Analog Technology and In-House Construction, Enhanced: Hand-Made Ortofon MC 90X Moving-Coil Cartridge Succeeds the Iconic MC A90, Plays with Breathtaking Precision, Detail, and Focus

Do you remember the Ortofon MC A90 phono cartridge? If not, and if you were never lucky enough to hear it, you probably know what it signifies. Designed to exceed the performance of its iconic predecessor, MC 90X reimagines what’s possible from a moving-coil in this price range. Benefitting from cutting-edge construction, precision-minded engineering, and advanced materials, the limited-batch MC A90 transmits the often-unmined depth, ultra-nuanced details, extended upper-end highs, and colorful tones contained in the grooves of the world’s choicest vinyl LPs. 

Outfitted with a Wide Range Damping (WRD) system — comprised of a platinum disc placed between a pair of in-house-made rubber dampers, the total assembly provides outstanding tracking and resonance control — the 9.5-gram MC 90X sails through complex passages while demonstrating remarkable clarity, focus, and refinement. An Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond stylus, renowned for its light profile and large contact surface, allows MC 90X to trace grooves with staggering accuracy and authority. Enhanced by a special polishing process and Boron cantilever, the combination plays with involving transparency, speed, and energy. MC 90X also benefits from Orotofon’s high-end Field Stabilizing Element (FSE), which, true to its name, improves dynamic responsiveness and channel separation by stabilizing the magnetic field. 

As for the most visible feature of the MC 90X, its blue stainless-steel body? It comes crafted by way of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology that involves laser-welding of micro particles to create a one-piece body. The end result: Increased rigidity, reduced resonances, and optimal cartridge mass, helping generate superior sound and linearity. To further provide reference-level signal transmission, MC 90X possesses coil wires made of the special alloy Aucurum, a gold-plated 6NX oxygen-free copper.

With an output voltage of 0.25 mV, quad-coil suspension system, and recommended tracking force of 2.3 grams, MC 90X will elevate practically any analog front end. To learn more about this hand-made cartridge, and discuss why it might be the ideal fit for your setup, contact a Music Direct audio consultant at 312-433-0200.