"Ultra incisive, transparent and dimensional moving coil with grip and punch aplenty." 5/5 Hi-Fi World Magazine

Ortofon TA-110 Tonarm and the Ortofon Cadenza Black (and reportedly other high-performance Ortofon cartridges). What is striking about this analog front-end is its clarity and transient speed, lack of distortion and smearing, broad and deep soundstaging, engaging transparency, and smooth but detailed presentation. I was shocked by how close this combination came to the sound of mastertapes in the critical midrange. - The Absolute Sound

The Cadenza Black model is using a Nude Shibata stylus with a boron cantilever. The effective mass of the stylus/cantilever system is extremely low due to the use of a very thin boron rod. This material is extremely stiff and even more lightweight than aluminium.

It also uses the WRD (Wide Range Damping-system applied for MC Windfeld, MC A90, MC Anna, Xpression), controlling the high and low frequency damping separately.

The coil wire is the famous Ortofon Aucurum wire, which is a gold plated 6NX copper wire. 

Cadenza Black is optimized for an amazing tonal neutrality, dynamics and purity of sound. It is high performing on areas like detail, consistency and sound staging.Review Quote Cadenza Black Hi-Fi World

Ortofon: 'Accuracy in Sound'

 

Ortofon is the world’s oldest and most experienced manufacturer of hi-fi pick-up cartridges. From humble beginnings in 1918, Ortofon is now a prolific winner of various international awards, and consistently well reviewed by the international press with every new product. Their core principles of responsibly sourced high-end materials, meticulous design and production processes, pristine working conditions and superlative attention to detail are evident in every single product they make.

 

From the introductory moving magnet OM and 2M models, through the Vivo, Rondo and Cadenza Moving Coil series, all the way up to the high-end MC Windfeld, Xpression and brand new MC Anna cartridges, Ortofon are devoted to offering true ‘accuracy in sound’. They also commit to supporting long-time customers by continuing to run replacement styli many years after an original cartridge has been discontinued, and for Moving Coil customers they also run an attractive Exchange Program .

 

Nothing demonstrates Ortofon's long-standing resilience more than its commitment to the refinement of analogue sound quality and its continued development of new cartridge models. Since 1948 Ortofon have introduced about 100 different moving coil models, with their latest being the Quintet Series.

Ortofon believe the cartridges in this new series are more than worthy successors to the long line of models that have made Ortofon the global leader in the manufacturing and supplying of phono cartridges.