MC Diamond

The Ortofon MC Diamond is a flagship moving-coil cartridge, developed as a tribute to operatic soprano Anna Netrebko. Ortofon has previously dedicated high-end audio designs to influential figures, including the SPU Meister, MC Rohmann, Kontrapunkt and MC Windfeld. The MC Diamond follows the MC Anna and uses Ortofon’s finest technologies and materials.

Titanium structure

The cartridge body is produced using Ortofon’s SLM technique, which welds fine particles of titanium together layer by layer to form a single housing without unnecessary material. This allows the body density to be controlled precisely and provides a high level of internal damping. The construction is designed to minimise resonance and suit a wide range of high-end tonearms.

The MC Diamond uses Ortofon’s Replicant 100 diamond stylus profile, specially polished into a thin, light shape with a long vertical contact surface. This brings the stylus profile close to that of an original record-cutting stylus. Drawing on the technical development of the MC Century, Ortofon mounts the stylus on a diamond cantilever, providing the basis for detailed analogue reproduction with subtlety and depth.

The stylus and cantilever feed into an improved generator system. Parts of the magnet structure use a high-performance iron-cobalt alloy for greater consistency and control. A precision-moulded, non-magnetic armature provides a strong, rigid platform, with each coil turn formed to a high degree of precision across all layers. The armature extends beyond the coils and interfaces directly with the rubber dampers, which sandwich a small, heavy platinum disc.

This Wide Range Damping system controls movement, reduces unwanted resonance and supports stereo perspective and transient delineation. The lower section of the cartridge uses a proprietary thermo-plastic elastomer material, adding further damping.

The MC Diamond shares its external shape with the standard MC Anna. Its additional diamond logo on the front provides the visual distinction. The design is intended to balance precision and musicality, with attention to micro and macro dynamics, fluid tonality and texture. It is also designed to partner with a wide range of tonearms and turntables.

With an output impedance of 6Ω and a low-to-medium output voltage of 0.2mV, the Ortofon MC Diamond is suitable for use with most phono pre-amplifiers and step-up transformers, including Ortofon’s ST-80 SE. It is also suited to high-mass, high-precision tonearms with gimbal bearing systems.

The cartridge is supplied in a case made from Japanese wood, with a comprehensive user booklet and maintenance kit.

• Flagship Exclusive Series cartridge
• MC Anna design with a diamond cantilever
• Diamond cantilever technology taken from the limited-edition MC Century cartridge
• Suited to high-mass, high-precision tonearms
• Titanium SLM body construction
• WRD technology for improved performance
• Replicant 100 diamond stylus profile
• Finest components and materials used throughout
• Presented in a gift box