’ from Bryter Layter [Simply Vinyl SVLP 094] Shows how well this cartridge copes with more challenging material. Each instrument is given plenty of air and space to let the notes form with convincing realism, which the Ortofon knits together into a cohesive whole, while ensuring their edges don’t blur into each other.”
“Bass is also nicely articulate and evenly presented without being over-emphasised or lacking in tangibility.”
“The ‘Paris’ track underlines how the Blue likes to show its hand in the lower registers. Not just trying to impress through lots of low-down wallop, but by making sure the bass sounds natural and fully formed – neither overly dominant nor hollow, resulting in low notes with genuine substance.”
“All in all, this latest Blue is a very accomplished MC”
“you’ll be very hard-pressed to find a better alternative that’s as well balanced across the board as the blue. This pick-up offers a sound that’s both refined and yet bags of fun, guaranteeing its place as a fantastic all-rounder for those wanting a quality moving coil on a budget.”
Hi-Fi Choice, October 2014
Reviewed By: Andrew Simpson
Sound Quality: 5 Stars
Value For Money: 5 Stars
Build Quality: 5 Stars
Features: 4 Stars
Overall Score: 5 Stars, 'Group Test Winner'
“it presents all the detail in the track with real dynamism.”
“lead guitar notes in the instrumental section sound sharp but never harsh, with chords struck firmly before reverberating with a natural echo.”
“It’s soundstage is expansive left to right”
“it really plays to how the piece moves from quiet passages to louder sections with great effect, pulling you into the music. 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 emphasised or rolling off too early, making its presence and detail felt without becoming overwhelming on more demanding bass-heavy music.”
“LIKE: Open and detailed sound, well built”
“WE SAY: Fantastic sounding mid-price MC that does everything right.”
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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
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Can modern record players play 78rpm records?
Unless it explicitly states in the product specifications most turntables do not play 78rpm records. Some manufacturers offer modification kits but what is needed varies from model to model. Contact us with your turntable model number for personalised advice.
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Why is my stylus listed under a different brand name to my system?
Most HiFi & turntable brands do not manufacture their own styli & buy them in from other specialised brands. Because of this is it not always possible to identify your stylus from the brand name of the turntable .
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What is the difference between moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) turntable cartridges?
In a Moving Magnet cartridge, the canteleiver (the arm) has 2 magnets attached inside the stylus body, 1 for the left channel & 1 for the right channel. These move according to the groove of the record & induce an electrical signal into the coils inside the cartridge body. This signal is then amplified by a phono pre-amp, either built into you amplifier or an external unit, to reach audible levels. In a Moving Magnet cartridge it is possible to replace the stylus once the original has worn. Most manufacturers will make a selection of styli of differing grades to fit the same cartridge. A Moving Coil cartridge is manufactured in opposite arrangement to Moving Magnet. The coils are attached to the canteleiver while the magnets are fitted inside the cartridge. It is generally accepted that Moving Coil cartridges are superior in sound quality to Moving Magnet cartridges, the compromise is that Moving Coil cartridges are significantly more expensive than Moving Magnet cartridges, & also that it is not possible to replace the stylus once worn, necessitating the purchase of a complete new cartridge.
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Can the stylus be replaced on all cartridges?
No. Styli can usually be replaced on Moving Magnet (MM) type cartridges but it is not possible to change the stylus on Moving Coil (MC) Cartridges
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Can I fit an alternative cartridge if my stylus is no longer available?
In most cases your turntable will have a 1/2" headshell mount, this can be identified by two small bolts running through your headshell to the cartridge. This is by far the most common type of connection with most new cartridges conforming to this standard. Other not so common but replaceable connections are a bayonet fitting, where the cartridge plugs directly into your tonearm via a bayonet, & a P4 connection, where your cartidge plugs directly into your tonearm by four pins. Fittings that are not replaceable include slide connectors such as those used by Dual & single screw connections, as used on very old turntables.
