Ortofon OM5E...The Perfect Low Cost Phono Cartridge Or The Poor Man's Reference Pickup?
Written: Feb 27 '07 (Updated Mar 01 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wide stereo presentation. Superb tracking! Low record wear! Low distortion! Great price!
Cons: Due to low price...many audiophiles will simply dismiss the cartridge as second rate. Shame!
The Bottom Line: Anyone who is into archiving or just plain planning on rediscovering their old LP's should not pass this great pickup by! It is the best for under $100.
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| sam-pro's Full Review: Ortofon OM 5 E Magnet Phono Cartridge |
Prelude:
A very special heart felt thanks has to go out to EPINIONS wonder of wonders..."dkozin" for helping me get this great item up here for review. This is too an important product not to have a slot here on the site. Now...after a two plus years period...it finally has a home!
This is the original review written by yours truly some time ago in the "Writer's Corner". I have preserved it as closely as possible but please note that updates will appear below the main body of the review. The good news is that everything I stated in the review still holds true except for the fact that the street price of the item has dropped a good ten bucks or more! This is in fact no doubt due to the enormous popularity of this first-rate pickup. Enjoy the review!
Recommendations: Why is it that this phono cartridge is now being included in more and more entry level belt-driven turntables? Owners of medium to higher priced Pioneer/Technics Standard Mount types from yesteryear plus Music Hall owners from MMF-1 and up...along with Rega "2" to "25" owners should carefully consider this pickup before deciding on the likes of a Goldring or even Rega cartridge. Moving coil enthusiasts need a spare while their spectacular performing cartridges are sent out for re-tipping. The OM5E is the proverbial "no brainer"! Also, those old-timers like yours truly who miss the likes of a Shure V-15 TYPE III for the discounted price of just under $60 no longer have to "long" for those days. They are back...in the form of this first-rate pickup with all the "Trackability" you could possibly ask for!
Overall Performance Rating: ... *****{I'd give it TEN STARS but that's an EPINIONS no-no!}
Original Review Date: March 22, 2005
Ortofon is a Denmark company that truly and firmly believes that the record...vinyl still is superior to the digital compact disc "by a comfortable margin." If you don't believe me...then checkout their website at www.ortofon.com. And if you don't believe them...then you just gotta hear the OM Series of phono cartridges !
Ortofon has been making phono cartridges for just about as long as anybody in the business. Founding fathers...Danish engineers...Axel Petersen and Arnold Poulsen have time and time again left their rather pronounced mark on the art of analog audio crafting. Their list of credentials is embarrassingly long. Their expertise in vinyl reproduction is unsurpassed in this reviewer's EPINION. And why wouldn't it be? Did you know that Ortofon's cutting heads were and still are used on virtually every major vinyl maker's mother mastering machine? But what really surprises me in the war of the virtues of Moving Coil vs. Moving Magnet phono cartridge design...the co. excels at both.
Now admittedly I have been a firm believer in magnetic phono cartridges. Yes...it is true that many moving coil designs sound wonderful and dreamy. I'm not opposing that argument at all. For sure {Shure?...a silly pun is intended!} these top-notch transducers are worth every penny of their costlier design but a magnetic pickup can...in my view equal or surpass the best of them!
Let's understand the two designs firstly. A Moving Coil Phono Pickup is an extremely low output design by nature. This is ideal in one sense as this design accomplishes the least amount of amplification at the stylus {needle} itself. Many audiophiles and purists feel that this approach to phono reproduction greatly reduces the chances for unwanted distortions. Think about it...you older folk...remember when you...like myself...first upgraded from that ole piezo/ceramic/crystal phono cartridge type compact {all-in-one} system to a real turntable with magnetic cartridge? Did you not hear the difference almost immediately? But the lower output of the magnetic cartridge required a preamp to boost the signal. Now, instead of 100 to 200 millivolts coming out of your turntable...you had 3 to 15 mv output.
So obviously the lower output of the magnetic design meant superiority did it not? Well...with the Moving Coil design...even lower output is achieved. The problem is that now an even more aggressive preamp/transformer is required ! The problem with this is not only are these types considerably more expensive to make and purchase...they also have their own inherent design flaws which can greatly frustrate the given listener. A bad one will produce much of its own noise and that...my friends...totally defeats the purpose for this extra expense.
This is not to say that there aren't great units made for this purpose. There indeed most certainly are ! But usually they are not included in a basic integrated amplifier or receiver of excellent quality. Another consideration is a possible mismatch situation. Not all phono preamps are created equal.
Another drawback to the Moving Coil design is the fact that the stylus assembly {needle} is not "user replaceable". This means that the given audiophile must have a backup cartridge on hand while he or she sends the unit out for "retipping".
And what...more than likely...is that backup going to be? It will probably be a magnetic cartridge of excellent quality and lower cost. You see...moving coil pickups are by enlarge far more expensive than their "magnetic" brethren. Nowadays...this problem is even more accented by the fact that the Compact Disc rules and vinyl is only starting to make a comeback.
There are actually some Moving Coil Pickups that exceed $6,000 {I got the zeros right} in cost ! These great pickups can indeed extract every single detail out of an LP but in my opinion...so can a superbly made Magnetic Phono Pickup. Not only that...but probably with better Tracking Ability or Trackability as Shure so tags it.
But the guy with the big bucks is going to rationalize the MC's cost by telling you that the sound quality is worth every penny. I'm not that guy! I am a poor boy with a big family and must satisfy my "golden ears" with budget but impeccable quality audio gear. I've heard and experienced both worlds but my vote of confidence stays with the Moving Magnet types.
Ortofon, however...manufactures both types. And they do it exceedingly well ! While some cartridge manufacturers excel only at one type...Ortofon is a master of both designs and with the product up for review here...the Ortofon OM5E...this fact becomes so demonstrably clear.
The cartridge is available from fine Ortofon dealers such as The Speaker Clinic who primarily sells on Ebay. $57 is the best currently available legitimate discounted price. This means that your hard-earned cash will buy you this pickup for this amount of money without forfeiting the manufacturer's warranty.
The Ortofon OM Series stands for "optimum mass". This particular line of moving magnet phono cartridges accommodates more types of tonearms and turntables better than any other line of cartridges I know of...both past and present.
As with all "OM Series" cartridges...the OM5E is supplied in the classic Ortofon orange and white box with typically tiny but well-written Owner's Manual and a little golden/bronze weight that is "built-in" to the very top of the pickup but can be removed when need be by gently prying it out with a tiny screwdriver {probably the one you're using to mount the cart with}. This gives the cartridge the ability to mate with just about any quality tonearm on the market either as a pre-assembled or separately purchased one.
With the weight removed...the cartridge weighs in at a mere 2.5 grams. This makes the cart ideal for ultra lower massed straight tonearms such as the Dual classic "ULM" or "CS" Series types. These tonearms are able to handle cartridges weighing from 2 to 8 grams on the average. With the weight left intact...the overall weight is now 5 grams which is ideal for low mass Dual "1000" & "1200" series turntables plus medium to higher massed arms such as the S-shaped tonearms that so many Japanese turntables of both past and present boast. These arms can handle a cartridge weight range usually from 4 to 12 grams.
I cannot emphasize the fact that proper tonearm/cartridge matching yields first-rate performance in analog reproduction. Ortofon has come up with quite a unique solution here to proper arm/cartridge matching. This enables the OM5E and other "OM Series" cartridges to trace high frequencies superbly in just about any well-made tonearm. Combined with just the right amount of lateral and vertical compliance...It simply provides proper "damping" for all types of tonearms.
Furthermore, each model # is interchangeable with the other. Outside of the Dee Jay units...Ortofon offers a total of five models...the Ortofon OM3E, OM5E, Super OM10, Super OM20 and Super OM30. A sixth replacement stylus # is also offered...the Super OM40 Gold which upgrades any of the current OM cartridges to the formerly available one with its Van-Den-Hul shape that so perfectly fits the record groove. The better the stylus shape...the more accurate will be high frequency tracing. This approach makes user upgrade rather easy and very economical without having to purchase a whole new cartridge.
It just does not pay to put a highly compliant expensive cartridge in a cheapy turntable. Believe me ...years ago when I was younger and fooling around with this stuff...I tried ! It just doesn't work ! Just try a Shure V-15 Type III in a Garrard SL-125B and you'll find out what I mean...no, don't try it ! The higher tonearm friction is just too much even for the cart here. A more appropriate stiffer compliance higher tracking force cheapy cartridge like the Stanton 500AL would be better here and yield surprisingly good results.
Mounting:
As for those of us with excellent tonearms...the Ortofon matches up perfectly ! Mounted in my Pioneer PL-518 Direct Drive S-shaped Tonearm Turntable and with the cart's Tracking Force and Anti-Skating set to the manufacturer's specified optimum setting of 1.75 grams the cart behaved infinitely famously ! The PL-518's tonearm though higher in mass compared to straight designs nonetheless offers very low tonearm friction as evidenced when first "zero-balancing" the cartridge. The arm doesn't get hung up or stick in one spot along the vertical plane. The allowable range for the OM5E is actually anywhere between 1.5 to 2 grams.
It should be noted that the Ortofon OMP Series is available for P-Mount turntables. The models in the OMP Series have the same stylus assemblies as their "OM" counterparts. The main difference is that these carts must track at 1.25 grams rather than the slightly higher forces used by the OM Series. Is there a difference in performance? Probably not much...but I cannot say for sure how much and what it is at this time. You will have to be the judge and jury on this one.
The Ortofon "OM Series" as the OM5E itself has been around since the early 80's but the newer models offer some noteworthy improvements over its older brethren. First...mounting is so much easier with the newer body design which features thicker 1/2 inch slots and hardware itself ! It was such a snap that I thought to myself...anybody who has experienced spending a half hour mounting a Grado would definitely appreciate this ! The OM5E mounted easily within about five minutes.
It is so important to properly "align" the cartridge after it is mounted so that Tracking Error is kept at its absolute minimum. This will also enable Inner Groove Distortion to be negligible at worst. Using a two-point Stylus Protractor that I downloaded for free from www.enjoythemusic.com by clicking on their "Free Stuff" link...alignment was simple and very easy to accomplish...partially because of the Ortofon's slim bullet design.
This design also enables easy groove cuing as the well-marked red-dotted stylus assembly is a champion at this! Even my tired old eyes have no problem setting the tonearm precisely over a given point on the record ! Vertical Alignment was "right on" without using shims in the satin OEM Pioneer headshell.
Listening Tests:
I have several LP's in my reportoir I like to use when evaluating a phono cartridge as I have no objective means for this purpose. These records were all purchased years ago but pretty much can surpass the best compact discs currently available. Although I am an Oldies/Pop/Rock freak, I enjoy all types of music. Most of my serious listening involves Classical music and even some C&W and Jazz. Most of my "test" records are of the Classical genre. They are as follows:
"Khachaturian-The Gayne Ballet" with Loris Tjeknavorian conducting The National Philharmonic Orchestra...RCA Red Seal # CRL2-2263 {Circa 1977}
"Vangelis-Heaven And Hell"...RCA # PL1-5110 {Circa 1975}
"Linda Ronstadt-What's New"...Elektra-Assylum/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Master Recording
"Frederick Fennell-The Cleveland Symphonic Winds-Holst/Handel/Bach"...Telarc # Stereo 5038 {Circa 1978}
"Professor Johnson's Astounding Sound Show"...Reference Recordings # RR-7 {Circa 1979}
"Witches Brew"-Alexander Gibson conducting The New Symphony Orchestra Of London...RCA # LSC-2225 {Circa 1958 Reprint Under License from Polygram Special Markets}
"Orff-Carmina Burana"-Robert Shaw conducting The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra And Chorus With The Atlanta Boy Choir-Soloists Judith Blegen, Hakan Hagegard and William Brown...Telarc # Stereo DG 10056/57 {Circa 1981}
"Mussorgsky-Ravel-Pictures At An Exhibition"-Herbert Von Karajan conducting The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra...Deutsche Grammophon # 139010 SLPM {Circa 1972}
"Mussorgsky- Pictures At An Exhibition"/"A Night On Bald Mountain"-Leonard Bernstein conducting The New York Philharmonic...CBS Great Performances # 36726 {Circa 1981-Previously released on CBS Masterworks # 6080, 6943, 7165,7014 & M31844}
"Rimsky-Korsakov-Cappriccio Espagnol"-Kiril Kondrashin conducting The RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra...RCA Red Seal # LSC-2323 {Circa 1959}
"Dukas-The Sorcerer's Apprentice"-Walter Weller conducting The London Philharmonic Orchestra...London FFrr # CS 6995 {Circa 1975}
"Sibelius-Symphony # 2"-Andre Previn conducting The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra...Angel # S-37444 {Circa 1977}
"Stokowski Spectacular"-Leopold Stokowski conducting The National Philharmonic Orchestra...Pye # 12132 {Circa 1976}
"Prokofiev-War And Peace"-Werner Janssen conducting The Vienna State Opera Orchestra & The Vienna Kammerchor with soloists of The National Opera Of Belgrade...Heliodor # HS-25039-3 {Circa 1967 originally released on MGM # 3-GC2}
"My Fair Lady"-Lerner/Lowe Original Cast Stereo w/Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Stanley Holloway...Columbia Masterworks # PS 2015 {Circa 1959}
"On Your Toes"-Rogers/Hart Original Cast w/Philip Arthur Ross, Natalia Makarova and Christine Andreas...Polydor 813667-1Y1 {Circa 1983}
"Classic Rock"-The London Symphony Orchestra {LSO} and The Royal Choral Society...RSO/K-Tel # NU 9580 {Circa 1979...Originally on London/Decca Records}
"Children Of The Future"-The Steve Miller Band...Capitol # SN-16262 {Circa 1968}
"Away We A Go-GO"-Smokey Robinson And The Miracles...Tamla/Motown # M5-136V1 {Circa 1966}.
Although a few of these albums are so-called audiophile pressings...not all are. Some just represent excellent music recording with some real obstacles. The Ortofon OM5E excelled on them all ! Although the cartridge specification sheet states the Frequency Response to be reasonably flat out to 25 KHz...one rarely finds a phono pickup at this price level with such actual extension. The Ortofon is the exception !
Other than that the Ortofon also struck me as an extremely quiet cartridge unlike its more expensive brother the OM40 Gold with its more ambitious stylus...the Van-Den-Hul that simply picks up every tick, pop and whatever other surface noise it can find. Don't get me wrong...the OM5E will pick up ticks and pops in full stereo but without the extraneous stuff that the better styli sometimes produce.
This cartridge does everything right and Ortofon is to be commended for such an accomplishment! One of my favorite recordings of all time is Lerner & Lowe's "My Fair Lady" on CBS Masterworks...not the original MONO recording but the STEREO one made a few years later. The album sounds so-ooo-ooo sweet with this little Ortofon and songs like "With A Little Bit Of Luck" and "I'm Getting Married In The Morning" featuring the comical Stanley Holloway as Ms. Doolittle's down and out old dad...sound so clear with all of the marvelous British humour and human emotion allowed to spring free out of the confines of the record groove!
The castenets of "The Rain In Spain" along with the voices of Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Robert Coote are reproduced so faithfully that one starts to wonder if one is actually listening to a vinyl record or perhaps the master tapes themselves! This sonic characteristic did not lessen on the rest of the marvelous ole recording and songs like Andrews' "Show Me" and "The Ascot Gavotte" featuring the fine other singers/chorus & Orchestra sound glorious!
Even Julie Andrews' diction as the grammatically incorrect Ms. Eliza Doolittle sounds good e.g..."Wouldn't It Be Loverly". I'm telling you that even this big ole rocker fell in love with "Broadway" all over again while listening to this wonderful classic record with the Ortofon OM5E fully in place on my modest Pioneer system that only defects from this manufacturer in the "loudspeaker" portion using the terrific Polk R-30's.
The 2.5mv Phono Input Sensitivity of the SA-500 Integrated Amplifier matched up quite to perfection with this MM Ortofon. The recording itself also sports "true stereo"...not some cleverly disguised "mono-in-stereo's-clothing" dreamt up by a more modern engineer who doesn't believe that this makes for proper soundstaging.
Even more noteworthy and unbelievable was the fact that throughout the playing of this top notch 1959 album...I could hear all of the "nose" sounds like snorting and just plain ole human breathing from Ms. Andrews and Mr. Harrison with an uncanny detailed but nonetheless subtle clarity! This "clarity" I speak of did not lessen as the tonearm and cartridge journeyed toward the center spindle.
On operatic voices from "War And Peace" and "Carmina Burana" it sounds so darn natural lacking any shrill or shrieking. This little discovery led me to my next phase of the testing...Sibilants which can absolutely kill a cartridge for me if it doesn't turn in good performance here ! On Smokey's "Come 'Round Here {I'm The One You Need}" and "Save Me" there are some over modulated S-SS-SSS-SSSS sounds that can absolutely splatter all over your system if not handled properly.
This area in phono reproduction is usually a sure downfall for inexpensive pickups...but not for this Ortofon ! It handled them with ease and naturalness except for the worst one where it only very slightly mistracked. This fact caused me to wonder if the more elaborate microline styli were worth it as they are known for handling this chore better than their cheaper less ambitious brethren such as the OM5E with its 8 x 18 micron Elliptical shape. The OM5E sounds even better than the great $93 A-T 440ML.
Tracking Ability itself was far far better than the 65 micron rating given by the manufacturer. This cartridge tracked everything I could throw at it including Tracks 1 & 3 on Side 1 and Track 5 on Side 2 of the Telarc/Fennell LP. The crashing crescendo on the first cut didn't phase the Ortofon one bit ! This was the only cartridge out of twelve under $100 pickups I recently tested that DID NOT mistrack even slightly on the passage. Equally impressive was the cart's ability to handle those tympani gut punchers I so often talk about...ala "Carmina Burana" and "Fennell-Cleveland Winds".
The cart's Dynamic Range is absolutely astonishing given its type and price ! The great thing about that is that nothing gets masked or lost when going from soft to loud passages. Subtleties and nuances are in abundance setting the Ortofon yet again apart not only from the "cheapies"...but also from many more expensive models.
Just listen to Christine Andreas singing the classic "Glad To Be Unhappy" from the 1983 production of Rogers & Hart's "On Your Toes".. Her voice is so crisp and clean while all of its dynamic emotion is reproduced without flaw! Then there's that piccolo that is not just a high pitch tonemaker that a lesser cartridge makes it seem to be but rather an airy woodwind after all.
Also noteworthy is the orchestra's performance that the Ortofon so faithfully reproduces with percussion sounding wonderful and with full punch! The cymbals actually sound like cymbals without being smeared all over the place even unto the end of the record.
Stereo Separation and Imaging pretty much are the best and far exceed my expectations for a phono cartridge in this price range ! Crosstalk is kept at an absolute minimum! It just seems to me that Ortofon's spec of 20 to 25 db is so conservative as compared to others that claim to have a 30 db or better rating. Once again, the OM5E is the undisputed champion here.
On Side 1 of the "Professor Johnson" recording there are some pretty pronounced strikings of the bells that cause some carts to mistrack in the form of a distorted clanging-like sound...but not the Ortofon. Again it sounded so doggone natural and handled the transient sounds with ease !
Transient Response and Separation were really superb on Track 2 of Side 2 on Vangelis's "Heaven And Hell" album ! The Stereo Presentation far exceeded anything I expected from a $57 phono cartridge. The low mass stylus assembly seems to give this cartridge a unique ability to trace perfectly the tiny modulations of the record groove.
The cartridge excelled on all of my "test" recordings but really blew me away with its handling of the loud and dynamic whip cracking on "The Overture To Tam O'Shanter" from RCA's "Witches Brew" ! Low Frequency Reproduction is absolutely first-rate and with superior definition compared to all other under-$100 pickups. This cartridge has the ability to make more expensive types pale by comparison !
The low mass design of the cartridge seems to enable handling record warps without a hitch! Only the Shure M97Xe can equal the Ortofon in this department. But the M97Xe requires its Dynamic Stabilizer/Dustbrush to be in place for such an achievement...some audiophiles believe that this approach adds too much damping and softens the pickup's performance characteristics. The OM5E does not have a stabilizer and thus...nothing to get in the way of the sound.
The cartridge's Output of 4 millivolts is ideal for most magnetic phono preamps both modern and yesteryear in nature rated at 47,000 ohms with a sensitivity range of 1.8 mv to 2.5 mv. Remember what I stated earlier in the report when discussing Moving Coil types? Well...the same holds true for magnetic inputs as well. There is no substitute for proper matching. Make sure you have a good Magnetic Phono Input Stage whether using a classic 70's receiver or a more modern one...which brings me to another point.
The cart's response appears to be very independent of Cable Capacitance but DO try to use "audiophile" grade interconnects as they will only serve to enhance the cartridge's great performance while rendering many quality years of sure-fire performance! These magnetic cartridges don't normally burn out regardless of what you might have heard some audiophiles claim. When properly cared for...the life expentancy can go on forever.
Please make sure your modern home theater receiver sports a Magnetic Phono Input ! Many do not and more and more units have abandoned this little feature as their creators assume that you have foresakened Analog !
Some pickups are susceptible to hum and interference when mounted in turntables that have their motors mounted near the center spindle. The Grados are infamous for this characteristic causing many owners to either shield the motor or trade in the cart itself.. When I turned the volume all the way up on my Pioneer SA-500 integrated amplifier...there was not a single solitary extraneous noise other than a slight bit of amplifier hiss. This was performed of course without a record in progress. I would say that the Ortofon OM5E's Hum Rejection is superb and the best of any I ever experienced !
The Ortofon's overall tonality is extremely neutral but not reticent. It is not overly bassy nor is it too brilliant. Yet it is not lacking at either end of the spectrum. It is ever so discrete.
This cartridge has the unique ability to reveal every bit of the emotion that vinyl discs can offer. On Mussorgsky's "Night On Bald Mountain" the brass section of Leonard Bernstein's New York Philharmonic sounded very real and detailed without being harsh or masking the other softer instruments. The strings sound sweet while the woodwinds were extremely open and airy !
And isn't it nice to know that the Ortofon OM5E is a great cure for those IGD {Inner Groove Distortion} Blues? This is simply one of those cartridges that handle this inherent problem as if there was no problem to begin with! Ahh...such stability throughout the record playing is admirable...is it not??!!
On high output audiophile recordings...this pickup handles everything thrown at it like nothin' man ! Nothing seems to phase this newer updated Ortofon and I find myself no longer missing my old Shure V-15 Type III or Pickering XSV-3000 or even the the Ortofon OM 40 Gold that I was so fond of for so many years. Its ability to stay clean even toward the end of the record along with its superb dynamics and its low harmonic distortion all add up into one $57 phono pickup that has no peer!
The lesser Ortofon will be subject for review in my next report and is very appropriate for the $79 discounted manual S-shaped tonearm turntables that suffer the slightest bit of friction like the classic Pioneer PL-112D and Technics SL-B1 or even the vintage $107 Sansui 1020C. The 1.75 gram setting of the OM3E is perfect for this type !
In Summation:
I have long felt that turntable, tonearm and cartridge manufacturers have made too much of a big deal out of achieving ultra low tracking forces under 1.5 grams. Certainly Shure, Stanton/Pickering, ADC and other ultra high compliance types may sound good at low forces but then these types also need to be matched to a proper arm in order to reap all the benefits. Even so...they cannot handle vinyl LP's and recycled synthetic 45's alike. The OM5E can.
Yes...Denmark should be proud and Ortofon...I salute you! If I were a dealer of phono cartridges...I would make darn sure to stock up plenty of this Ortofon!
I have always entertained the idea that Acoustic Research might have been a bit ridiculous in offering the economical but high-performing Shure M91ED with its earlier AR XA and XB turntables. Although these turntables were and still are superb units...the tonearms suffer from just a wee bit of vertical and horizontal bearing friction plus the fact that the looped tonearm cable is exposed in the rear of the arm...renders the lower one gram optimum tracking force of the M91ED useless ! The Ortofon OM5E would be perfect for this arm.
The 1.75 grams tracking force combined with medium stylus compliance represents the ideal force adequate for this tonearm and also for most records. The new improved Elliptical shape poses no threat to vinyl whatsoever and offers superiority over former types. Its ability to "hug" the record groove is exceptional to say the least ! Its mild shape of 8 x 18 micron {.3 x .7 mil} tracking at its rated force raises serious questions about competitors' so-called more advanced styli that demand higher expense for such high performance.
Make no mistake about it...this little MM Ortofon is a giant killer and even outperforms said company's entry level MC's! It has the rare ability {nowadays at this price!} to make your old records come to life while reproducing higher output newer LP's to perfection! To go back to any other under $100 phono cartridge would be a serious mistake and downright unthinkable.
Owners of the popular Music Hall and Rega turntables will find the newer breed OM Series Ortofons to be wonderful mates to these fine record players' low mass tonearms. One could simply purchase the OM5E as a backup or spare to the supplied Goldring Elans or Eroicas but I suspect when doing so...the situation will be reversed !
For Dual CS-515 and CS-530 turntable owners...these Ortofon OM's are a must! You just won't get better performance results with other more conventional higher mass cartridges...no matter what you pay for them and that includes the highly acclaimed champion Shure V-15 Type VxMR.
The latest "buzz" word around here is that the growing popularity of Project Debut MK3 belt-driven turntables that come equipped with the Ortofon OM5E Phono Pickup are raising more hairs off of more audiophiles' backs and making first-rate phono reproduction at truly affordable prices a reality! Although I have yet to experience this turntable...it is most assuredly making a name for itself in the U.K.
I'm not going to sit here and lie to you by saying that there aren't any great Moving Coil Cartridges as I'll never forget the performance I experienced when my audiophile friend...John Bross played a master recording of the Moody Blues' "Days Of Future Passed" with a Dynavector "Ruby".. Everything sounded so clean clear and detailed with proper harmonic overtones and timbre! This is the mark of a perfect transcription cartridge. The Ortofon can pretty much do the same!
Please keep in mind that no two quality phono cartridges are alike and they all have their own sonic characteristics. I'm telling you this because the Dynavector will invariably find a large fan base that will feel that "it" is the best. I would have an extremely tough time arguing the point for which I have no intention of doing so anyway. All I'm trying to tell you is that the Ortofon compares very favorably to the far more expensive Dynavector.
At its currently available discounted price of $57 there are two other high fidelity magnetic models available for your consideration...the Shure M97Xe and the Grado Prestige Blue. Neither can touch the OM5E's performance level. Even the similarly-styled slightly higher-priced Pickering EP-HiFi cannot equal this rugged detailed Ortofon! This phono pickup most assuredly is a standout Five Star Performer ! *****...PJS II
Important Update:1/27/07
Just in case you think this review is too old or that I may have changed my opinion in two years and because we live in a rapidly changing world of here today...gone tomorrow...I wish to restate that this Ortofon OM5E along with its big brother the OM10 Super is still the very best cartridge your fifty bucks can buy and I applaud Rega for now including it in their new Planar 1 Turntable!
The fact that the street prices have dropped a good ten bucks on both only solidify their respective positions as "BEST BUYS" in the modern day market place! These are superb cartridges from Ortofon and I like the bullet design of the cartridges that makes them easy to cue.
The big difference between the two is that the OM10 tracks at 1.5 grams and the OM5E at 1.75 grams. Both pickup subtleties with great separation and low IGD once aligned properly.
I totally disagree with the magazine reviewer who claims that they're bass shy. He should know better. The brilliance of both carts is natural and deep bass is reproduced better than most others...when it is truly present. The sound is warm enough without being overly so. Just listen to the amazing "Dark Side Of The Moon" by Pink Floyd and tell me the cart is bass shy. Come on!
This is most evident when listening with a good magnetic phono preamp, power amplifier and full range speakers. It is most discrete without being harsh and this...my friends...is the essence of higher end listening enjoyment! Yes...the OM5E is still very much my "Poor Man's Reference Phono Cartridge"...PJS2
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sam-pro
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Member: Peter J Sammon II
Location: The Bloomfield Burying Ground, USA
Reviews written: 218
Trusted by: 121 members
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Every once in awhile something great arrives at relatively low cost to you...Priceless!
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