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Seller's Description

Unused Ortofon Cadenza Black, this cartridge has never been played was purchased with a turntable but was never played very musical.

Our Thoughts RADAR AI

This asking price is bang on fair for the market, sitting essentially at the median of recent used comparables at £1,750 versus a £1,749 median. It is neither a bargain nor ambitious; it looks like an honest ask for a desirable moving-coil cartridge.

The appeal here is straightforward: the Cadenza Black is a highly regarded, top-tier cartridge with excellent resolution, low noise, and a very refined, open presentation when set up properly. At this level, condition and hours matter more than a small price difference, so a clean stylus, known history, and any original packaging or accessories would make this a particularly sensible buy.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About Ortofon

Ortofon: A Century of Precision Sound

Ortofon traces its lineage to October 9, 1918, when Danish engineers Axel Petersen and Arnold Poulsen founded the Electrical Phono Film Company in Copenhagen. The name itself derives from Greek, meaning "correct sound"—a philosophy that has guided the company's trajectory for over a century. Initially focused on synchronized sound film technology, Ortofon pivoted to audio reproduction after 1945, when the superior recording quality of new cutting equipment revealed the inadequacy of existing playback systems. This gap sparked the development of the pioneering Ortofon mono pickup in 1948, establishing the foundation for the company's future dominance.

Today, Ortofon is the world's largest manufacturer of magnetic cartridges for phonograph turntables, producing approximately 500,000 units annually. The company's product portfolio centers exclusively on phono cartridges—both moving magnet and moving coil designs—with over 300 distinct models developed since 1948. This singular focus reflects deep specialization rather than diversification, positioning Ortofon as a micro-mechanical specialist rather than a broad-based audio manufacturer.

Ortofon occupies the high-end segment of the audio market, commanding respect among vinyl enthusiasts and professional studios alike. The brand benefits from Denmark's established reputation for acoustic engineering and industrial design, supported by in-house research and development. For discerning turntable owners, Ortofon cartridges represent the gold standard—a heritage brand whose century-long commitment to cartridge excellence remains unmatched in the industry.

See all Ortofon listings on RADAR.

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