Ortofon Kontrapunkt B MC-Cartridge

Ortofon Kontrapunkt B Low Output Moving Coil Cartridge

Test reports:

The Absolute Sound, Ultimate Analog Issue, Vinyl Lives -Paul Seydor, June/July 2007:

"In my previous survey I found the Kontrapunkt B crystal clear, smooth, elegant, naturally detailed, unobtrusively transparent. (I later gave it a Golden Ear award.)"

2002 Stereophile Analog Source Component of the Year Runner-up. Sam Tellig's New Reference Cartridge

Stereophile Recommended Components April 2003 Class B

"This model is special in having a very thin ruby cantilever mounted with the super polished Nude FG 80 stylus. Coils are made from 6-Nines pure silver wire and the output is as high as 0.47 mV at 5 cm/sec by 1 kHz. Compared to the Jubilee the sound picture is more open grandiose and dynamic with a very present perspective. The musical performance of Kontapunkt b is depending on the equipment, room and music programme. Also variations of the resistive load, can influence sound image to some extent, where higher values around 100-200 Ohm will open details further. Lower values but not less than 10 Ohm will tighten sound image. The cartridge seems to work well in small, soft rooms with loudspeakers having moderate tweeters."

"With its stainless-steel body, the B weighs 10gm and specifies a higher-than-usual recommended tracking force of 2.5gm. Ruby cantilever is mounted with a "super polished Nude FG 80 stylus." Coils are wound with sixnines silver wire to give an output of 470 uV. The B had ST on the edge o his seat: "I was astonished by how much musical information the Kontrapunkt B retrieved from record to record. I could hear better what individual instruments were doing." ST also found that the Kontrapunkt B may have accentuated surface noise, clicks, and pops. Thus, he advised: "For super recordings in pristine condition, I give the nod to the Kontrapunkt B." Knocking on the door of Class A and "Proof that vinyl and analog still rule," says Sam (Vol. 25 No.8)."

The exterior design of the matt stainless steel body signals close kinship with MC Jubilee. Featuring a slim-line nude FG 80 diamond mounted on a ruby cantilever, Kontrapunkt b delivers a lively, airy upper frequency range with richly etched detail to bring out the subtlest overtones. The bass has weight with resolution and authority that make the cartridge suitable for large-scale works of all genres. One contributing factor is the much higher 470 µV output.

Kontrapunkt b is fitted with 2.5 mm screw threads in the mounting base.

Recommended load: 50 - 100 Ohms.

Technical data:

• Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec: 0,47 mV  
• Channel balance at 1 kHz: <1,5 dB  
• Channel separation at 1 kHz: >25 dB  
• Channel separation at 15 kHz: >18 dB  
• Frequency range: 20-50.000 Hz  
• Frequency response: 20-20.000 Hz +2,5 dB / -1 dB   
• FIM distortion at recommended tracking force, DIN 45.542: <1%  
• Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force: 80 µm  
• Compliance, dynamic, lateral: 12 µm/mN  
• Stylus type: Nude FG 80 / Ruby cantilever
• Stylus tip radius: r/R 5/80 µm  
• Equivalent stylus tip mass: 0,27 mg  
• Tracking force range: 2,2-2,7 g (22-27 mN)  
• Tracking force, recommended: 2,5 g (25 mN)  
• Tracking angle: 20°  
• Internal impedance, DC resistance: 5 Ohm  
• Recommended load impedance: 50-200 Ohm
• Cartridge body material: Stainless steel  
• Cartridge colour: Blue
• Cartridge weight: 10 g