The Ortofon Quintet Series at a Glance
The Quintet series is Ortofon's family of low output moving coil cartridges built around a shared design goal: bring the immediacy and low moving mass of a moving coil cartridge to a wide range of turntables and tonearms. Ortofon has specialized in phono cartridges since 1918, and the Quintet line reflects that long experience with a consistent body, a manageable nine gram weight across the range, and a progression of stylus profiles that lets you match sound retrieval to your priorities.
Because every cartridge in this range is a low output moving coil design, each one needs a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input or a step-up transformer feeding a moving magnet (MM) input. This is the single most important thing to confirm before you choose a Quintet. A standard MM only phono input will not do these cartridges justice on its own.
You will also need a turntable to mount the cartridge on, and the cartridge should be matched to your tonearm. All Quintet models weigh nine grams and share a compliance of 15 um/mN where specified, which keeps them broadly compatible with a wide selection of tonearms. If you are unsure about the resonance match with your particular arm, that is exactly the kind of thing our team can help you check.
What the Quintet Models Share
- Low output moving coil design requiring an MC phono input or a step-up transformer
- Nine gram cartridge weight for broad tonearm compatibility
- A common Quintet body and mounting layout across the range
- A progression of stylus profiles as you move up the series
The differences between models come down mainly to stylus profile, output voltage, recommended load impedance and intended use. Higher models in the Quintet range legitimately offer more refined groove contact through their stylus profiles, so the choice is about how much detail retrieval you want and what your system and priorities call for.
The Models by Tier
Entry Tier: Quintet Red
The Ortofon MC Quintet Red is the gateway into moving coil listening within this range. It uses an elliptical stylus on an aluminium cantilever, with an output voltage of 0.5 mV at 1 kHz, channel separation of 22 dB, a frequency range of 20 Hz to 25 kHz and a recommended tracking force of 2.3 g. Its recommended load impedance is a flexible 10 to 200 ohms. This is the model for someone stepping up from moving magnet who wants the character of a low output moving coil without complicating the rest of their setup.
Mid Tier: Quintet Blue
The Ortofon MC Quintet Blue moves to a nude elliptical diamond. Like the rest of the series it is a low output moving coil cartridge that requires an MC input or a step-up transformer. The nude elliptical design is aimed at cleaner tracing than a bonded elliptical, making the Blue a natural next step for a listener who wants more refinement while staying in familiar territory.
Upper Tier: Quintet Bronze
The Ortofon MC Quintet Bronze steps up to a nude Fine Line diamond on an aluminium cantilever. Its output voltage is 0.3 mV at 1 kHz, with channel separation of 24 dB, an internal impedance of 7 ohms and a recommended load impedance of 50 to 200 ohms. Recommended tracking force is 2.3 g and the frequency range is 20 Hz to 25 kHz. The Fine Line profile has a narrower contact radius than an elliptical, which is designed to retrieve more information from the groove and follow high frequency modulation more closely. This model suits the listener with a resolving system who wants that extra insight.
Flagship Tier: Quintet Black S
The Ortofon MC Quintet Black S is the top of the Quintet range and uses a nude Shibata stylus on an aluminum cantilever. It shares the 0.3 mV output of the Bronze, with channel separation of 24 dB, internal impedance of 7 ohms and a recommended load impedance of 20 ohms and up. Its tracking force range is 2.2 to 2.4 g with a recommended 2.3 g, and the frequency range is stated as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +2/-1 dB. The Shibata profile is designed for a large vertical contact area and long groove contact, aimed at the most detailed and refined presentation in the series. This is the model for the listener with a capable arm and phono stage who wants the fullest expression of the Quintet design.
Specialist: Quintet Mono
The Ortofon MC Quintet Mono is a dedicated mono moving coil cartridge that responds only to lateral groove modulation. It is intended for mono LP records only, and like the rest of the series it needs a moving coil input or a step-up transformer into an MM stage. If you have a genuine mono record collection, a dedicated mono cartridge is the right tool for the job. It is not a substitute for a stereo Quintet on stereo records.
How to Choose by System and Priorities
By Phono Stage
Every Quintet needs a moving coil phono input or a step-up transformer. Note the output voltages as you plan: the Red delivers 0.5 mV, while the Bronze and Black S deliver 0.3 mV. A lower output cartridge asks a little more of your phono stage in terms of quiet, capable gain, so make sure your MC input or transformer is comfortable at these levels. The recommended load impedance also shifts across the range, from 10 to 200 ohms on the Red to 20 ohms and up on the Black S, so a phono stage with adjustable loading gives you the most flexibility.
By Tonearm
All Quintet models weigh nine grams and share a 15 um/mN compliance where specified, which keeps them compatible with a broad range of tonearms. The most important step is confirming the resonance match with your specific arm. We are glad to help you work through this.
By Priorities and Budget
As you move up the Quintet range you gain more advanced stylus profiles, from elliptical to nude elliptical to nude Fine Line and finally nude Shibata. If your priority is stepping into moving coil sound simply, the lower models suit you. If your priority is maximum detail retrieval and your system can reveal it, the upper models reward that investment. Keep any pairing appropriate to the tier of cartridge you choose so the whole system stays balanced.
Which Quintet Should You Buy
- You are stepping up from moving magnet and want your first moving coil: the Quintet Red, with its friendly 0.5 mV output and flexible loading.
- You want more refinement while keeping things straightforward: the Quintet Blue with its nude elliptical diamond.
- You have a resolving system and want deeper groove insight: the Quintet Bronze with its nude Fine Line stylus.
- You want the fullest expression of the Quintet design and have a capable arm and phono stage: the Quintet Black S with its nude Shibata stylus.
- You collect mono LPs: the Quintet Mono, used for mono records only.
Talk to All Elite Audio
All Elite Audio is an authorized Ortofon dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate, so before you decide, reach out to us and let us help you match a Quintet cartridge to your turntable, tonearm and phono stage. A quick conversation about your setup makes sure the cartridge you choose is the right fit.