Ortofon MC Xpression The Xpression cartridge bridges the gap between SPU-type cartridges and high-end options like the MC A90 and MC Windfeld, which are designed for headshell mounting. The result is a high-performance moving coil cartridge that offers the convenience of a standard headshell connector, providing a simple and elegant method for directly connecting the generator and tonearm via the Xpression’s one-piece body. Elegant Design Without Compromise While the Xpression is derived from the materials and techniques used in the A90 cartridge, it achieves a superb sonic balance between the precision of the A90 and the powerful dynamics and fluidity of its SPU predecessors. Due to the nature of SLM-based construction, each cartridge body is cosmetically unique and may exhibit small dimples or lines upon close examination. Ortofon Replicant 100 Stylus The Xpression features an ultra-fine, extra-polished version of the unique Ortofon Replicant 100 stylus on a Boron cantilever. The Replicant 100 is also used in the MC A90, MC Windfeld, MC Anna, and MC Cadenza Bronze cartridges, ensuring more responsive and transparent sound reproduction. One of the prerequisites for linear reproduction with a wide frequency range and optimal tracking performance is a diamond cut as closely as possible to the original cutting needle. This diamond is incredibly small and light but possesses an extraordinarily large vertical contact surface despite its minimal rounding radius. When correctly fitted at a vertical angle of 23 degrees, an Ortofon Replicant 100 stylus will read the musical information in the grooves of a record with greater accuracy than any other type of needle. Impeccable Benefits from High-End Materials By combining the SLM process with our WRD system, we are confident that the perfect mechanical integration of this cartridge with your tonearm will result in a significant and breathtaking increase in dynamics, staging, resolution, and richness. Ultra high-purity silver is used for the internal wiring between the generator and standard headshell connector. Finally, the bottom cover is constructed from a special proprietary TPE (Thermo-Plastic Elastomer) material, which provides extremely high damping. This allows for a sound experience that offers more drama, breadth, height, and depth. Extreme Rigidity from a Boron Cantilever Using Ortofon’s Aucurum coils, made from gold-plated, 6NX oxygen-free copper, enables zero-loss transmission of the diamond’s movements via its Boron cantilever. This combination, also employed in the MC Windfeld, MC A90, and MC A95 cartridges, achieves low moving mass alongside an exceptionally high degree of rigidity. Neodymium Magnet System The magnet system is based on designs used in acclaimed cartridges such as the MC Windfeld and MC A90. It incorporates a strong, compact neodymium magnet, making the generator system both compact and lightweight due to its minimal dimensions. Ortofon’s Field Stabilizing Element, a small cylinder of conductive material strategically placed inside the magnet system, ensures that the force field remains stable regardless of the armature's movement. FSE improves channel separation while minimizing dynamic distortion and intermodulation. The result is fantastic dynamics and increased space between the musicians. WRD - Perfect Damping via the Rubber Suspension Another important component is Ortofon’s patented Wide Range Damping (WRD) system. In this system, a small, heavy platinum disc is sandwiched between two rubber absorbers with different properties. This design not only ensures exceptional tracking performance but also creates perfect damping across the entire frequency spectrum, virtually eliminating distortion and resonance. The Wide Range Damping system, originally introduced in the MC 20 Mk II in 1979 and used in the MC A90, MC Windfeld, and many other top-tier Ortofon cartridges, is a significant reason why the Xpression achieves the most linear frequency response while tracking an impressive 90 μm at a vertical tracking force of 2.6 grams. "... Ortofon's 90th Anniversary SPU is a very fine cartridge. The Xpression is clearly and significantly better. My 90th Anniversary has the characteristic SPU midrange richness and color, but with far fewer compromises at the extremes of the audioband. The Xpression has all of that, and it's even better in the lows and highs ... The most important improvement is in the highs. The fundamental tones of higher-pitched instruments and voices, and the even higher-frequency tones that convey color and a sense of space, were almost perfectly articulate and clear ... Ambience was reproduced but not exaggerated ... The music came across with more drive and emotional force ... The sound got out of the way, allowing me to focus on the essence of the music and human expression through sound. ... The Xpression is expensive, but age and experience have shown me that it's hard to set a budget for experience, including—especially—the experience of music." — Jim Austin, Stereophile, September 2018 Product Specifications: Output voltage: 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec - 0.3 mV Channel balance: 1 kHz - < 0.2 dB Channel separation: 1 kHz - > 28 dB Channel separation: 15 kHz - > 22 dB Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz +0.5 / - 1.5 dB Tracking ability: 315 Hz at recommended tracking force - 90 µm Compliance, dynamic, lateral: 11 µm/mN Stylus type: Special polished Nude Ortofon Replicant 100 on Boron cantilever Stylus tip radius: r/R 5/100 µm Tracking force range: 2.3 - 2.8 g (23-28 mN) Tracking force, recommended: 2.6 g (26 mN) Tracking angle: 23° Internal impedance, DC resistance: 4 Ohm Recommended load impedance: > 10 Ohm Cartridge body material: SLM stainless steel and special proprietary TPE compound Cartridge color: Black Cartridge weight: 28 grams
