Ortofon

The Ortofon Super OM 5E is a moving magnet phono cartridge designed to deliver exceptional audio performance for vinyl enthusiasts. It represents a high-fidelity solution that caters to both casual listeners and audiophiles seeking a precise and detailed sound reproduction from their record collections. The cartridge integrates advanced engineering and design elements that optimize its performance across a wide frequency range, making it suitable for a variety of musical genres. Its ergonomic design and replaceable stylus offer both convenience and longevity, ensuring that users can enjoy superior sound quality over extended periods.

Key Features

• Elliptical Stylus Design: The Super OM 5E features an elliptical stylus, which offers improved tracking ability and accuracy in sound reproduction compared to spherical stylus designs. This allows for a more detailed and accurate reading of the vinyl grooves.
• Noryl Cartridge Housing: Constructed from Noryl, the cartridge body provides excellent rigidity and minimal resonance, contributing to a clear and detailed audio output.
• Split Pole Pins: The inclusion of split pole pins enhances the cartridge's ability to produce a flat frequency response and improved channel separation, providing a more balanced and accurate sound stage.
• Optimized Mass Distribution: With an optimized mass distribution, the cartridge provides better tracking and reduced distortion, ensuring that the stylus stays in the groove with minimal interference.
• Interchangeable Stylus System: The cartridge is equipped with an interchangeable stylus system, allowing users to upgrade or replace the stylus easily, thus enhancing the longevity and versatility of the cartridge.
• High Output Voltage: Delivering an output voltage of 4 mV, the Super OM 5E ensures compatibility with a wide range of phono preamps and amplifiers, providing robust and dynamic sound.
• Wide Frequency Response: The cartridge boasts a frequency response of 20 Hz to 25 kHz, capturing a broad spectrum of audio frequencies for a more immersive listening experience.

Detailed Description

Stylus Design and Tracking

The Ortofon Super OM 5E features an elliptical stylus design, which is a significant upgrade over traditional spherical styli. This elliptical shape allows for a more precise contact with the grooves of a vinyl record. The enhanced tracking ability means that the stylus can follow the groove modulations more accurately, resulting in reduced distortion and improved sound quality. This design is particularly effective in retrieving intricate musical details and dynamics from the record, making it ideal for critical listening.

Noryl Cartridge Housing

The cartridge body of the Super OM 5E is constructed from Noryl, a high-strength, low-resonance plastic polymer known for its excellent durability and stability. Noryl’s rigidity helps reduce unwanted vibrations and resonances within the cartridge, allowing for clearer and more accurate sound reproduction. This material choice ensures that the audio signal remains true to the original recording, providing a faithful playback experience with minimal coloration or distortion.

Split Pole Pins

The Super OM 5E utilizes split pole pins, a design feature that significantly improves the cartridge's magnetic performance. Split pole pins help create a flat impedance characteristic, which in turn ensures a flat frequency response across the audible range. This results in better channel separation and a more precise sound stage, allowing for a more accurate and immersive listening experience. By reducing electrical crosstalk between channels, the split pole pins contribute to the cartridge's superior stereo imaging and clarity.

Mass Distribution

A key engineering focus of the Super OM 5E is its optimized mass distribution. The cartridge's design ensures that the mass is centered around the stylus, which improves tracking performance by maintaining optimal contact with the record surface. This mass distribution helps to minimize vibration and resonance, which can introduce distortion. As a result, users experience cleaner audio playback with enhanced clarity and precision, especially in complex musical passages.

Interchangeable Stylus System

The Super OM 5E is equipped with an interchangeable stylus system, offering significant advantages in terms of usability and maintenance. This feature allows users to easily replace a worn-out stylus or upgrade to a higher-performance stylus without replacing the entire cartridge. The ease of replacement ensures that users can maintain optimal sound quality without the need for specialized tools or expertise. The interchangeability also provides flexibility for those who wish to experiment with different stylus types to achieve specific sound characteristics.

Output Voltage and Compatibility

The cartridge delivers a high output voltage of 4 mV, which makes it highly compatible with a broad range of phono preamplifiers and audio systems. This output level ensures that the Super OM 5E can drive most amplifiers effectively, providing robust and dynamic sound reproduction. The high output voltage also contributes to a lower noise floor, enhancing the clarity of the audio signal and making subtle details more audible.

Frequency Response

The Super OM 5E boasts an impressive frequency response range of 20 Hz to 25 kHz. This wide frequency range ensures that the cartridge can accurately reproduce both the lowest bass notes and the highest treble frequencies found in a variety of musical recordings. This capability allows listeners to experience the full spectrum of sound, from the deep, resonant bass to the sparkling highs, providing a well-balanced and immersive listening experience.

Build Quality and Design

Ortofon's commitment to quality is evident in the build and design of the Super OM 5E. The cartridge features a robust construction designed to withstand regular use while maintaining its performance characteristics. Its black and black color scheme gives it a sleek, professional appearance that complements a wide range of turntable designs. Additionally, the ergonomic shape facilitates easy installation and alignment on compatible tonearms, ensuring that users can achieve the best possible performance from their setup.

Technical Specifications

Please read the recommendations for stylus and record care: Ortofon's HiFi FAQ