MC X40

I took a chance on this new-to-market MC cartridge. Early adopters can sometimes get burned but, with this purchase, I lucked out. My stand out sonic signatures are a low end solidity and high end articulation. As the listening hours mounted (50-100) it got better and better. It is the cliché of record collection rediscovery all over again.

I just installed and calibrated the X40 on a Thorens TD1601. You don't need to be an audiophile - although it helps to have a trained ear - to hear the sheer honesty of this MC cartridge, the entire range comes alive - clean lyrics on gut punching bass and perfect highs - not distractingly over bright. Try it an rediscover what has been hiding in the groove!

I bought the MC X40 to have another good, less expensive moving coil to complement my extraordinary MC Verismo. Having owned a Quintet black S previously, I expected something similar. Boy was I surprised! The MC X40 is a lot closer in sound quality and character to the MC Verismo than I would have ever guessed. In fact it's better than my previous Cadenza Black too! It is superb cartridge, not only for the price, its superb regardless of price. It differs from its expenentially more expensive stablemate only in the n'th degree of refinement. They are both equally revealing and incredibly dynamic, the Verismo only differentiating itself by having an almost imperceptible extra aura of musicality. In all but the most revealing of equipment, I'm pretty sure that they would sound virtually identical. Ortofon should feel really proud that they have been able to produce a cartridge of this caliber at what amounts to an enthusiast price.

Great cartridge for my Kuzma 4Point9 arm. Strong and clean on bass, transparent mid and high. Very neutral sound through complete frequency spectre. Excelent tracking.