Ortofon
Turntable Tonearms
Best Known For
Turntable Cartridges
/
Used Products
124
 Available
Average Price
$2,501-$5,000
Brand Popularity
72
 of 900+
Products Listed
2
Review Count
2
Founding Year
1918
Headquarters
Denmark
Ortofon
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What's unique about the brand

Ortofon pioneered the moving coil cartridge and continues to use Selective Laser Melting technology to create exceptionally precise cartridge bodies. Their SPU series, introduced in 1958 and largely unchanged since then, remains a classic in the audiophile community, while their newer cartridges feature advanced materials like titanium, boron, and diamond to achieve superior sound quality.

What reviewers are saying

We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:

Our favorite reviewer quotes:

Want to report a correction? Please contact us. We'd love to hear from you. Note that much of the data, recommendations, and summaries on ExtremeHiFi are researched after thousands of hours of loving labor. We archive our site's data and its pages on Archive.org and monitor for those repurposing the data. We also fingerprint data to know when text and numbers came from us.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From Julian's interview with
.

Lineup comparison

We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.

OM Series

  • Positioning: Positioned as an entry-level option for both vinyl enthusiasts and DJs.
  • Description: Offers great value with its compatibility across a wide range of tonearms, making it ideal for those new to vinyl or on a budget. Features a lightweight design that ensures excellent tracking ability, which is a step up from the more basic models in the lineup. Compared to the Concorde Music series, it's more affordable and versatile, suitable for both home listening and DJ use.

SPU Series

  • Positioning: A high-end option for audiophiles who appreciate classic analog sound.
  • Description: Renowned for its rich, warm sound, making it a favorite among purists who value traditional analog playback. With models like the SPU Royal G MKII, it offers refined soundstage and detail. Compared to the Cadenza Series, the SPU focuses more on a vintage sound signature.

MC Cadenza Series

  • Positioning: Positioned as a premium line for audiophiles seeking the ultimate in sound quality.
  • Description: The Cadenza Series is celebrated for its precision and dynamic range, with models like the Cadenza Black offering exceptional stereo imaging and detail. It uses advanced technology to provide a modern take on high-fidelity sound. Compared to the SPU Series, the Cadenza offers a more contemporary sound profile.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer

Search hifi products

Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.

Similar

Turntable Cartridges

brands

Known For
Turntable Cartridges
/
Average Price
$2,501-$5,000
Used Products
50
 Available
Brand Popularity
113
 of 900+
Headquarters
Japan

About the brand

Dynavector, a hifi cartridge brand with nearly 50 years of history, was the first to use gemstone cantilevers like ruby and diamond in their cartridges, while also developing unique technologies like the Flux Damper for improved magnetic linearity. Their cartridges are distinguished by the use of extremely fine wire coils and current amplification (rather than voltage) in their head amplifiers, making them particularly well-suited for low-output moving coil cartridges.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Turntable Cartridges
/
Average Price
$5,001-$10,000
Used Products
44
 Available
Brand Popularity
150
 of 900+
Headquarters
Switzerland

About the brand

EMT Tontechnik, originally developed for German broadcasters, is renowned for its high-performance moving coil cartridges and digital reverb units that emphasize honesty and coherence. Their turntables and cartridges maintain a distinct sonic signature that blends transient speed with musical attack, while their reverb units, including the EMT 246 with its EMT 250 algorithm, are considered among the best digital reverbs ever made.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Turntable Cartridges
/
Average Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used Products
23
 Available
Brand Popularity
151
 of 900+
Headquarters
Japan

About the brand

Hana is a hifi brand known for its hand-assembled turntable cartridges that undergo cryogenic treatment of internal parts, a unique process that alters the metal's molecular structure to improve sound quality. Their cartridges, particularly the Umami series with its Alnico magnets and the more affordable EL model, deliver exceptional sound quality through precise craftsmanship and specialized features like MicroLine styli that extract more detail from vinyl grooves.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page

Questions? Ask their dealers.

All Dealers
No items found.
Check Amazon
Amazon logo
Official Website
See All Dealers
No items found.