Name: Ortofon MC 90X Moving Coil Cartridge
Brand: Ortofon
Price: 8499.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

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A top-mounting moving coil phono cartridge from Ortofon's Exclusive series. The Ortofon MC 90X has an Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond stylus on a boron cantilever, Aucurum coil wire and a stainless steel body made with Selective Laser Melting.

Ortofon says the MC 90X is a reimagining of the classic MC A90, combining precision engineering with advances in material science and magnetism. It has a blue stainless steel body and a neodymium magnet system with Ortofon's Field Stabilizing Element.

Type

Moving coil

Stylus

Replicant 100, r/R 5/100 μm

Output

0.25 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s

Tracking force

2.3 g recommended

Cantilever

Boron

Weight

9.5 g

Why you will love it

Replicant 100 diamond on a boron cantilever

Ortofon says a diamond that closely mimics the original cutting stylus is needed for linear reproduction, a wide frequency range and good tracking. The MC 90X uses the Replicant 100 diamond, which Ortofon describes as having a thin, light profile and a very large contact surface.

The diamond's shape, a special polishing process and the boron cantilever are what Ortofon credits for the cartridge's transparency, speed and responsiveness.

Ortofon MC 90X moving coil cartridge mounted on a turntable

Neodymium magnet with Field Stabilizing Element

The magnet system is based on a compact neodymium magnet. Ortofon's Field Stabilizing Element (FSE) is a small cylinder of conductive material inside the magnet system that keeps the force field stable as the armature moves.

Ortofon says the FSE improves channel separation while reducing dynamic distortion and intermodulation.

SLM stainless steel body

The body is stainless steel made with Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Ortofon says the stainless steel enhances the structure's rigidity, cartridge weight and dynamic capability.

Ortofon builds on the SLM technology first used in the MC A90.

Ortofon MC 90X cartridge on a turntable, side view

Wide Range Damping

The Wide Range Damping (WRD) system places a platinum disc between two rubber absorbers with different properties. Ortofon says this helps tracking and damping across the whole frequency range and reduces distortion and resonance.

Ortofon develops and makes its rubber compounds in-house.

Is it right for you?

A great fit if you…

Want a moving coil cartridge from the Ortofon Exclusive series
Have a phono preamp with a moving coil input and a suitable load setting
Like the idea of a modern take on the MC A90
Want a rigid stainless steel body

Worth knowing

It is a moving coil cartridge, so it needs a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil
Output is 0.25 mV, which is low, so the phono stage needs enough gain
Ortofon recommends a load resistance above 10 ohms and a tracking force of 2.3 grams
The cartridge weighs 9.5 g, so check that your tonearm can balance it
Check your turntable's cartridge mounting. Ortofon provides a dimensions chart

Build your system

The Ortofon MC 90X is a moving coil cartridge with 0.25 mV output, so it needs a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil. These items are on our site.

Phono preamp: The Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B phono preamplifier takes both MM and MC cartridges
Phono preamp: The Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 phono preamplifier is an MM/MC phono preamplifier
Turntables: Browse our turntables to find a tonearm that suits a top-mounting cartridge
Care: The Pro-Ject Clean it carbon fibre stylus brush helps keep the stylus clean
Headshell: The Ortofon LH-9000 headshell is a universal-mount magnesium and carbon fibre headshell

Specifications

Performance

Output voltage	0.25 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s
Channel balance	< 0.2 dB at 1 kHz
Channel separation	> 28 dB at 1 kHz
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz, ±1 dB
Compliance, dynamic, lateral	11 μm/mN
Recommended tracking force	2.3 grams
DC resistance	4 Ω
Recommended load resistance	> 10 Ω

Stylus and coils

Stylus type	Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond
Stylus tip radius	r/R 5/100 μm
Cantilever	Boron
Coil wire	Aucurum

Body

Body material	SLM stainless steel
Weight	9.5 grams

Specifications from Ortofon's MC 90X product page, checked November 2026.

Questions people ask

Does it need a moving coil phono stage?

Yes. It is a moving coil cartridge with 0.25 mV output, so use a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil.

What tracking force does Ortofon recommend?

2.3 grams.

What load should I set?

Ortofon recommends a load resistance above 10 ohms.

What stylus does the MC 90X have?

The Ortofon Replicant 100 diamond, tip radius r/R 5/100 μm, on a boron cantilever.

How is the MC 90X related to the MC A90?

Ortofon describes the MC 90X as a reimagining of the MC A90, using SLM stainless steel construction, a neodymium magnet with FSE and the Wide Range Damping system.