MC Xpression

The Ortofon MC Xpression is a high-performance moving coil cartridge with a standard headshell connector. Its one-piece body connects the generator directly to the tonearm through the headshell connection. The design combines Ortofon’s Selective Laser Melting materials, the generator system introduced with the MC A90 and MC Windfeld, and Ortofon’s established design approach.

The MC Xpression has the same cartridge length and height as an SPU, allowing it to be fitted to compatible tonearms without additional alignment concerns or further VTA adjustment. Its length suits SME-mount tonearms, including SME, Grace, Fidelity Research, SAEC and Micro Seiki models. The cartridge’s mass and compliance are suitable for SPU-compatible arms, and it can be combined with the Ortofon TA-110 tonearm.

The cartridge body uses Ortofon’s Selective Laser Melting process. Fine stainless steel particles are welded together layer by layer to form a single piece with unnecessary material removed. The density of the body can be controlled precisely, providing high internal damping and reducing resonances in the audible frequency range. SLM construction means that each cartridge body is cosmetically unique, with small dimples or lines visible on close examination.

The SLM body is combined with Ortofon’s patented Wide Range Damping system to support mechanical integration with a wide range of tonearms. The internal wiring between the generator and headshell connector is made from ultra-high-purity silver. The MC Xpression uses materials and techniques developed for the MC A90, while retaining the dynamics and body associated with Ortofon’s SPU cartridges.

The bottom cover is made from a proprietary TPE, or Thermo-Plastic Elastomer, compound with high damping properties. A finger lift and a stylus guard are included.

Neodymium magnet

The magnet system is based on the designs used in the MC Windfeld and MC A90. A compact neodymium magnet keeps the generator system small and reduces its weight through its minimal dimensions.

Ortofon’s Field Stabilizing Element, or FSE, is a small cylinder made from conductive material and positioned inside the magnet system. It keeps the force field stable as the armature moves, improving channel separation while reducing dynamic distortion and intermodulation. The design provides greater breadth, height and depth in the soundstage.

Damping

The patented Wide Range Damping system uses a small, heavy platinum disc positioned between 2 rubber absorbers with different properties. This arrangement supports tracking performance and damping across the frequency spectrum, reducing distortion and resonance.

Originally introduced in the MC 20 Mk II in 1979, the WRD system has also been used in the MC A90, MC Windfeld and many of Ortofon’s other top-tier cartridges. It allows the MC Xpression to combine a linear frequency response and high upper-frequency limit with tracking of 90 μm at a vertical tracking force of 2.6 grams.

Diamond and coil technology

The Ortofon MC Xpression uses a Boron cantilever and an Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond, as found in the MC A90 and MC Windfeld. The Replicant Stylus 100 is an ultra-fine, extra-polished profile designed to approach the shape of the original cutting needle. It is small and light, with a large vertical contact surface and a minimal radius of rounding. When correctly fitted at a vertical angle of 23 degrees, it reads the information in record grooves with a high degree of accuracy.

The cartridge uses Aucurum coils made from gold-plated 6NX oxygen-free copper. This combination provides low moving mass and high rigidity, transferring the diamond’s movement through the Boron cantilever. The specially designed armature, developed for the MC Windfeld and MC A90, maintains precision in each coil turn across all layers. This supports channel separation, low distortion and channel balance.

With a low output impedance of 4Ω and a medium output voltage of 0.3mV, the MC Xpression is suited to step-up transformers and active MC pre-amplifiers.

Stylus guard

The included stylus guard is designed for removal and replacement without contact with the stylus assembly. It should be fitted whenever the cartridge is not in use, including while the cartridge is being mounted on or removed from the headshell, to help prevent damage to the stylus or cantilever.

To remove the guard, hold its sides between the thumb and forefinger and pull it straight along the orientation of the cartridge. Fit it by reversing the same straight movement.

• Cartridge length and height identical to SPU
• SME mount type
• Internal coils made from Ortofon Aucurum wire, gold-plated 6NX copper wire
• SLM stainless steel and proprietary TPE compound body
• Nude Ortofon Replicant 100, special polished version, stylus profile with Boron cantilever