Ortofon Rondo Series Moving Coil cartridges

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Rondo cartidges are made of wood, a natural and unique material for acoustic products.

Wood is an excellent material for a cartridge, but difficult to use. So when we were informed from Japan about a new moulding material based on 55% grinded wood in a resin matrix, that was to be processed by injection moulding just like thermoplastic material, the chance of making even more complicated structures in the design became of high interest.

The well-known Japanese tradition in decorative art and lacquering techniques also became of interest for the presentation of a quite new look for the Rondo models.

The chosen surface colours and decorations are basic Bronze - Blue and Red lacquer modulated by black shadows.

We decided that the tooling process was to take place in Japan based on the drawings and specifications made by Ortofon engineers.

The integrated Ortofon MC-system used for Rondo models involves new and well-known components responsible for the exclusive Ortofon sound quality and easy mounting.

The use of Neodymium magnets are inplemented for achieving 500μVolt high outputs - to obtain the best signal to noise ration for the customers.

A combination of diamonds and cantilevers with individually developed damping systems for the models was arranged for very linear frequency responce and a high tracking ability.

A very close mechanical contact between the wood-based housing and motor units has resulted in a new homogeneous sound quality. By using wood we have learned about the amazing non-resonant influence wood makes on the sound image.

A very special genuine copper wire with a two-layer gold plating was chosen for the armature windings.

The material Aucurum shows excellent resistance to corrosive elements from the environment and thereby stabilises the conductivity of the small number of armature windings in the system, which - again - is very important for the quality of sound.

Mounting of Rondo cartidges

Mounting of the Rondo cartridges is easy and firm by using 2,5 mm screws in threaded half inch basis holes.

The small bars on top of the base-plate make tilting of the cartridge within ± 2° possible for max. channel separation.

Both members of the Ortofon Golden Ear Panel working among musicians in Denamrk as well as some of the members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra have released very similar remarks about the individual characteristic qualities in sound for three Ortofon Rondo moving coil cartridge models.