Ortofon SPU #1 S Moving Coil Cartridge MC

Product no.: ORT327


can be shipped within 7-21 days

Ortofon SPU #1 S Moving Coil Cartridge MC
£439.00
Price includes VAT, plus delivery


Although the Ortofon SPU series of pickup heads—phono cartridges, typically moving-coils, that are built into their own headshells—is surely the longest-running cartridge line in the history of audio, they never attracted the attention of MF, who admits not being "a fan of [the design's] old-school, SME-type" locking collet, and who's also put off by the typical SPU's high mass and high recommended tracking force. That changed in spring 2016, when Ortofon introduced two distinctly low-priced SPUs. In all other respects—0.18mV output, 4gm recommended tracking force, 30gm mass. MF received review samples of both and declared, after his first spin with "I immediately, and much to my surprise, got what the SPU cult is all about." And when he switched to the spherical-tipped #1S, MF wrote, "Yes, much detail was missing, but also gone were artifacts of mechanical playback, replaced by a luxuriously smooth sound and exceptionally 'black' backgrounds. I began to understand the appeal of spherical styli."

Micheal Fremer Stereophile  Recommended Components 2016

Stereoplay by Roland Kraft -  SPU #1 S "In spite of its retrolook, highmass and simple Spherical stylus, the (SPU #1 S ) cartridge has a genuine musicality, that is so easy to love."

No other company has ever retained a phono cartridge model in their product range for so many years. The SPU was used by early broadcasting companies among whom the Ortofon brand name was already well known from the first moving coil system - the Ortofon mono system in the small black A-housing. The so-called “Ortofon sound“ became synonymous with the sound from the SPU, at an early stage.
 
The SPU #1 S is a Moving Coil cartridge with an 18 µm spherical stylus profile.

The SPU series embodies the essence of the original Moving Coils and are a perfect solution for the playback of both early and modern and contemporary stereo recordings.

For moderate and high mass tonearms with SME connections.

Technical Data:

Output Voltage At 1 kHz, 5cm/sec.:    0.18mV
Recommended Loads Resistance:     Phono MC/>10Ω 
Tracking Ability (at 315Hz):     65μm
Compliance, Dynamic, Lateral:     10μm/mN 
Tracking Force:     4g 
Stylus Type:    Spherical (R 18μm)
Cartridge Colour:    Black/White
Cartridge Weight:    30g

SPU pefect matach with Ortofon Ortofon TA-110 TA-210 - 9 & 12inch tonearms & ST SUTs

A Briefing on Ortofon's SPU Cartridges
Ortofon’s SPU cartridges continue the tradition of the first ever Moving Coil cartridges as originally engineered by Mr. Robert Gudmandsen and produced by Ortofon in the late 1950s. Praised for their refined linearity and full body, these cartridges have remained a favorite throughout the years, both for modern and vintage high-end applications.
The latest incarnation of SPU cartridges feature a wood-based integrated headshell to further reduce resonance and provide an authentic and attractive aesthetic.

The Sound Of Excellence
In the late 1950s the iconic SPU cartridge range featured Ortofon’s newly introduced low coil resistance and impedance concept. As a basis for reproducing superb high frequencies, this concept has been continually improved and refi ned in the decades since. With the recent launch of both the SPU Anniversary 85 and MC Rondo cartridges, Ortofon has introduced a new era of wood-based housing structures. The benefi ts of this natural material for cartridge housings mimic the centuries old tradition of hand crafted musical instruments with all the acoustic benefits.

The new developed Ortofon Synergy SPU-cartridge continues the predecessor’s concept whilst adding a new large sound image. The addition of unsurpassed technical data adds up to a highly sophisticated package. The exceptional black polished Urushi painting on the new SPU-housing suggests a precious jewel-like appearance. The musical instrument theme continues - the superb black glazing paint is of a quality found only on famous name pianos. Not only is the visual impression most attractive but the new transducer system allows extraordinary Synergy of sonorous sound. Very low coil-resistance combined with unusually high output (achieved by using Neodymium magnets in a soft iron circuit with high saturation) was decisive for reaching the high signal to noise ratio acheived with the new Synergy SPU-cartridge.

By controlling the cantilever and armature movements in air-gap with very high-magnetic induction, Ortofon has used its comprehensive expertise in designing the right type of damping for the new system. The nude, finely polished elliptical diamond in combination with the aluminium cantilever has both had essential influence on the final frequency-response.

Ortofon Ortofon SPU #1 E MC Cartridge

 

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