Ortofon SPU Century Low-Output MC-Cartridge SME

Ortofon SPU Century Low-Output MC-Cartridge SME

The best of tradition – outstandingly reinterpreted

The anniversary model Ortofon SPU Century is a reminiscence of the original SPU and its numerous descendants that have become legends. A selection of the most modern materials and time-consuming technical processes during production make improvements possible where it seems necessary from today's perspective.

The case, which is manufactured using the Selective Laser Melting process* and is dampened with stabilized beech wood, as well as the specially polished Shibata-cut diamond, valued for its powerful playing style and phenomenal resolution, make the SPU Century the best SPU of all time and therefore a masterpiece.

*SLM process: Powdered material is applied in layers of just a few nanometers and fused layer by layer with a laser. In this way, cavities such as cable ducts can be created in workpieces that cannot be subsequently created by drilling or milling. Homogeneity and specific density are similar to those of the base material. The resulting workpiece (can) is very difficult to set vibrating, which is conducive to controlled playback over the entire frequency range.

Technical specifications

• Tonearm mount: SME bayonet
• Pickup Type: MC (Low Output Moving Coil)
• Output voltage: 0.2mV*
• Amplifier connection: Phono MC
• Channel deviation at 1kHz: <1dB
• Crosstalk attenuation at 1kHz: >22dB
• Crosstalk attenuation at 15kHz: >15dB
• Frequency range: 20-25,000Hz
• Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz +3/-2dB
• Sensing capability at 315Hz: 70 μm**
• Needle compliance, lateral: 8μm/mN
• Recommended tonearm type: medium and heavy
• Scanning diamond: Shibata, naked (with needle guard)
• Rounding: r/R 6/50μm
• Tracking force range: 30-50mN (3.0-5.0g)
• Recommended tracking force: 40mN (4.0g)
• Scanning angle: 20 degrees
• DC resistance: 2 ohms
• Recommended termination resistance: >10 ohms
• Housing material: aluminium/stabilized beech wood
• Weight: 32g
• Special features: Housing made of aluminum powder using the SLM process (Selective Laser Melting). Windings made of silver-plated, oxygen-free 7N copper. Hybrid internal wiring made of oxygen-free, silver-plated pure copper and 4N pure silver (Ortofon LW-800S).

*at 1kHz, 5cm/sec. **at recommended tracking force