Ortofon
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Specs
| Type | Moving coil |
| Stylus profile | Elliptical |
| Cantilever | Aluminium |
| Output voltage | 0.5 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s |
| Channel balance | 1.5 dB at 1 kHz |
| Channel separation | > 21 dB at 1 kHz |
| Frequency range | 20 Hz to 25 kHz |
| Tracking force range | 2.1 to 2.5 g |
| Recommended tracking force | 2.3 g |
| Internal impedance | 7 Ohm |
| Recommended load impedance | > 20 Ohm |
| Compliance | 15 um/mN |
| Cartridge weight | 9 g |
Warranty
Sold as an authorized Ortofon dealer by All Elite Audio. New Ortofon MC Quintet Red units include the full Ortofon manufacturer warranty of 1 year parts and labor for the original owner. Contact us with any setup or service questions.
What's in the Box
- Ortofon MC Quintet Red moving coil cartridge
- Mounting hardware
- Stylus brush
- Alignment and setup documentation
Overview
The Ortofon MC Quintet Red is the entry point into Ortofon's Quintet range of low output moving coil cartridges. Built by a Danish phono cartridge specialist founded in 1918, it brings genuine moving coil character to a wider audience with an elliptical diamond stylus, a resolved and open presentation, and the fine tonal detail that has long defined Ortofon's moving coil designs. As a low output moving coil, it needs a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input, or a step-up transformer feeding a moving magnet input.
The Quintet Red is engineered as a compact, robust cartridge suited to real world turntables and tonearms. The elliptical stylus traces the groove cleanly and offers a natural, easygoing balance, while the moving coil generator delivers the immediacy and low mass responsiveness that many listeners seek when they move up from a moving magnet design. The body is designed for stable mounting and consistent alignment on standard headshells and tonearms.
This cartridge is for the vinyl listener who wants a first true reference into moving coil playback without the complexity of a high-end setup. It pairs well with capable mid-level turntables and any phono preamplifier equipped for low output moving coil cartridges.
Key Features
- Entry moving coil cartridge in Ortofon's Quintet series
- Low output moving coil generator for MC phono inputs or a step-up transformer
- Elliptical diamond stylus for clean, natural groove tracing
- Open, resolved presentation characteristic of Ortofon moving coil designs
- Compact, robust body for stable mounting and consistent alignment
- Standard mounting compatible with typical headshells and tonearms
- Built by Ortofon, a Danish phono cartridge specialist founded in 1918
- A natural first step into true moving coil playback
How the Quintet Red Compares
Ortofon MC Quintet Red vs Ortofon MC Quintet Blue
The Quintet Blue sits one step up in the same Quintet range and moves to a nude elliptical stylus for finer detail retrieval and tracing accuracy. The Quintet Red is the more accessible entry into the range, offering the core Quintet moving coil character with an easygoing, natural balance. Choose the Blue if you want more resolution as your system reveals it, or the Red as your first move into moving coil playback. See the Ortofon MC Quintet Blue.
Ortofon MC Quintet Red vs Ortofon MC X10
The MC X10 belongs to Ortofon's easy-mounting MC X range, designed for simple installation and a friendly, cohesive sound. The Quintet Red is a reference series cartridge with a more resolved, open presentation aimed at listeners looking to grow within a wider moving coil ladder. Both are low output moving coils that require an MC-capable phono stage. See the Ortofon MC X10.
Ortofon MC Quintet Red vs Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN
The AT-OC9XEN is a dual moving coil design with its own tonal signature and generator layout. The Quintet Red brings Ortofon's moving coil voicing, with a natural, easygoing balance and an elliptical stylus. Both are low output moving coils, so the choice comes down to the character and presentation you prefer rather than one outperforming the other. See the Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN.
Recommended Turntable and Phono Stage
Because the MC Quintet Red is a low output moving coil, it needs a turntable and tonearm suited to its level plus a phono stage with a moving coil input. These catalog pairings build a balanced system around it.
- Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB Turntable A fully manual belt-drive turntable with a capable tonearm that suits the Quintet Red's weight and resolution, giving the cartridge a stable, quiet platform.
- Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP Turntable A professional direct-drive deck with a solid tonearm for accurate tracking, a good match for a reference-level moving coil cartridge.
- MoFi UltraPhono Pro Phono Preamplifier An MM and MC phono preamplifier that provides the moving coil input and gain the Quintet Red requires, with loading suited to its low output.
- Luxman E-250 Phono Preamplifier A refined phono stage with a moving coil input, letting the Quintet Red's natural balance and detail come through cleanly.
- Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier An integrated amplifier with a built-in phono stage, a tidy single-box option to drive a system built around this cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ortofon MC Quintet Red a moving coil or moving magnet cartridge?
It is a low output moving coil cartridge, the entry model in Ortofon's Quintet range.
Do I need a special phono stage for the Quintet Red?
Yes. Because it is a low output moving coil, it needs a phono stage with a moving coil (MC) input, or a step-up transformer feeding a moving magnet input.
What stylus does the Quintet Red use?
It uses an elliptical diamond stylus, which traces the groove cleanly and gives a natural tonal balance.
What is the output voltage?
The output is 0.5 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm/s, which is why it requires MC-capable amplification.
What tracking force should I use?
The recommended tracking force is 2.3 g, within a range of 2.1 to 2.5 g.
What load impedance is recommended?
Ortofon recommends a load impedance of 10 to 200 ohms for this cartridge.
Can I use the Quintet Red with a moving magnet phono input?
Only if you add a step-up transformer between the cartridge and the moving magnet input, since a standard MM input does not provide enough gain for this low output design.
How does the Quintet Red compare to the Quintet Blue?
The Quintet Blue is one step up in the same range and uses a nude elliptical stylus for finer detail. The Red is the more accessible entry into moving coil playback.
What cantilever does it use?
It uses an aluminium cantilever.
What does the cartridge weigh?
The Quintet Red weighs 9 g, which suits a wide range of tonearms.
Is this a good first moving coil cartridge?
Yes. It is designed as a natural first step into true moving coil playback for listeners moving up from a moving magnet design.
What turntables suit the Quintet Red?
Capable mid-level manual and direct-drive turntables with a solid tonearm, such as the Audio-Technica AT-LPW50PB or AT-LP140XP, pair well with it.
Can I use it for mono records?
The Quintet Red is a stereo cartridge. For mono LPs, Ortofon offers a dedicated Quintet Mono designed specifically for mono playback.
What frequency range does it cover?
The published frequency range is 20 Hz to 25 kHz.
What is the channel separation?
Channel separation is 22 dB at 1 kHz, with channel balance within 1.5 dB.
Does an integrated amplifier work with this cartridge?
Yes, as long as its built-in phono stage has a moving coil input, an integrated amplifier can drive a system built around the Quintet Red.
What is the internal impedance?
The internal impedance is 6 ohms.
Does it come mounted on a headshell?
The MC Quintet Red is supplied as a standard cartridge with mounting hardware, ready to install on a compatible headshell or tonearm.
What warranty does the Quintet Red carry?
It carries a 1 year parts and labor warranty from Ortofon for the original owner.
Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Ortofon dealer, so your cartridge is genuine and fully backed by the manufacturer warranty. We help you match it to the right turntable and phono stage and support you through setup.
