Ortofon MC X40 Moving Coil Cartridge

Product Summary

The Ortofon MC X40 is the flagship model in Ortofon’s MC X Series, bringing a very high level of transparency, speed and control to a serious vinyl setup without straying into the pricing territory of Ortofon’s upper reference ranges. It is a strong choice for listeners who want a cartridge that sounds open, balanced and highly revealing, but still easy to enjoy over long sessions.

A big part of its appeal comes from the combination of a nude Shibata diamond and a boron cantilever. This pairing is especially effective at tracing fine groove information with precision, helping the cartridge uncover more subtle detail, stronger image focus and a more effortless top-to-bottom balance than simpler moving coil designs. The result is a presentation that feels quick, articulate and spacious, with excellent composure across complex recordings.

The MC X40 also benefits from the wider engineering behind the MC X Series, including high-purity silver coil wire, an optimised magnet system and a stainless-steel honeycomb core structure for improved rigidity and stability. For anyone looking for a premium moving coil cartridge with outstanding clarity, strong dynamics and a genuinely high-end sense of musical control, the Ortofon MC X40 is a very compelling choice.

Key Benefits

• Flagship MC X Series moving coil design delivers exceptional transparency, speed and responsiveness
• Nude Shibata diamond helps retrieve extremely fine groove information with low distortion
• Boron cantilever supports a fast, precise and highly controlled presentation
• High-purity silver coil system is designed to preserve more signal detail and clarity
• Optimised magnet structure helps support a clean, powerful and highly efficient signal path
• Custom-developed damping system is engineered to improve stability and tracking precision
• Excellent image focus, tonal balance and soundstage depth make it a strong match for serious high-end vinyl systems
• A compelling top-of-range option for listeners wanting reference-leaning performance at a more accessible level than Ortofon’s costlier MC lines

Technical Specifications

Cartridge Details

• Product Type: Moving coil phono cartridge
• Output Voltage: 0.4mV at 1kHz, 5cm/sec.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz +/-1dB
• Channel Separation: 26dB at 1kHz
• Channel Balance: 0.5dB at 1kHz
• Compliance, Dynamic Lateral: 15µm/mN
• Stylus Profile: Nude Shibata
• Stylus Tip Radius: r/R 6/50µm
• Cantilever Material: Boron
• Stylus Suspension: Ortofon exclusive
• Coil System: High-purity silver coil wire
• Recommended Tracking Force: 2.0g
• Internal Impedance, DC Resistance: 6 Ohms
• Recommended Load Resistance: Greater than 50 Ohms
• Cartridge Body Material: MIM stainless steel with honeycomb core structure
• Cartridge Weight: 8.6g

What’s in the Box

• Ortofon MC X40 cartridge
• Product documentation