Introduced in 1984, the Ortofon Concorde was brought in to appeal to a new way of playing records that demands a more rugged cartridge. DJ cartridges now account for three-quarters of Ortofons product sales. The range is synonymous with vinyl DJing, as they offer a cartridge that appeals to the whole demographic. The 'Mix' is the basic model. I say basic, it is still leaps and bounds ahead of entry-level DJ cartridges. The next up is the 'DJ' model; the general all-rounder with a great reputation. We then get into three specific models; the 'Club' is for the professionals, the 'Scratch' is for the turntablists and the 'Digital' is for DVS users. To treat your turntable to the cartridges they deserve, head over to
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Ortofon Concorde MK2 Range - The 'Go-To' Standard
The DJ industry is filled with 'industry standard' brands that keep the scene consistent. For digital media players (CDJ's) and mixers, Pioneer DJ run the show. For turntables, the Technics SL-1210 remains at the number one spot. The third brand on the list is the one we will focus on here;
Ortofon DJ cartridges, more specifically the 'Concorde' range.
Mix
Cartridge & Stylus - £70.00, Twin Pack - £135.00, Stylus Replacement - £25.00
A direct replacement for the popular Pro S cartridge, the 'Mix' is the first step into the MK2 Concorde range. Whilst it is marketed towards newcomers, don't assume that this model is a compromise on quality by any means. The sound quality is great and the cantilever is strong, to make sure it can handle back-cueing and general usage. The value for money on the Mix is impressive!
DJ
Cartridge & Stylus - £85.00, Twin Pack - £165.00, Stylus Replacement - £32.50
The 'DJ' is a new take on the previous model found on decks worldwide, with its distinctive blue colour becoming an industry staple. It's tracking ability is better than on the Mix, and this is it's a major feature as the tracking is no better on any other models. This is the best choice for all-rounders who want great sound quality but no specific need for advanced features.
Club
Cartridge & Stylus - £120.00, Twin Pack - £235.00, Stylus Replacement - £50.00
The 'Club' is all about sound quality. With a better stylus (spherical-elliptical) there is more detail picked up from the grooves. The output is also higher, so there is less pressure on the pre-amp within your mixer to process the signal. Due to the great sonic possibilities of this Ortofon Concorde model, you can also use it for domestic home listening and recording as you would with a 'Hi-Fi' cartridge. It also ensures that a large club sound system gets all the detail of your records.
Scratch
Cartridge & Stylus - £95.00, Twin Pack - £185.00, Stylus Replacement - £37.50
The name says it all. But why is this cartridge better for scratching? The stylus is spherical, so as not to wear down the records with excessive movement. The output is high, so the frequency reproduction is captured well. The tracking is also optimised so the stylus locks into the grooves well. Think of this entry as an optimised version of the 'DJ' model.
Digital
Cartridge & Stylus - £100.00, Twin Pack - £195.00, Stylus Replacement - £40.00
The 'Digital' is a well-designed model for the new technology; DVS vinyl. Whilst DVS works with any cartridge, this model exists for such usage. It is still a great DJ cartridge for normal vinyl record playback but is has timecoded vinyl in mind. The output voltage is high to prevent the high noise floor from interfering with the timecoded signal and throwing up errors. The frequency range also only extends to 18 kHz rather than 20 kHz to stop any high-frequency artefacts from affecting how the signal is interpreted.
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