Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

The Ortofon MC Quintet Black S is the flagship of the Quintet series: a low-output moving-coil cartridge with a nude Shibata diamond stylus on a sapphire cantilever and Aucurum coils.

It's the crown of the Quintet range: the Shibata cut is one of the finest tracing profiles around, and the rigid sapphire cantilever delivers a resolution that's already knocking on the next class's door.

Why the Quintet Black S?

The Shibata diamond has a slim, high-polish profile with an especially wide contact line against the groove wall – so it reads out even the finest high-frequency information cleanly. The sapphire cantilever is noticeably stiffer than aluminium and transmits impulses faster and with less loss. The Aucurum coils, made of gold-plated copper, come from Ortofon's higher series.

What you'll hear

A detailed, pure reproduction across the whole spectrum – including the finest high-frequency structures. The Black S traces cleanly, quickly and with real body, against a quiet background and a clear stage. Quintet's summit, with a touch of high-end.

Who's the Quintet Black S for?

For audiophile vinyl listeners with a good chain who want the maximum from the Quintet series. Straight talk: on a weak phono stage or a wobbly tonearm, you're wasting its potential – the Black S wants a clean environment. If you want even more, step up to the Cadenza series.

Our verdict

The Quintet Black S is the highest-resolution cartridge in the series and, with Shibata on sapphire, plays well above its price tag. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil will tell you honestly whether your chain does it justice – and whether stepping up to the Cadenza series would be worthwhile.

Technical specifications

• Type: MC cartridge (moving coil, low output)
• Stylus type: Nude Shibata
• Cantilever: Sapphire
• Tip radius: r/R 6/50 µm
• Output voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/s): 0.3 mV
• Channel balance: < 1.0 dB
• Channel separation (1 kHz): > 23 dB
• Channel separation (15 kHz): > 15 dB
• Frequency range (-3 dB): 20–25,000 Hz
• Frequency response (20 Hz–20 kHz): ±1.5 dB
• Tracing ability (315 Hz): 80 µm
• Stylus compliance (dynamic, lateral): 15 µm/mN
• Tracking force: 2.1–2.5 g (recommended 2.3 g)
• Tracking angle: 20°
• Internal impedance (DC): 5 ohms
• Recommended load impedance: > 20 ohms
• Coil wire: Aucurum (gold-plated copper)
• Body material: ABS / aluminium
• Colour: Black
• Weight: 9 g

Frequently asked questions

What phono stage does the Ortofon Quintet Black S need?

A good, low-noise MC-capable phono preamp or a step-up transformer. At 0.3 mV, the Black S is a low-output MC; Ortofon recommends a load impedance of more than 20 ohms. We at HD Zürisee will set this up correctly for you.

What's the difference between the Black S and the Quintet Bronze?

The Black S uses a nude Shibata stylus on a rigid sapphire cantilever, the Bronze a fine-line cut on aluminium. That gives the Black S more resolution, cleaner highs and more speed. It's audibly the flagship of the series.

Will the Quintet Black S fit my tonearm?

Usually, yes. At 9 g weight and 15 µm/mN dynamic compliance, the Black S fits most light to medium-mass tonearms. But it only shows its potential on a mechanically quiet arm – we'll check the resonance frequency with you if needed.

Why buy the Ortofon Quintet Black S at HD Zürisee?

Because we give you honest advice on which Quintet suits your system and which phono stage belongs with it. As an authorised dealer in Wädenswil, we take care of the matching, and our technician Mauri will professionally mount and align the cartridge on request. Call or write to us.

Goes well with

Get more out of the Quintet Black S: you'll find alignment tools and matching accessories under Turntable Accessories, everything for a clean groove under Record Cleaning. Everything else around your turntable is shown in All Vinyl.