DJ Cartridges - Audioeffetti
Transcript of DJ Cartridges - Audioeffetti
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
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
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
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
Scratch
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
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.
6 7
Scratch
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
Scratch
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
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.
8 9
Scratch
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
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
10 11
Single OM or Concorde cartridge
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
Set Case OM or Concorde cartridge + extra stylus
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
Twin Case Two Concorde cartridges
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
12 13
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
Channel separation at 15 kHz 15 dB 15 dB 15 dB 15 dB 15 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
Channel separation at 1 kHz 20 dB 20 dB 23 dB 25 dB 25 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz 15 dB 15 dB 15 dB 15 dB 15 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.
14 15
© O
rtofo
n |
100
5 |
999
0016
ORTOFON A/S | STAVANGERVEJ 9 | DK-4900 NAKSKOV | DENMARK | WWW.ORTOFON.COM