The Ortofon Xpression High-End cartridge

The state of the art product, the Ortofon Xpression represents a combination of three elements very characteristic for Ortofon:

– The cutting edge SLM materials technology pioneered by the MC A90 and SPU 90th Anniversary
– Modification of the generator system introduced with the MC A90 and the the MC Windfeld
– Ortofon design tradition

Utilising these three elements we created a new product in order to support our customers of the SPU cartridges and Ortofon tonearms.
The Xpression cartridge bridges the gap between the SPU-type cartridges and High-End cartridges like the MC A90 and the MC Windfeld designed for headshell mounting. The result is a high-performance moving coil cartridge with the convenience of a standard headshell connector, which provides a simple and elegant method of directly connecting the generator and tonearm via the Xpression’s one-piece body.
Since the cartridge length is identical to that of an SPU, the Xpression can easily be fitted onto tonearms without additional concern for proper alignment. The cartridge height is likewise identical to the SPU height, which makes further VTA adjustments unnecessary.
The length of the cartridge ensures proper match with the SME-mount type tonearms, e.g. SME, Grace, Fidelity Research, SAEC and Micro Seiki brands. Additionally, the mass and compliance properties of the Xpression ensure that a proper match will be achieved with any SPU-compatible arm.
Xpression-Tegning beskaret
The Xpression can ideally be combined with TA-110 and TA-210 tonearms.
The combination of Xpression, TA-110/TA-210 and ST-80 SE MC transformer gives a supreme experience!

Magnet system and damping

Neodymium magnet

Xpression magnetThe magnet system is based on the designs used in such acclaimed cartridges as the MC Windfeld and the MC A90.
The magnet system is based on an extremely strong, compact neodymium magnet, which makes the generator system both compact and lighter through its minimal dimensions.
Ortofon’s Field Stabilizing Element, a small cylinder of conductive material strategically placed inside the magnet system, guarantees that the force field remains stable regardless of the movement of the armature. FSE improves the channel separation, while at the same time minimizing dynamic distortion and intermodulation. The result is the fantastic dynamics and even more elbow room between the musicians.

You simply experience more drama and greater breadth, height and depth in the sound scenario!

Damping

Xpression dampingAdding to the list of important components is Ortofon’s Wide Range Damping (WRD) system. In this system, a small, heavy platinum disc is sandwiched between two rubber absorbers, both with different properties.
This ensures not only an exceptional tracking performance, but also creates a perfect damping through the entire frequency spectrum. Because of this, distortion and resonance are virtually eliminated entirely.
The WRD system, which was originally introduced in the MC 20 Mk II in 1979 and was also used in the MC A90, the MC Windfeld and many of Ortofon’s other top tier cartridges, is one significant reason why the Xpression, while achieving the most linear frequency response and a high upper frequency limit, at the same time tracks a fantastic 90 μm at a vertical tracking force of 2.6 grams.

Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond and coil technology

The Xpression features a Boron Cantilever and Replicant 100 diamond, found also in the MC A90, the MC Windfeld, MC Anna and MC Cadenza Bronze cartridges, providing more responsive and transparent sound reproduction.

The finest diamond in the world

Xpression diamondAnother precondition for linear reproduction with a wide frequency range and optimal tracking performance is a diamond – the shape of which is as close as possible to the original cutting needle. To achieve this, the Ortofon Xpression uses an ultra-fine and extra polished version of the unique Ortofon Replicant Stylus 100.
This diamond, which is already known from products such as the famous MC Windfeld and the MC A90 cartridges, is incredibly small and light, but has an extraordinarily large vertical contact surface despite its minimal radius of rounding. Correctly fitted at a vertical angle of 23 degrees, an Ortofon Replicant Stylus 100 will read the musical information in the grooves of a record with a greater degree of accuracy than any other kind of needle.

Extremely high end materials benefit new coil technology

Using expensive Aucurum coils of gold-plated, 6NX oxygen free copper allows for zero-loss transmission of the diamonds movements via its boron cantilever. This combination, which has also been employed for use in the MC A90 and the legendary MC Windfeld, combines low moving mass with an extremely high degree of rigidity.
The specially designed armature, created for the MC Windfeld and the MC A90, achieves an extreme precision in each coil turn in all layers. This enables the Xpression to obtain a higher degree of channel separation, while simultaneously offering lower distortion and better channel balance.
A low output impedance of 4 ohm and a medium output voltage of 0.3 mV make the Ortofon Xpression a perfect partner for most step-up transformers as well as active MC pre-amps.

Ortofon Xpression technical data

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. 0,3 mV
Channel balance at 1 kHz < 0,2 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz > 28 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz > 22 dB
Frequency response 20 Hz-20.000 Hz +0.5 /- 1.5 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz 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 colour Black
Cartridge weight 28 gram