A brief history of Ortofon 

1918

9th of October: the Electrical Phono Film Company is founded by Axel Petersen (1887-1971) and Arnold Poulsen (1889-1952) with the objective of developing one of the world’s first synchronized sound film system.

1923

12th of October: the first sound film recorded indoors is shown at the Palace Theatre, Copenhagen.

1924

In March the world’s first sound film recorded outdoors is made.

1938-44

During this period microphones, dynamic compressors, oscillographs, optical instruments and similar equipment & accessories are developed.

1946

The first mono cutterhead for the gramophone industry is developed.

The cutterhead is revolutionary because the level of registration of the oscillations is raised from 5 kHz to 14 kHz.

The company name is changed to "Fonofilm Industri A/S".

1948

The world’s first Moving Coil cartridge is engineered with characteristics that match the quality level of the cutterhead.

1951

Ortofon A/S is established as a trading company under Fonofilm Industri A/S. The name Ortofon derives from the Greek words “orto” (meaning "correct") and “fon” (meaning "sound").

1957

In the transition from mono to stereo, Ortofon develops stereo cutterheads.

1957-59

During these years Ortofon develops its legendary SPU stereo cartridge.

1959

The SPU (Stereo Pick Up) is launched. The target audience is primarily professionals, e.g. the Danish State Broadcasting Company, the Swedish State Broadcasting Company and Deutsche Grammophon.

1969

The first magnetic cartridge, the M-15, constructed on the VMS (variable magnetic shunt) generating system is launched.

1970

The production facility moves to a new factory in Nakskov, Denmark.

1976

The introduction of the MCA 76 pre-amplifier in order to match the Moving Coil cartridges and amplifiers.

1979

Ortofon receives the Danish Industrial Design Award for its Low Mass Concorde integrated cartridge/headshell configuration.

1980

The Instrument Department is established with the objective of developing and producing advanced measuring equipment for the audio industry.

1981

Ortofon introduces the world's first low mass magnetic cartridges with a very high compliance and the net weight reduced to only 2.5 grams.

1983

Ortofon Inc., a subsidiary company, is established in Plainview, New York.

Ortofon Instruments launches the P400 measuring instrument for the production floor test of audio transducers. 

1984

The silver colored Concorde Pro and OM Pro, which combine the sound quality with the ruggedness for the professionals (DJs) is introduced to expand into a new area of business.

Scan Micro, Ortofon’s BtB facility, is established as a separate division.

Scan Micro starts the production of diamond styli.

1988

The MC 70 Anniversary Moving Coil Cartridge is introduced in October.

1989

The SPU Reference and MC 2000 II/3000 II are introduced.

The Night Club Series for Discos featuring easier cueing, improved styli, better sound and a higher stability is introduced.

1990

Ortofon introduces the world’s first 99,99999 % (7N) Superpure Copper Cables for Audio- and Speaker Application.

1992

The SPU Meister is introduced to celebrate Mr. Robert Gudmandsen’s 50th anniversary working at Ortofon.

1993

Ortofon celebrates its 75th anniversary by introducing the top model Moving Coil cartridge MC 7500.

1995

In honor of Erik Rohmann, Ortofon's long-time Managing Director, Ortofon launches the Rohmann Moving Coil cartridge.

Based on many years' experience with producing Disco cartridges and a close contact with DJ's, Concorde DJ and OM DJ with extremely high robustness are introduced. 

1996

The masterpiece of Mr.Robert Gudmandsen, the SPU Meister Silver with coil wires of 6-N pure silver is introduced.

The Mono CG-Di and CA-Di cartridges engineered and introduced back in 1948 are revived employing exactly the same technology.

1997

Ortofon introduces the world's first 99,9999 % (6N) Super High Purity Silver cables for Audio- and Speaker application.

Ortofon is awarded as one of the fastest growing companies in Denmark.

1998

To celebrate Ortofon's 80th anniversary the completely newly designed MC Jubilee is introduced together with SPU Royal.

For the first time Ortofon is the Exclusive Sponsor of Cartridge and Styli for the DMC/Technics World DJ Championships held in Paris.

1999

The Scratch cartridges for DJ's who exact perfection are successfully introduced.

Ortofon obtains a leading position within the manufacturing of the DJ Scratch cartridges and continues to be the exclusive cartridge and styli sponsor of the Technics/DMC DJ World Championship held in New York. 

2000

On the day of Johann Sebastian Bach's 250th anniversary Ortofon launches the Kontrapunkt b and Kontrapunkt a MC phono cartridges.

2003

To celebrate Ortofon's 85th anniversary the SPU 85 is introduced with the LH 8000 head shell handmade from the Japanese Hida beechwood with the surface processed by the 6000 years old Lapanese Urushi lacquer method. The SPU 85 cartridge is only produced in a limited number of 500 pcs.

The Johan Sebastian Bach's Kontrapunkt Series of cartridges is completed when Ortofon launches the Kontrapunk c and Kontrapunkt h.

Ortofon enter into a sponsorship contract with Q.Bert /Thud Rumble in order to promote and renew the line of DJ cartridges and needles.

Based on requests from international DJs Ortofon introduces two new cartridges for the Disco scene - the Concorde Electro for the Techno and the GT for tough handling. 

2004

The MC Rondo series is launched. The MC Tango, MC Samba and MC Salsa have been a direct result of Ortofon endeavours.

2005

Ortofon Concorde Q.Bert cartridge, co-developed by one of the most legendary DJs of all time, is introduced.

2006

The production is further extended to Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) products, B2B division.

2007

The 2M Series phono cartridges, the name being short for 2 x moving magnet are introduced. The 2M Series consisting of 2M Red, 2M Blue, 2M Bronze and 2M 2M Black, has been engineered by the highest standards and is a perfect example of the uncompromising commitment of Ortofon to provide the most precise and accurate reproduction possible without coloration.

2008

Ortofon celebrates it's 90th anniversary.
The same year MC Windfeld is launched, using the newly developed state-of-the-art technology. This highly advanced design is seen as a tribute to Ortofon’s departing engineer Per Windfeld, who has been a feature of the high-end culture as head of the companies R&D for more than 30 years .

2009

2010

Cadenza, SPU 90 Anniversary and MC A90 are lanched. Ortofon paves the way of the use of Rapid Manufacturing technology and the SLM Manufacturing technique.
The same year Ortofon wins the HBH marketing award for its DJ marketing. It is the most prestigious marketing award in Denmark, previously awarded to companies with innovative marketing strategies.
The introduction of the Ortofon DJ Headphones.   

Launch of the revolutionary DJ cartridge Ortofon-Serato S-120. S-120 represents a completely new way of constructing and designing cartridges. Its breakthrough patent pending technology has been designed to provide maximum freedom for DJ performances.

The establishment of a separate B2B division OrtofonMicrotech selling components to the hearing aid industry.