Ortofon

Ortofon is one of the most respected names in vinyl playback, with a history dating back to 1918 and a long-standing reputation for precision phono cartridge design. Based in Denmark, the company is best known for its turntable cartridges, replacement styli and accessories, covering everything from affordable moving magnet cartridges to high-end moving coil designs for serious record collectors. Read more info ↓
FOUNDED
1918
HEADQUARTERS
Denmark
Ortofon

The Ortofon catalogue. 11 ranges. 38 products.

01 4 PRODUCTS | £81 – £439

Ortofon 2M Cartridges

The Ortofon 2M Series covers a broad range of moving magnet cartridges, progressing through different stylus profiles and generator refinements to suit turntables from accessible systems to serious analogue setups.

4 PRODUCTS
£81 – £439
02 5 PRODUCTS | £125 – £729

Ortofon Concorde Music Cartridges

The Ortofon Concorde Music Cartridges retain the iconic bayonet-mount design while introducing quad-coil generators, split pole pins and a clear upgrade path across increasingly sophisticated stylus profiles.

5 PRODUCTS
£125 – £729
03 5 PRODUCTS | £1,199 – £2,449

Ortofon Cadenza MC Cartridges

Positioned among Ortofon’s premium moving coil designs, the Cadenza Series uses advanced materials and progressively sophisticated stylus profiles to deliver high resolution, precise tracking and refined analogue performance.

5 PRODUCTS
£1,199 – £2,449
04 4 PRODUCTS | £319 – £875

Ortofon Quintet MC Cartridges

The Quintet Series provides an accessible route into Ortofon moving coil technology, offering several stylus and cantilever configurations while maintaining the low-output architecture and precision expected from dedicated MC designs.

4 PRODUCTS
£319 – £875
05 5 PRODUCTS | £269 – £1,299

Ortofon MC X Range Cartridges

The Ortofon MC X Range provides a progressive route into moving coil playback, with increasingly advanced stylus and cantilever technologies culminating in the Micro Ridge and boron-equipped MC X50.

5 PRODUCTS
£269 – £1,299
06 4 PRODUCTS | £3,999 – £7,349

Ortofon Reference MC Cartridges

Developed for high-end analogue systems, Ortofon Reference MC Cartridges employ advanced generator assemblies, carefully selected materials and precision stylus profiles to extract fine detail with low distortion and accurate tracking.

4 PRODUCTS
£3,999 – £7,349
07 4 PRODUCTS | £59 – £369

Ortofon 2M Styli

Replacement 2M styli allow compatible cartridges to be maintained or upgraded without replacing the complete body, with different profiles offering progressively greater tracking ability and groove detail.

4 PRODUCTS
£59 – £369
08 2 PRODUCTS | £55 – £147

Ortofon OM Styli

Ortofon OM replacement styli extend the life of compatible cartridges and provide straightforward upgrade options, with a range of stylus profiles suited to different levels of turntable and vinyl playback.

2 PRODUCTS
£55 – £147
09 3 PRODUCTS | £65 – £699

Ortofon Concorde Music Styli

Fully interchangeable across the Concorde Music platform, replacement styli allow cartridges to be maintained or upgraded from entry-level profiles through to the Black LVB 250 without replacing the body.

3 PRODUCTS
£65 – £699
10 1 PRODUCT | £55

Ortofon Accessories

Ortofon Accessories cover headshells, stylus protection, cables, SPU parts and other supporting products for cartridge installation, maintenance and integration within analogue playback systems.

1 PRODUCT
£55
11 1 PRODUCT | £619 – £699

Ortofon SPU

Dating back to 1959, Ortofon SPU cartridges preserve one of the company’s most enduring moving coil architectures, combining distinctive headshell-integrated construction with the rich, dynamic presentation associated with the original design.

1 PRODUCT
£619 – £699

Things people ask
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A few things we get asked most often. If your question isn't here, our team is happy to talk it through.

Ortofon is a Danish company whose history goes back to 1918. Its headquarters, R&D and factory are in Nakskov, Denmark, where the company manufactures precision components and phono cartridges using a combination of automated production and specialist hand assembly.

Phono cartridges are at the centre of Ortofon’s reputation. The company has been developing cartridge technology for decades and today produces both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil designs, covering everything from straightforward turntable upgrades to specialist high-end cartridges.

A Moving Magnet cartridge is usually the simpler option because it has higher output, works with a wide range of MM phono stages and normally allows the stylus to be replaced. Moving Coil cartridges generally have lower output and need suitable MC amplification, but they are aimed at listeners looking for a more advanced analogue setup. The phono stage you already own is therefore an important part of the decision.

Start by checking the cartridge mounting system, tonearm specifications and phono-stage compatibility. Ortofon offers conventional half-inch mount cartridges as well as direct bayonet designs, and cartridge weight, compliance and recommended tracking force also need to suit the tonearm.

Many Ortofon Moving Magnet cartridges use replaceable stylus assemblies. This makes it possible to replace a worn stylus without changing the entire cartridge, and some ranges also allow an upgrade to a higher stylus within the same cartridge family. Moving Coil cartridges generally do not offer the same simple user-replaceable stylus arrangement.

A conventional half-inch cartridge mounts to the headshell with screws and separate lead wires. Concorde Music uses a direct bayonet connection, making installation much quicker on compatible S-shaped tonearms with an SME-style connector. The better option depends primarily on the tonearm fitted to the turntable rather than one format being inherently superior.

A step-up transformer is used with low-output Moving Coil cartridges to raise their signal before it reaches a conventional MM phono input. It provides a passive alternative to using an active MC gain stage, but the transformer needs to be electrically matched to the cartridge. Premium Sound currently lists the Ortofon ST-80 SE alongside its MC cartridge range.

With Ortofon, compatibility matters as much as budget. The cartridge needs to suit the tonearm, mounting system and phono stage, while tracking force and cartridge weight also need to be considered. Premium Sound’s current Ortofon range covers both MM and MC options across a wide price range, so checking the existing turntable setup first is the safest way to narrow the choice.

More info about Ortofon.

For many vinyl listeners, Ortofon is one of the first serious cartridge brands they encounter. The brand has a rare ability to serve both beginners and experienced record collectors, offering simple cartridge upgrades as well as more specialist designs for advanced turntable systems. This broad appeal has helped Ortofon become a trusted name for anyone looking to improve tracking, detail, timing and overall musical enjoyment from records.

Ortofon’s long history also gives the brand a sense of credibility that is difficult to manufacture. The company has been involved in sound reproduction for more than 100 years, and its work has moved through film sound, professional audio, DJ cartridges and hi-fi vinyl playback. That background is part of why Ortofon is so widely recognised by turntable owners across different parts of the audio world.

For vinyl newcomers, the Ortofon name can make the upgrade process feel less intimidating. The brand is widely known, widely supported and easy to research, which helps when choosing a first proper phono cartridge or replacement stylus. It also means that advice, compatibility information and upgrade options are usually easier to find than with more obscure cartridge makers.

Ortofon remains one of the key brands to consider for turntable cartridges, replacement styli and vinyl accessories. Its combination of long engineering history, broad product range and strong reputation makes it suitable for first upgrades, serious analogue systems and ongoing cartridge maintenance. For anyone looking to get more from a record player, Ortofon offers a well-established route into better vinyl playback.

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