Ortofon MC Windfeld
Ortofon is launching the MC Windfeld, a newly developed
moving coil cartridge using state-of-the-art technology.
This highly advanced design, which is the world’s most
hi-tech analogue cartridge, may be seen as a tribute to
Ortofon’s departing engineer Per Windfeld, who has for
more than 30 years been a feature of the high-end culture
as the head of development behind amazing cartridges
such as the Ortofon MC 20, Concorde, Rohmann,
Jubilee, Kontrapunkt, etc.
Ortofon’s 75-year-old engineer Per Windfeld falls into the
category of true hi-fi visionaries. His massive contribution
has been a feature of the development of cartridges all
over the world ever since he emerged in the mid-1970s
as head of development for the famous MC 20 cartridge,
which became the modern successor of the SPU model.
The last 30 years have seen an incredible number of
successes. This is why Ortofon is now paying tribute to
Per Windfeld with a newly developed, state-of-the-art,
moving coil cartridge in the absolute high-end class. In
terms of design technology, the Ortofon MC Windfeld is of
course based on many of the most important innovations
and patents that Per Windfeld secured for Ortofon in the
course of his work stretching back more than 30 years.
The Ortofon MC Windfeld combines the
best of the innovations that Per Windfeld and
his team developed in the years following the
launch of the original MC 20 in 1977:
One of the important components is the patented WRD
system (Wide Range Damping), in which a small, heavy
disc of exotic metal is clamped between two rubber
absorbers with different properties. This makes sure that
the tracking performance is maintained simultaneously
with the perfect damping in the whole frequency range,
with the effect that distortion and resonance are avoided.
The WRD system, which was originally introduced in the
MC 20 Mk II in 1979 and was also used in the MC Jubilee
and many of Ortofon’s other top-class cartridges, is one
contributory reason why the MC Windfeld, while achieving
the most linear frequency response and the highest upper
frequency limit ever, at the same time tracks a fantastic
100 μm at a vertical tracking force of 2.6 grams.
The finest diamond in the world
Another 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 MC
Windfeld uses an ultra-fine polished version of the unique
Ortofon Replicant Stylus 100.
This diamond, which is already known from products such
as the MC 3000 Mk II and MC 5000, is incredibly small
and light, but has an extraordinarily large vertical contact
surface despite its minimal radius of rounding. Correctly
fi tted 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.
New coil technology and expensive materials
Zero-loss transmission of the diamond’s movements to
the expensive Aucurum coils of gold-plated, 99.999999%
oxygen-free, monocrystalline copper is achieved in the
Ortofon MC Windfeld via a cantilever in boron (just as in
the MC Jubilee), which combines a low moving mass with
a very high degree of mechanical rigidity.
A special design of armature makes it possible to position
the coil turns extremely precisely in several layers. This
technology achieves higher channel separation, lower
distortion and better channel balance. A low output
impedance of 4 ohm and a medium output voltage of 0.3
mV makes the Ortofon MC Windfeld a perfect partner for
most step-up transformers as well as active MC preamps.
Neodymium magnet with FSE
The magnet system combines Per Windfeld’s designs for
the much-admired Kontrapunkt series and the MC Jubilee.
It is based on an extremely strong, compact neodymium
magnet, which makes the generator system both compact
and through its minimal dimensions also lighter.
A so-called Field Stabilising 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
minimising dynamic distortion and intermodulation. The
result: 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 between the high-end system’s loudspeakers!
Zero resonance cartridge housing with “spikes”
Historically, Ortofon has always followed its own path
with regard to the mechanical design of the cartridge
housing, because mechanical rigidity and total freedom
from resonance in the audible range is a precondition
for optimal sound quality. In the MC Windfeld, Ortofon
continues to build on the structure of the Kontrapunkt
range, in which the cartridge housing’s contact with
the pick-up arm takes place through three hard, well defi
ned points, i.e. a kind of spikes. This means that the
mechanical integration of the cartridge and the pick-up
arm are always absolutely perfect.
We have reinforced the construction by allowing one
central structure, made in a special alloy, to reach from
the 2.5 mm threaded holes at the top all the way down
around the motor system at the bottom. This makes the
MC Windfeld Ortofon’s strongest and most resonance free
cartridge yet, with a direct mechanical connection
between the motor and the tonearm. What this means
for the dynamics, resolution and richness of detail in the
sound simply has to be experienced.
But the Ortofon MC Windfeld is also unique in cosmetic
terms: the parts of the cartridge housing are produced
with matt and polished black surfaces. The underside
facing the record is covered by a new shield, which
reinforces the mechanical structure. Per Windfeld’s
characteristic initials in gold, which decorate the sides of
the cartridge housing.
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 range at - 3dB - 10-80.000 Hz
Frequency response - 20-20.000 Hz + / - 1 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force* - 100 μm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral - 16 μm/mN
Stylus type - Nude Ortofon Replicant 100, special polished
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 - Stainless steel/special alloy
Cartridge colour - Black/Black
Cartridge weight - 13,0 g
*Typical value
