ORTOFON MC 20 SUPER

Pre owned. Comes with original packaging and manual.

The Ortofon MC 20 Super represents one of the most significant chapters in the history of moving coil cartridges. Introduced more than thirty-five years ago, this cartridge was among the first to combine high compliance with an extended yet remarkably smooth frequency response, earning its place as a true classic of analog audio. The extruded high-rigidity aluminum body, metal cover, and Wide Range Damping system reflect Ortofon’s signature craftsmanship, while the aluminum cantilever embodies the precision and refinement for which the Danish brand is renowned.

Born from decades of experience by a company that has turned moving coil design into an art form, the MC 20 Super is engineered to deliver a natural and engaging musical reproduction. Its sonic character offers a perfect balance of tonal harmony and transparency, with a bass that is well defined and detailed without being overstated. The midrange is open and realistic, reproducing vocals with warmth and presence, while the treble is smooth and gentle, never fatiguing. The frequency response shows a slight lift at the top end, consistent with Ortofon’s “orthophase” philosophy, which favors a gently rising amplitude response while maintaining linear phase behavior. The result is a clear, airy, and coherent sound that adds depth and naturalness to every recording.

The MC 20 Super performs best in medium to high-mass tonearms and requires a dedicated phono preamplifier or step-up device suited for moving coil cartridges. When properly mounted and aligned, it presents no particular setup difficulties and rewards careful installation with truly exceptional performance. Its sound invites long listening sessions, turning every record into a rediscovery. The quality it delivers firmly places it among reference-grade cartridges, capable of competing with far more expensive models. It is one of those cartridges that, once heard, is hard to part with—a timeless classic that continues to embody Ortofon’s pursuit of technical precision and musicality in perfect balance.

Technical specifications:

• Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5 cm/sec: 0.25 mV
• Channel balance at 1 kHz: < 1.0 dB
• Channel separation at 1 kHz: > 25 dB; at 15 kHz: > 15 dB
• Frequency range at -3 dB: 20–25,000 Hz
• Frequency response: 20–20,000 Hz ± 2 dB
• Tracking ability at 315 Hz (recommended tracking force): > 80 µm
• Dynamic compliance, lateral: 15 µm/mN
• Stylus type: Nude FG-70
• Stylus tip radius: r/R 6/70 µm
• Tracking force range: 1.6–2.0 g (16–20 mN); recommended: 1.8 g (18 mN)
• Tracking angle: 20°
• Internal impedance / DC resistance: 5 Ohm
• Recommended load impedance: > 10 Ohm
• Cartridge body material: Aluminum
• Cartridge color: Gold
• Cartridge weight: 9 g