Ortofon MC Quintet Bronze

The Ortofon MC Quintet Bronze is a low-output moving-coil cartridge with a nude fine-line diamond stylus on an aluminium cantilever and pure 4N copper coils.

It's the step up into the Quintet series' higher league: the fine fine-line cut captures even the highest frequencies and makes the Bronze a favourite among discerning listeners.

Why the Quintet Bronze?

The fine-line cut has a slim profile with a larger contact area against the groove wall: it reads out even the highest frequencies precisely and produces less distortion and record wear. With pure 4N copper coils and a lower output voltage of 0.3 mV, the Bronze plays cleaner and finer than the smaller Quintets.

What you'll hear

A very balanced sound in every respect, with clearly captured highs. Classical music comes across with power and open space around every instrument, voices and details stand out clean and with real body. An audible step towards high-end.

Who's the Quintet Bronze for?

For discerning vinyl listeners who want detail, clean highs and balance. Straight talk: the final step to a Shibata cut and sapphire cantilever is only taken by the Black S. At 0.3 mV, the Bronze demands a good, low-noise MC phono stage.

Our verdict

For many, the Quintet Bronze is the series' sweet spot: fine-line precision and balance at a still-reasonable price. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil will tell you whether it's enough, or whether stepping up to the Black S is worthwhile for your system.

Technical specifications

• Type: MC cartridge (moving coil, low output)
• Stylus type: Nude Fine Line
• Cantilever: Aluminium
• Tip radius: r/R 8/40 µm
• Output voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/s): 0.3 mV
• Channel balance: < 1.2 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: pure 4N copper
• Body material: ABS / aluminium
• Colour: Bronze
• Weight: 9 g

Frequently asked questions

What phono stage does the Ortofon Quintet Bronze need?

A good, low-noise MC-capable phono preamp or a step-up transformer. At 0.3 mV, the Bronze 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 does the fine-line cut bring compared with the Quintet Blue?

The fine-line diamond has a slimmer profile and reads out high frequencies more precisely than the Blue's nude ellipse – that gives more detail, cleaner highs and less wear. The Bronze resolves audibly more finely as a result. You'll hear the difference especially on good recordings.

Will the Quintet Bronze fit my tonearm?

Usually, yes. At 9 g weight and 15 µm/mN dynamic compliance, the Bronze fits most light to medium-mass tonearms. We'll check the ideal resonance frequency with you if needed.

Why buy the Ortofon Quintet Bronze 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 Bronze: 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.