Ortofon MC Quintet Red Moving Coil Cartridge
Ortofon

Ortofon MC Quintet Red Moving Coil Cartridge

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A moving coil cartridge from Ortofon with an elliptical stylus, neodymium magnets and a 0.5 mV output. Ortofon calls it an entry-level MC cartridge and a good all-rounder for people new to moving coil.

Ortofon says the MC Quintet Red delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth. It is the Red model in the Quintet series, the entry point to Ortofon's moving coil range.

Type
Moving coil
Output
0.5 mV
Stylus
Elliptical, r/R 8/18 µm
Tracking force
2.3 g recommended
Load impedance
Over 20 ohms
Weight
9 g

Why you will love it

Elliptical diamond stylus

The stylus is an elliptical diamond with a tip radius of r/R 8/18 µm. Ortofon says it is cut and polished to its standards.

Ortofon MC Quintet Red moving coil cartridge in red

Low impedance, wide compatibility

The cartridge has neodymium magnets and a low internal impedance of 7 ohms. Ortofon says the low impedance makes it less sensitive to load, so it suits a wide range of preamps and transformers.

Easy to mount

The aluminium frame has threaded mounting holes for top mounting. Ortofon supplies 5 mm and 7 mm screws to suit different headshell thicknesses.

The body is made from PC thermoplastic, which Ortofon describes as light, impact resistant and scratch resistant.

Award

Ortofon says readers of the German magazine Stereoplay voted the MC Quintet Red the winner of the MC phono cartridges category in the 2020 Goldenes Ohr awards.

Is it right for you?

A great fit if you…

  • Are moving up from a moving magnet cartridge to moving coil
  • Have a tonearm that takes a half inch mount
  • Have a phono stage or amplifier input for moving coil cartridges
  • Want a warm, open sound, as Ortofon describes it

Worth knowing

  • It is a moving coil cartridge. You need an MC phono input or a separate phono preamp
  • Output is low at 0.5 mV, so the phono stage needs enough gain for moving coil
  • Ortofon recommends a tracking force of 2.3 g, within a range of 2.1 to 2.5 g

Build your system

The Quintet Red needs a phono stage that supports moving coil. These items are on our site.

Specifications

Electrical

Output voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/s) 0.5 mV
Channel balance (1 kHz) Under 1.5 dB
Channel separation (1 kHz) Over 21 dB
Frequency response (20 Hz to 20 kHz) ±2.5 dB
Internal impedance (DC resistance) 7 ohms
Recommended load impedance Over 20 ohms

Mechanical

Stylus type Elliptical
Stylus tip radius r/R 8/18 µm
Tracking ability (315 Hz) 65 µm
Dynamic compliance (lateral) 15 µm/mN
Tracking force range 2.1 to 2.5 g
Tracking force (recommended) 2.3 g
Tracking angle 20°

Design

Body material PC thermoplastic, aluminium frame
Colour Red
Mounting Half inch mount
Weight 9 g

Specifications from Ortofon's MC Quintet Red page (international site), checked November 2026.

What is in the box

  • Ortofon MC Quintet Red moving coil cartridge
  • Mounting screws (5 mm and 7 mm)

Questions people ask

Is this a moving coil or moving magnet cartridge?

Moving coil. It needs a phono input or preamp that supports moving coil cartridges.

What tracking force should I use?

Ortofon recommends 2.3 g, with a range of 2.1 to 2.5 g.

What load impedance do I need?

Ortofon lists a recommended load impedance of over 20 ohms. Its low internal impedance of 7 ohms makes it less sensitive to load.

How do I mount it?

It top-mounts to a half inch headshell using the supplied 5 mm or 7 mm screws, depending on headshell thickness.

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