Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

Overview

The Ortofon MC Quintet Black S sits at the top of Ortofon's Quintet series, a low output moving coil phono cartridge built for listeners who want the deepest layer of detail this line can deliver. Its defining feature is the nude Shibata diamond stylus, the finest profile offered in the Quintet range, which reads the innermost information in the groove and traces high frequencies with poise and stability. As a low output moving coil design, it requires a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input, or a step-up transformer feeding a standard MM input.

Ortofon has been making phono cartridges in Denmark since 1918 and is one of the world's leading names in the craft. The Quintet Black S reflects that heritage with a body and generator engineered for low resonance and precise channel matching, allowing the Shibata stylus to work at its best. The result is a presentation that favors resolution, spatial clarity, and refined treble, making it a natural fit for well recorded acoustic, orchestral, jazz, and audiophile pressings.

This cartridge is aimed at the vinyl enthusiast running a capable turntable and tonearm with an MC capable phono stage, someone who wants to hear how much a groove really holds. If you are stepping up from a moving magnet setup or from a lower model in the Quintet line, the Black S is the series reference and rewards careful setup with a highly resolved and musically engaging sound.

Key Features

• Flagship of the Ortofon Quintet series
• Low output moving coil design for high resolution playback
• Nude Shibata diamond stylus, the finest profile in the Quintet line
• Precise channel separation and tight channel balance
• Low resonance body for a clean, stable presentation
• Requires an MC phono input or a step-up transformer into an MM stage
• Refined treble and detailed retrieval of inner groove information
• Built by Ortofon, a Danish phono cartridge specialist since 1918

How the Quintet Black S Compares

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S vs Ortofon MC Quintet Bronze

The Quintet Bronze sits one step below the Black S within the same series and shares its low output moving coil approach. The Black S moves up to a nude Shibata stylus for the finest detail retrieval in the Quintet line, giving it the most resolved and refined top end of the range. Choose the Bronze for a highly capable moving coil at a lower tier, or the Black S when you want the series reference level of detail. See the Ortofon MC Quintet Bronze.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S vs Ortofon MC X40

The MC X40 belongs to Ortofon's easy-mounting MC X range, designed for straightforward installation and a robust, engaging character. The Quintet Black S is the flagship of the Quintet series and leans toward maximum resolution and treble refinement thanks to its nude Shibata stylus. Pick the X40 for a simpler mounting experience, or the Black S when you want the Quintet line's most detailed presentation. See the Ortofon MC X40.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S vs Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL

The AT-OC9XSL is a dual moving coil cartridge from Audio Technica with a Special Line Contact stylus, offering its own take on high resolution playback. The Quintet Black S expresses Ortofon's voicing with a nude Shibata stylus and low resonance body, favoring spatial clarity and refined detail. Both are low output moving coil designs, so the choice comes down to which sonic character and design goal suits your system and taste. See the Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL.

Recommended Turntable and Phono Stage

The MC Quintet Black S is a low output moving coil, so it needs a capable turntable and tonearm plus a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input. These catalog components are matched to its resolution and level.

• Audio-Technica AT-LP7X Turntable A fully manual belt-drive deck with an adjustable, well damped tonearm that suits a resolving moving coil like the Black S and lets you dial in tracking force and alignment precisely.
• TEAC TN-4D-SE Turntable A stable direct-drive platform with solid speed accuracy, giving the Black S a quiet, consistent foundation for detail retrieval.
• Parasound JC3+ Phono Preamplifier A high performance phono stage with a moving coil input and flexible loading, ideal for extracting the fine detail and low noise this cartridge can deliver.
• Luxman E-250 Phono Preamplifier An MM/MC phono preamplifier with refined presentation and adjustable loading, a natural partner for the Black S when running its low output moving coil signal.
• MoFi UltraPhono Pro An MM/MC phono preamplifier that provides the required moving coil input for the Black S in a compact, value-focused package for building a resolving vinyl system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MC Quintet Black S a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?
It is a low output moving coil cartridge, the flagship of the Ortofon Quintet series.

Do I need a special phono stage for this cartridge?
Yes. As a low output moving coil, it needs a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input, or a step-up transformer feeding an MM input.

What stylus does the Black S use?
It uses a nude Shibata diamond stylus, the finest profile offered in the Quintet range.

What is the output voltage?
The output is 0.3 mV at 1 kHz, which is typical for a low output moving coil design.

What tracking force should I use?
The recommended tracking force is 2.3 g, within a range of 2.2 to 2.4 g.

What load impedance should I set on my phono stage?
Ortofon recommends a load of 20 ohms and up. The cartridge internal impedance is 7 ohms.

How does the Black S compare to the Quintet Bronze?
The Black S sits above the Bronze in the same series and moves up to a nude Shibata stylus for the finest detail retrieval in the Quintet line.

Can I use this cartridge with any turntable?
It fits standard tonearms with the correct mounting, but pair it with a capable, well set up deck and tonearm to hear its full resolution.

Is this cartridge good for mono records?
It is a stereo cartridge. For dedicated mono LP playback, Ortofon offers dedicated mono models such as the Quintet Mono.

What cantilever does the Black S use?
It uses an aluminum cantilever paired with the nude Shibata stylus.

What is the cartridge weight?
The cartridge weighs 9 g, which helps with tonearm balancing and compatibility.

What is the channel separation?
Channel separation is 24 dB at 1 kHz, with channel balance of 1.5 dB at 1 kHz.

What music does the Black S suit best?
Its refined treble and detailed retrieval make it a strong match for well recorded acoustic, orchestral, jazz, and audiophile pressings.

Can I use a step-up transformer instead of an MC phono input?
Yes. A step-up transformer feeding a standard MM phono input is a valid way to run this low output moving coil cartridge.

What is the frequency range?
The frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within a +2/-1 dB tolerance.

Does Ortofon make turntables or phono stages to match?
Ortofon specializes in cartridges only. We recommend catalog turntables and MC capable phono stages to build around the Black S.

Is the Black S an upgrade from a lower Quintet model?
Yes, within the same series it is the reference level and offers more resolution thanks to its nude Shibata stylus.

How does it compare to the Ortofon MC X40?
The X40 favors easy mounting and a robust character, while the Black S is the Quintet flagship voiced for maximum detail and treble refinement.

What compliance does this cartridge have?
Its dynamic lateral compliance is 15 um/mN, which helps guide tonearm matching.

Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Ortofon dealer in MD, so your cartridge is genuine, fully warranted, and backed by expert setup guidance to help you build the right system around it.