Ortofon - Concorde MKII Scratch - Turntable Cartridge

Ortofon - Concorde MKII Scratch - Turntable Cartridge

New levels of performance!

A cartridge consists of three basic components: the stylus that traces the record groove, the cantilever, the part on which the stylus is mounted, and the generating system. The generating system converts the motion of stylus and the cantilever into electrical replicas of the sound, which can then be amplified and reproduced by the music system.

The Stylus
The stylus is the only part of the cartridge to make contact with the record. A force must be exerted by the tonearm to keep the stylus in the groove while the record is spinning. This tracking force is low, usually between three and four grams. But because the stylus has a “footprint” of less than one millionth of a square inch of the record face, it exerts a tremendous pressure: 6,000 pounds per square inch. At such enormous pressure, any roughness or irregularity in the stylus would cause record damage. The stylus must also be very hard or it will wear out quickly. For these reasons, quality styli are precision made from the finest and hardest material known: pure diamond. The Spherical stylus is for heavy back-cueing and scratching which helps it stay in the groove. the Special Elliptical stylus is for lighter back-cueing and scratching giving the best sound performance.

The Cantilever
The purpose of the cantilever is to act as an intermediate between the stylus and the generating system. Compared to its size the stylus moves at tremendous speed while tracking the groove of the spinning record. In order that the cantilever may accurately transmit the rapid stylus movements, it should be lightweight so it can respond without inertia to the twists and turns of the groove. At the same time the cantilever should be rigid, because any bending, flexing or vibration would add distortion and sound coloration. The necessary compromise between lightweight and high strength requires great ingenuity in the design as well as the choice of the materials.

The Generating System
High fidelity Ortofon cartridges follow the law of electromagnetism, discovered by the Danish scientist H.C.Oested. When material capable of conducting electricity (a copper coil) is set into motion perpendicular to a magnetic field - or when a magnet is moved near such conductive material – electrical current is generated in the circuit. The direction and speed of the movement determine the amplitude and frequency of the current. Thus the generating system of a cartridge converts to movement of the stylus and cantilever into an output signal.

The Concorde MKII Scratch allows turntablist and scratching DJs to achieve new levels of performance with an unprecedented tracking ability and extra high output. The Scratch is intended especially for scratching and back-cueing. The Scratch uses spherical styli, as they preserve more of the groove over backcueing and scratching. For DJs that require increased tracking ability, the Scratch is up to the task. The Scratch has a supreme ability to trace the grooves of the records and it is tailored specifically for scratch. Due to its very high output 10 mV, it is perfect for scratch of all music with deep bass frequences. With solid bass reproduction and extended highs, the Scratch is also great for any style, providing energetic sound. Maximum scratch performance is guaranteed!

Cartridge Types:

• CC Single
• CC Twin (2 Cartridges)

Accessories:

• Stylus (Add-On)
• Finger Lift (Add-On)