DJ Cartridges

Ortofon has always been a company working with

sound reproduction. It was founded in 1918 in Copen-

hagen and started up making soundtracks for movies. In

1948 the company developed its first moving coil cartridge,

since when Ortofon has developed and manufactured

more than 300 different cartridges.

In 1979 the famous Concorde design was introduced,

earning the company a Danish Industrial Design Award.

Today the Concorde is displayed at the Danish Design

Centre as an example of Danish Industrial Design.

Until 1985 the main business was cartridges for the hi-fi

segment. However, the introduction of the CD reduced

sales of turntables and thus sales of cartridges.

Therefore Ortofon began in the mid 1980s to develop

and manufacture cartridges for the disco market. Using

its technology and experience, Ortofon soon developed

products that found wide acceptance for club, hip-hop and

scratch music.

Today Ortofon is the world leader in cartridges, both hi-fi

and disco. This is a result of significant design experience

and great technological know-how.

Acoustics, materials technology and electronics are key

competences in Ortofon’s technological prowess.

Ortofon has its research and manufacturing facilities in

Denmark. The production of cartridges and components is

carried out at the company’s factory in Nakskov, Denmark.

Production is based on automated machinery and expe-

rienced workers with a high level of craftsmanship. This

assures the high uniform quality of Ortofon products.

The cartridges are sold worldwide through a network of 60

importers and sales subsidiaries in the USA and Japan. The

brand is today widely recognized among consumers and

industry professionals.

Ortofon is the exclusive sponsor for DMC International and

DJ QBert. DMC is the international organiser of competi-

tions for DJs displaying turntablism and mixing skills. The

collaboration with QBert includes joint product develop-

ment. In addition to global sponsorships, Ortofon is involved

in local sponsorships in co-operation with local distributors.

World leader in the cartridge industry DJ Cartridges

The cartridge 1 A cartridge consists of three basic components. The first

is the stylus that traces the record groove. The second is

the cantilever, the part on which the stylus is mounted. The

third is the generating system that converts the motion of

the stylus and the cantilever into electrical replicas of the

sound, which can then be amplified and reproduced by the

music system.

The stylus 2 The stylus is the only part

of the cartridge to make contact

with the record. A force must be exerted

by the tone arm to keep the stylus in the groove while

the record is spinning. This tracking force is low, usually

between three and four grams. But because the stylus has

a “footprint” of less than one millionth of a square inch of

the record surface, it exerts a tremendous pressure: 6,000

pounds per square inch. At such enormous pressure, any

roughness or irregularity in the stylus would cause record

damage. The stylus must also be very hard or it will wear

out quickly. For these reasons, quality styli are precision

made from the finest and hardest material known to man:

pure diamond.

The cantilever 3 The purpose of the cantilever is to act as an intermediate

between the stylus and the generating system. Compared

to its size, the stylus moves at tremendous speed while

tracking the groove of a spinning record. In order that the

cantilever may accurately transmit the rapid stylus move-

ments, it should be lightweight so it can respond without

inertia to the twists and turns of the groove. At the same

time the cantilever should be rigid, because any bending,

flexing or vibration would add distortion and sound coloura-

tion. The necessary compromise between lightweight and

high strength requires great ingenuity in the design

as well as the choice of materials.

The generating system 4

High-fidelity cartridges follow the law of electromagnetism,

discovered by the Danish scientist H.C. Ørsted. When ma-

terial capable of conducting electricity (a copper coil) is set

into motion perpendicular to a magnetic field - or when a

magnet is moved near such conductive material - electrical

current is generated in the circuit. The direction and speed

of the movement determine the amplitude and frequency

of the current. Thus the generating system of a cartridge

converts the movement of the stylus and cantilever into an

output signal.

2

3

4

1

Spherical Stylus

For heavy back-cueing

and scratching.

Stays in the groove.

Elliptical Stylus

For lighter back-cueing

and scratching.

Best sound performance.

2

Scratch

Single OM or Concorde cartridge

Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges

Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus

Scratch




Ortofon | Pro

General purpose model for scratch and back-cueing

Great performance and durability as to basic

scratch and back-cueing is what the Pro is

known for. It has a good quality spherical

stylus, a rock-solid cantilever, and serves

general purposes well. The Pro is the logical

alternative to the more expensive expert cartridges. It offers both reason-

able output and high sound quality which is, in fact, all there is needed to

entertain an audience. Ideal choice for talented, but less experienced DJs!

Pro Characteristics

Ortofon | Pro S

Pro

Pro S

Entry-level cartridge for all-purpose use

New DJ? This entry-level cartridge is perfect

for newcomers on the DJ scene who want

to start off with decent, but not to expensive

equipment. The Pro S has a spherical dia-

mond stylus which minimizes scratching and

a solid cantilever which can survive hectic activity at the turntable. The

sound quality is absolutely not to worry about. The Pro S is a consistent

performer and a fine all-rounder!

Pro S Characteristics

DJ Cartridges

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

4,0 g

Output

5 mV

Frequency Response

20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Pro

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

4,0 g

Output

5 mV

Frequency Response

20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Pro S

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

DJs all over the world make very high

demands of their professional equipment, among which the cartridges

play their decisive part by realising the scratching, back-cueing and live

artistic performance that is a big part of the show.

Reliability and robustness is vital, when night after night the cartridges will

have to meet these demands in environments with extreme sound

pressure and vibration. The Ortofon Pro silver coloured cartridges were

the first to combine the unrivalled Ortofon sound quality with the

ruggedness that is a must for professional use. More than twenty years

of experience in designing and manufacturing disco cartridges, and close

contact with DJs, have resulted in several lines suitable for all tone-arms

and all amplifiers.

PROPRO S

4 5

Scratch




Scratch




DJ S

Ortofon | DJ S

Basic model for scratch and back-cueing

Outstanding rigidity by extra-strengthened cantilever

DJ S is a solid-built cartridge in a new blue

nylon material. It has a fine spherical stylus

and a special developed and extremely

balanced cantilever. Not only does the

cartridge have a most sufficient tracking ability,

it is also nearly unbreakable and provides the DJ with the most-needed

stringency. Furthermore, it equals very low record wear, an advantage for

the busy DJ. The DJ S is definitely worth checking out!

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

6 mV

DJ S Characteristics

Frequency Response

20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

DJ S

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Ortofon | Elektro

Techno cartridge co-designed by DJs

Rubber tube especially developed for scratch and back-cueing

Very high output.

Elektro

Every professional ought to try the Elektro, a

techno cartridge made by a team of highly

qualified technicians and experienced and

capable DJs. Unaffected by extreme sound

pressure and repeated vibrations, it has a high

output. The musical performance is always first-rate and the tracking

ability of the spherical diamond stylus is quite good. The Elektro is a

must-have for all scratch and back-cueing DJs!

Elektro Characteristics

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

4,0 g

Output

7,5 mV

Frequency Response

20-15.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Elektro

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Sturdiness and Stability Apart from sounding good, a

professional disco cartridge has to be rugged - and the Ortofon disco

cartridges are very rugged indeed. Scratching, back-cueing and live

artistic performance impose heavy mechanical stress on the cantilever

and its rubber bearing. Therefore Ortofon disco cartridges are equipped

with cantilevers made from aluminium tube with increased wall thickness.

The DJ blue coloured cartridges have even been provided with a special

telescopic cantilever construction consisting of a double tube design,

where the diameter of the tube has also been increased from 0.7 mm

to 0.8 mm. In so doing, extraordinary rigidity of the cantilever has been

achieved without distorting the frequency response and thereby the well-

known Ortofon accuracy in sound.

To make the cartridge even more resistant to violent handling, such

as being dropped on the platter-mat, touched with fingers, etc.,

Ortofon has made the suspension of the cantilever more rigid against

axial pull.

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Scratch




Scratch




Scratch

Ortofon | Scratch

Co-designed by various DJs

Especially developed for scratch and back-cueing

Very high output

As implied by the name, the Scratch is

intended especially for the disciplines of

scratch and back-cueing. Like the QBert,

DJs had a say in designing this cartridge

so it would match the needs of dance floor

kings. It is made of a fluorescent neon-red material with the intention it

becoming highly apparent in spotlight and luminous in ultraviolet light.

Maximum scratch performance guaranteed!

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

4,0 g

Output

7 mV

Frequency Response

20-15.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Scratch

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Ortofon | QBert

Co-designed by DJ QBert for scratch and back-cueing

High tracking ability

Ultra high output

This cartridge is a result of a competent

design alliance between technical experts

and the world famous DJ QBert who knows

exactly what to expect and demand of the

ideal gear. The QBert has a supreme ability to

trace the grooves of your records and it is tailored specifically for scratch.

Due to its enormous output, it is perfect for scratch of all music genres

with deep bass frequencies.

QB

ert

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

11 mV

Frequency Response

20-18.000 Hz – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

QBert

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Scratch Characteristics QBert Characteristics

Styli for better sound Several Ortofon technologies make

it possible to realize high sound quality and low record wear at the high

tracking forces that are necessary in disco environments. First of all, the

low stylus tip mass - an Ortofon speciality - ensures improved tracking at

high frequencies and very low distortion. Ortofon disco cartridges can be

supplied with elliptical styli for even better high-frequency performance,

as well as traditional spherical styli. Both these families of diamond styli

are accurately cut to professional specifications and their highly polished

surfaces ensure even lower surface noise and

an absolute minimum of record wear.

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Scratch







Club

Nightclub S

Ortofon | Nightclub S

Top model in the Scratch & Mix category

Designed especially for scratch and back-cueing

Good sound quality

The Nightclub S is amongst the top

performers in its category, Scratch & Mix.

A spherical diamond and a customised

design provide the basis for the cartridge’s

undeniable supremacy. The stylus remains in

the groove during the scratching and back-cueing, making it unfailingly

reliable - even when giving a night-long performance. The Nightclub S is

recommended by professional DJs the globe over!

Nightclub S Characteristics

Spherical Stylus

Scratch

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

6 mV

Frequency Response

20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Nightclub S

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

DJ E

Ortofon | DJ E

Vivid listening experiences at all times are

guaranteed by the DJ E, a well-crafted blue

cartridge with elliptical stylus and aluminium

cantilever. The narrow profile of the oval

diamond enables it to accurately trace the

grooves of your records. The extra-strengthened cantilever is as close to

unbreakable as you can get, but still it transmits the stylus movements

perfectly. Absolutely ideal for all-purpose DJ use!

Outstanding rigidity by extra-strengthened cantilever

Very good sound quality

DJ E Characteristics

Elliptical Stylus

Club

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

6 mV

Frequency Response

20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

DJ E

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

NIGHTCLUB

Anti-skating Tracking ability is decisive for DJs,

especially when doing scratching, back-cueing and live artistic

performance. In this situation, an increase in tracking force could be an

immediate, but in many cases not very effective, solution - the reason

disco/techno environments. So as a rule, never use more than one half

of normal anti-skating relative to the tracking force.

To facilitate cueing, the nose on all Ortofon disco cartridges has an extra

large cut-out which makes the stylus freely visible from above.

The stylus unit for the Night Club black/yellow coloured cartridges

is made from a fluorescent yellow material which makes it totally

luminous in ultraviolet light.

being that anti-skating adjustment, if not at a very moderate level, will

double the skating effect when back-cueing and cause mis-tracking

and even jumping. Lowering the anti-skating force is very often more

useful than increasing the tracking force when working the cartridge in

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ClubClub

Nightclub E

Ortofon | Nightclub E

Equipped with special elliptical diamond

Perfect for usage in discotheques and clubs

Superb sound quality

Club DJs and studio workers believe the

Nightclub E to be an absolute high-end car-

tridge. It is indeed a no-nonsense performer

with fascinating musical resources. Its output

is superb with a frequency response rating

high enough to compare the Nightclub E to any audiophile cartridge. And

the special elliptical stylus guarantees sound with insignificant scratching.

Recommended for frequent use in discotheques and clubs!

Nightclub E Characteristics

Elliptical Stylus

Club

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

6 mV

Frequency Response

20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Nightclub E

Available Versions

OM + Concorde

Ortofon | Gold

Top model with gold plating and Pro E Diamond

Amazing sound quality

Perfect for usage in discotheques and clubs

Using this cartridge for the first time feels

like striking gold. It is indeed a flagship

product with its gold plating and special Pro

E Diamond. The Gold enjoys an excellent

reputation for its amazing sound quality.

The special elliptical stylus provides the optimal balance between skip

resistance and accuracy of sound reproduction. Compatible to a very

wide range of turntables and perfect for all entertainment purposes!

GOLD Elliptical Stylus

Club

Tracking Force

3,0 g

Output

6 mV

Frequency Response

20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB

Replacement Stylus

Gold

Available Versions

Concorde

Gold Characteristics

Single Concorde cartridge

Set Case Concorde cartridge + extra stylus


Gold

NIGHTCLUB

Mounting Standards With the exception of Concorde Gold,

Ortofon professional cartridges are available in OM versions designed

to match tone-arms with standard headshells or in the elegant, well-

known, integrated Ortofon Concorde design for direct and easy mounting

in tone-arms with standard sockets. Cold-plated terminal pins ensure

perfect signal transmission and the linearity of the low-inductance

Ortofon coil system is not influenced by capacitive loads ranging

between 200 pF and 600 pF.

OM

Concorde

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Product Specifications

TECHNICAL DATA QBert NIGHT CLUB S DJ E NIGHT CLUB E GOLD

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. 11 mV 6 mV 6 mV 6 mV 6 mV

Channel balance at 1 kHz 1,5 dB 1,5 dB 2 dB 1,5 dB 1,5 dB

Channel separation at 1 kHz 22 dB 23 dB 23 dB 23 dB 23 dB


Frequency range at - 3dB 20-20.000 Hz 20-22.000 Hz 20-22.000 Hz 20-22.000 Hz 20-22.000 Hz

Frequency response 20-18.000 Hz – 3 dB 20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB 20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB 20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB 20-20.000 Hz ± 2 dB

FIM distortion at recommended, tracking force, DIN 45.542

< 1% < 1% < 1% < 1% < 1%

Tracking ability at 315Hz, at recommended tracking force

90 µm 80 µm 80 µm 80 µm 80 µm

Compliance, dynamic, lateral 12 µm/mN 7 µm/mN 9 µm/mN 7 µm/mN 7 µm/mN

Stylus type Spherical Spherical Special elliptical Special elliptical Special elliptical

Stylus tip radius R 18 µm R 18 µm r/R 13/25 µm r/R 13/25 µm r/R 13/25 µm

Equivalent stylus tip mass 0,6 mg 0,5 mg 0,6 mg 0,5 mg 0,5 mg

Tracking force range 2,0-4,0 g (20-40 mN) 2,0-5,0 g (20-50 mN) 2,0-4,0 g (20-40 mN) 2,0-5,0 g (20-50 mN) 2,0-5,0 g (20-50 mN)

Tracking force, recommended 3,0 g (30 mN) 3,0 g (30 mN) 3,0 g (30 mN) 3,0 g (30 mN) 3,0 g (30 mN)

Tracking angle 20° 20° 20° 20° 20°

Internal impedance, DC resistance 1325 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm

Internal inductance 765 mH 450 mH 450 mH 450 mH 450 mH

Recommended load resistance 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm

Recommended load capacitance 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF

Cartridge colour, body/stylus Black/White Black/Yellow Neon Blue/Blue Black/Yellow Neon Gold/Gold

Cartridge weight 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g

Replacement stylus unit QBert Night Club S DJ E Night Club E Gold

TECHNICAL DATA PRO S PRO DJ S ELEKTRO SCRATCH

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. 5 mV 5 mV 6 mV 7,5 mV 7 mV

Channel balance at 1 kHz 2 dB 2 dB 2 dB 1,5 dB 1,5 dB



Frequency range at - 3dB 20-20.000 Hz 20-20.000 Hz 20-20.000 Hz 20-22.000 Hz 20-20.000 Hz

Frequency response 20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB 20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB 20-18.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB 20-15.000 Hz +3 / – 2 dB 20-15.000 Hz + 3 / – 2 dB

FIM distortion at recommended, tracking force, DIN 45.542

< 1% < 1% < 1% < 1% < 1%

Tracking ability at 315Hz, at recommended tracking force

70 µm 70 µm 80 µm 80 µm 80 µm

Compliance, dynamic, lateral 7 µm/mN 7 µm/mN 9 µm/mN 6 µm/mN 6 µm / mN

Stylus type Spherical Spherical Spherical Spherical Spherical

Stylus tip radius R 26 µm R 18 µm R 18 µm R 18 µm R 18 µm

Equivalent stylus tip mass 0,5 mg 0,5 mg 0,6 mg 0,6 mg 0,6 mg

Tracking force range 3,0-5,0 g (30-50 mN) 3,0-5,0 g (30-50 mN) 2,0-4,0 g (20-40 mN) 3,0-5,0 g (30-50 mN) 3,0-5,0 g (30-50 mN)

Tracking force, recommended 4,0 g (40 mN) 4,0 g (40 mN) 3,0 g (30 mN) 4,0 g (40 mN) 4,0 g (40 mN)

Tracking angle 20° 20° 20° 20° 20°

Internal impedance, DC resistance 750 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm 750 Ohm

Internal inductance 450 mH 450 mH 450 mH 450 mH 450 mH

Recommended load resistance 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm 47 kOhm

Recommended load capacitance 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF 200-600 pF

Cartridge colour, body/stylus Black/Black Silver/Silver Blue/Blue White/White Neon red / Neon red

Cartridge weight 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g 18,5 g

Replacement stylus unit PRO S PRO DJ S Elektro Scratch

Tracking Force

Each DJ cartridge has a special designed rubber suspen-

sion as to creating the best possible tracking ability. In order

for the cartridge to track the record groove correctly and

avoid skipping, it is important to balance the tracking force.

Ortofon is recommending a tracking force range and a

specific tracking force for each cartridge.

Output Ortofon DJ cartridges have a high output voltage which

ensures an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio and full

exploitation of the dynamic range of any amplifier.

Ortofon DJ cartridges have outputs between 5 and 11 mV.

Elliptical Stylus

Ortofon uses a special elliptical stylus which has a better

frequency response and dynamic range than the spherical

stylus. Normal play-back use of a cartridge with an elliptical

stylus causes minimum record wear. Cartridges with

elliptical stylus are for users who do lighter back-cueing

and scratching and want the best sound performance.

Spherical Stylus

The spherical stylus is perfect for tough handling and

mixing activities. Furthermore, it reduces the record wear

by scratch and back-cueing to an absolute minimum.

Cartridges with spherical stylus are mainly for scratch DJs.

Glossary

Frequency Response

A measurement of the frequencies which can be repro-

duced by a cartridge. Example: A measurement of 20 to

18,000 Hz ± 3dB means that the frequency area between

20 and 18,000 Hz can be reproduced with no more than

3 dB above or below a reference frequency level.

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DJ Cartridges - Audioeffetti

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