Ortofon Concorde MKII Club Single (DJ Cartridge)

The Ortofon Concorde MKII Club is a DJ cartridge in the Concorde format that uses a Special Elliptical grind to pull more detail out of the groove than the range's spherical models.

Here the MKII series leaves pure workhorse territory behind and looks toward sound quality. The elliptical diamond hugs the groove more closely – and suddenly you hear things the mix was generously keeping from you.

Why the Concorde MKII Club?

Because the Special Elliptical grind has a larger contact area with the groove than a spherical diamond and so tracks finer detail. The 8 mV output voltage needs less gain from the preamp – that keeps the reproduction clean and makes it less prone to feedback in loud environments. That makes the Club the first choice for club DJs who care about sound, and a reliable tool for archiving and previewing tracks. Add to that the sturdy MKII housing and removable finger lift.

What you get

A detailed, controlled reproduction with clean treble and clear imaging – noticeably finer than the range's spherical Mix, DJ and Scratch cartridges. The Club comes as a single with a pre-mounted stylus; for two decks there's the Twin set in a flight case.

Who is the Concorde MKII Club for?

For club and studio DJs who want finer resolution, and for anyone who wants to digitise their records cleanly from time to time. Straight talk: if you scratch hard, stick with the spherical Scratch – the Club's elliptical grind wears faster under scratch loads. And if you want the range's absolute sound ceiling, that's the Elite with its nude diamond.

Our verdict

The sound-conscious all-rounder of the MKII range: elliptical grind, clean signal, versatile from the club to the record archive. If you want more detail than the spherical models without reaching straight for the Elite, this is exactly right.

Technical specifications

• Type: moving magnet cartridge (MM), Concorde design with integrated headshell
• Stylus profile: Special Elliptical (r/R 13/25 μm)
• Cantilever: aluminium
• Output voltage: 8 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Recommended tracking force: 3 g (range 2–4 g)
• Frequency response: 20–20,000 Hz
• Channel separation: 25 dB (1 kHz)
• Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm
• Mounting: SME/bayonet tonearm, plug-and-play
• Weight: 18.5 g (without screws)
• What's included: 1 Concorde cartridge with pre-mounted stylus

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Concorde MKII Club and Scratch?

The Scratch has a spherical grind, 10 mV, and is tuned for maximum groove grip in turntablism. The Club uses an elliptical grind at 8 mV and resolves more finely and with more detail instead. In short: Scratch for the craft on the platter, Club for the sound experience.

Is the Concorde MKII Club suitable for digitising records?

Yes, very much so. The elliptical grind tracks with a lot of detail, and the 8 mV delivers a clean, strong signal that needs little gain. That makes the Club well suited to archiving and previewing your collection – not just for DJing.

Why buy the Concorde MKII Club at HD Zürisee?

Because we'll tell you honestly whether the elliptical Club or the spherical Scratch is the right path for you – that depends on how you DJ. In Wädenswil we advise you on the right setup, and technician Mauri will handle mounting and fine alignment on the tonearm on request.

Goes well with

Goes well with: a turntable, a phono preamp and more cartridges.