Name: Ortofon MC X40 Moving Coil Cartridge
Brand: Ortofon
Price: 1799.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

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A top-mounting moving coil phono cartridge from Ortofon's MC X series. The Ortofon MC X40 has a nude Shibata diamond stylus on a boron cantilever, high-purity silver coil wire and a stainless steel body with a honeycomb core.

It is one of five models in the MC X series, from the MC X10 to the MC X50. Ortofon says the MC X40 is designed for audiophiles who want transparency, speed and refinement.

Type

Moving coil

Stylus

Nude Shibata diamond, r/R 6/50 μm

Output

0.4 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s

Tracking force

2.0 g recommended

Cantilever

Boron

Weight

8.6 g

The MC X series, from Ortofon

Why you will love it

Pure silver coils and a new magnet system

All MC X cartridges have coils wound with high-purity silver wire. Ortofon pairs them with a newly developed magnet system, a one-piece pole cylinder built into a rear magnet yoke, which it says gives maximum magnetic efficiency and a clean signal path.

Ortofon MC X40 moving coil cartridge, angled view

Ortofon MC X40 moving coil cartridge, side view

Honeycomb stainless steel body

The body is a honeycomb-structured stainless steel frame made by Metal Injection Molding (MIM). After moulding and sintering, Ortofon applies a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) surface treatment.

Ortofon uses in-house rubber dampers in the suspension to control coil movement and keep the cartridge stable.

The MC X40 stylus

The MC X40 uses a nude Shibata diamond stylus with a tip radius of r/R 6/50 μm, mounted on a boron cantilever. Recommended tracking force is 2.0 grams and dynamic lateral compliance is 15 μm/mN.

Ortofon says the MC X40 was named Product of the Year in the phono cartridge category by StereoNet.

Is it right for you?

A great fit if you…

Want a moving coil cartridge with a nude Shibata stylus and boron cantilever
Have a phono preamp with a moving coil input
Want a cartridge with high-purity silver coil wire
Like a rigid, all-metal body

Worth knowing

It is a moving coil cartridge, so it needs a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil
Output is 0.4 mV and Ortofon recommends a load resistance above 50 ohms
The cartridge weighs 8.6 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 X40 is a moving coil cartridge, 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-4000 headshell is a universal-mount aluminium headshell
Other MC X models: Ortofon MC X10 moving coil cartridge, Ortofon MC X20 moving coil cartridge and Ortofon MC X30 moving coil cartridge

Specifications

Performance

Output voltage	0.4 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s
Channel balance	0.5 dB at 1 kHz
Channel separation	> 26 dB at 1 kHz
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz, ±1 dB
Compliance, dynamic, lateral	15 μm/mN
Recommended tracking force	2.0 grams
DC resistance	6 Ω
Recommended load resistance	> 50 Ω

Stylus and coils

Stylus type	Nude Shibata diamond
Stylus tip radius	r/R 6/50 μm
Cantilever	Boron
Stylus suspension	Ortofon exclusive
Coil wire	High-purity silver

Body

Body material	MIM stainless steel with honeycomb core structure
Colour	Black
Weight	8.6 grams

Specifications from Ortofon's MC X40 product page, checked November 2026.

Questions people ask

Does it need a moving coil phono stage?

Yes. It is a moving coil cartridge with 0.4 mV output, so use a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil.

What tracking force does Ortofon recommend?

2.0 grams.

What load should I set?

Ortofon recommends a load resistance above 50 ohms.

What stylus does the MC X40 have?

A nude Shibata diamond stylus, tip radius r/R 6/50 μm, on a boron cantilever.

How does it differ from the other MC X models?

The series shares the same coil wire, magnet system and body. The stylus and cantilever differ. The MC X40 has a nude Shibata stylus on a boron cantilever, while the MC X30 has a nude fine-line stylus on an aluminium cantilever.