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Ortofon MC Cadenza Black
Accuracy level
The Cadenza Black model is using a Nude Shibata stylus with a boron cantilever. The effective mass of the stylus/cantilever system is extremely low due to the use of a very thin boron rod. This material is extremely stiff and even more lightweight than aluminium.
It also uses the WRD/Wide Range Damping-system applied for MC Windfeld, MC A90, MC Anna, Xpression, and MC A95 cartridges, controlling the high and low frequency damping separately.The coil wire is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold-plated 6NX copper wire. The Cadenza Black is high performing on areas like detail, consistency, and sound staging.
The Cadenza series
At Ortofon, we constantly look for new technology to be used in our products and push the performance of existing technology. Thus, we assure the highest level of performance and quality. The Kontrapunkt models and MC Jubilee became market standards and are among our most popular cartridges. Nevertheless, Ortofon decided to develop a new cartridge series that is even more ambitious.
Each of the five Cadenza Series cartridges has its own individual sonic expression, and all five models together represent the ensemble of five classic variations.
The MC Cadenza Black is the best of everything, true to the groove with resolution and accurate insight into each recording.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Professional Reviews 94/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
96/100
Build Quality
92/100
Features Usability
90/100
Value for Money
89/100
With smooth, clean detail and a refined, three-dimensional image, the Ortofon MC Cadenza Black sounds poised rather than flashy. David Price praises its composure on dense mixes, precise tracking, and polished musical flow, while its boron cantilever and Shibata stylus help it retrieve nuance without strain. It’s a serious moving-coil for listeners who value control and spaciousness.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Delivers smooth, clean and highly detailed sound with strong composure on complex recordings.
Creates an expansive, three-dimensional soundstage with precise image placement.
Tracks exceptionally well and stays calm on highly modulated records.
Feels well made and thoughtfully finished, with easy mounting and sensible setup behavior.
&
Cons
Its presentation is more measured than explosive, so it may feel less intense than some rivals.
Bass is controlled and even rather than especially weighty or thumping.
Low output means it needs a quiet, well-matched phono stage with appropriate gain.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100
Reviewers consistently describe a smooth, clean and highly detailed presentation with real composure. It is praised for expansive, three-dimensional imaging, strong control on dense recordings, and a calm but engaging character that sounds polished rather than aggressively analytical.
Overall Sound
95/100
David Price calls it smooth and clean, subtle but detailed, delicate but musically engaging. He also says it sounds expensive and offers a highly detailed, intimate presentation with subtlety and poise, while noting it is a little less intense than some rivals.
Tracking Retrieval
96/100
Tracking is described as excellent, with the cartridge staying composed on a highly modulated record and never showing signs of losing control. It also digs through dense mixes very effectively, revealing information in complex recordings with composure and dimensionality.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
Soundstaging is called expansive and three dimensional, with images located precisely in the mix. The review specifically highlights strong dimensionality and precise placement rather than vague width alone.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Tonearm compatibility appears straightforward in the review, where it is described as easy to mount and stable at the recommended tracking force. The moderate compliance and standard setup experience suggest it should suit a range of suitably matched arms, though it remains a low-output MC that benefits from proper phono stage matching.
Tonearm Compatibility
90/100
In an AudioMods 6 on a Michell GyroDec, it was easy to mount and tracked very well at the recommended 2.3 g. The review suggests practical setup is friendly, while its low-output moving-coil nature still implies the usual need for appropriate gain and loading.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
The cartridge is described as very well made and finished, with simple but purposeful packaging. Reviewers do not go into long-term durability, but the immediate impression is of a carefully executed, high-grade product.
Value for Money
89/100
Price is treated as high, but the review argues it is not crazily priced for what it does and calls it a great real-world moving coil. The value case is strongest when judged against costly moving-coil peers, where it is presented as impressively accomplished rather than merely expensive.
Reviews
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Ortofon MC Cadenza Black
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- 2C Stereo — in-store — Washington, District of Columbia, United States (website)
- à la carte productions — in-store — Palm Coast, Florida, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 364 more verified dealers