Easy Mounting

Ortofon MC Rondo Series phono cartridges

Rondo cartidges are made of wood, a natural and unique material for acoustic products. Wood is an excellent material for a cartridge but difficult to use. So when we were informed from Japan about a new moulding material based on 55% grinded wood in a resin matrix that was to be processed by injection moulding just like thermoplastic material, the chance of making even more complicated structures in the design became of high interest. The well-known Japanese tradition in decorative art and lacquering techniques also became of interest for the presentation of a quite new look for the Rondo models.

 Rondo Series comprises Rondo Red, Rondo Blue, and Rondo Bronze models.

 The chosen surface colours and decorations are basic Bronze - Blue and Red lacquer modulated by black shadows. We decided that the tooling process was to take place in Japan based on the drawings and specifications made by Ortofon engineers.

The integrated Ortofon MC-system used for Rondo models involves new and well-known components responsible for the exclusive Ortofon sound quality and easy mounting:

  • The use of Neodymium magnets are inplemented for achieving 500μVolt high outputs - to obtain the best signal to noise ration for the customers.

  • A combination of diamonds and cantilevers with individually developed damping systems

  •  for the models was arranged for very linear frequency responce and a high tracking ability.

  • A very special genuine copper wire with a two-layer gold plating

  •  was chosen for the armature windings. The material Aucurum shows excellent resistance to corrosive elements from the environment and thereby stabilises the conductivity of the small number of armature windings in the system, which - again - is very important for the quality of sound.

  • A very close mechanical contact between the wood-based housing and motor units has resulted in a new homogeneous sound quality..

  • By using wood we have learned about the amazing non-resonant influence wood makes on the sound image.

Ortofon MC Rondo Blue phono cartridge

The Rondo Blue cartridge sound is defined to be more expressive and will distinguish higher from lower pitched instruments while well-controlled by the influence of wooden material. The Nude FG 70 diamond is mounted on a cylindrical aluminum cantilever, again revealing a very flat frequency response passing 20 kHz, including very high tracking ability at a recommended tracking force of just 2.3 gram. Recommended load, depending on volume or dynamic in music, might be around 50 Ohm or even lower. The Ortofon Golden Ear Panel statement says: The Rondo Blue cartridge sound is defined to be more expressive and will distinguish higher from lower pitched instruments while well-controlled by the influence of wooden material. We find the sound picture will tend to suit customers liking orchestral music as well as smaller groups of instruments like chamber music, smaller choirs, and solo instruments.

Review quote

Hi-Fi Critic July - September 2012, Reviewed by Chris Bryant
Reviewed by Chris Bryant

"... Very close mechanical contact between the wooden housing and the motor unit gives good vibration control and structural integrity ...

... Dynamically interesting and informative, it brings music to life, presenting fine micro-structural information with composure and ease.

... This is an excellent cartridge, and I have continued to use it on and off for several weeks without feeling the need to seek out something with greater performance credibility ...

Review quote

Hi-Fi Critic July - September 2012, Reviewed by Chris Bryant

Reviewed by Chris Bryant

"... Very close mechanical contact between the wooden housing and the motor unit gives good vibration control and structural integrity ... Dynamically interesting and informative, it brings music to life, presenting fine micro-structural information with composure and ease ... This is an excellent cartridge, and I have continued to use it on and off for several weeks without feeling the need to seek out something with greater performance credibility ...

MC Rondo Blue technical data

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec.   -  0,5 mV
Channel balance at 1 kHz   -  1,5 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz   -  25 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz   -  18 dB
Frequency range at - 3dB  -   20-35.000 Hz
Frequency response   -  20-20.000 Hz ±1,5 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force   -   85 µm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral  -   15 µm/mN
Stylus type  -   Nude FG70 on Aluminium cantilever
Stylus tip radius  -   r/R 5/70 µm

Tracking force range   -  2-2,5 g (20-25 mN)
Tracking force, recommended   -  2,3 g (23 mN)
Tracking angle   -  20°
Internal impedance, DC resistance  -   6 Ohm
Recommended load impedance   -  10-200 Ohm
Cartridge body material  -   Grinded wood/Resin comp.
Cartridge colour  -   Blue
Cartridge weight  -   10,5 g

Download MC Rondo series brochure