Phono cartridge Ortofon MC Anna

The Anna MS cartridge from the Danish company Ortofon represents the highest echelon of cartridges with a movable coil. This outstanding product represents a whole ideology of design elements, company ideals, the highest achievements in analog technology and, ultimately, the starting point in modern sound reproduction.

The history of the creation of the Ortofon MC Anna cartridge

Historically, Ortofon has a long tradition of addressing personalities deeply involved in High End audio culture, music culture and history in general. In honor of these outstanding figures, Ortofon has presented throughout its almost century-old history products that have become a kind of synonym for the reference sound. It is enough to recall only SPU Meister, MC Rohmann, Kontrapunkt BACH, Windfeld cartridges.

Continuing the tradition with MS Anna, Ortofon dedicated its new flagship in the line of cartridges for analog players to opera singer Anna Netrebko, a virtuoso whose performing skills and technical arsenal are comparable to the epithet - perfection. With the MS Anna cartridge, Ortofon once again confirms the immutability of its commitment to music and the most accurate transmission of sound recordings. Like Anna, Ortofon strives for the highest quality sound transmission, using its unique experience, innovations and technical expertise, which, together with musical inspiration, plunge into the very depth of inner emotions.

Versatility and ease of use

The output impedance of 6 ohms, and the low - average output voltage of 0.2 ohms, make MC Anna an ideal partner for most MS phono correctors, as well as step-up transformers, including Ortofon ST-80SE.

The Ortofon MC Anna cartridge is focused on playing music without compromise, achieving the perfect balance between accuracy and musicality, taking the listener to a qualitatively new level of perception. With maximum attention to micro and macro dynamics combined with melodious tonality and three-dimensional texture, MC Anna destroys all boundaries of sound recording.

Taking into account the long history of designing world-class analog sound, the MC Anna cartridge is without a doubt an unsurpassed sound reproduction tool and, at least, is mandatory for listening.

Magnetic system and damping system MC Anna

A huge advantage of today's High-End technology is the possibility of using the most innovative materials. The body of the new cartridge is made of Titanium, using the unique development of Ortofon - SLM (selective laser spraying method), tested on MC A90, SPU 90-th Anniversary and Xpression cartridges. By laser melting of the smallest titanium particles and applying them layer by layer, it was possible not only to control the density of the material and create a unique design, but also to obtain a body completely untied from the slightest vibrations. The titanium body thus obtained has phenomenal rigidity and damping characteristics.

Without a doubt, one of the most significant achievements in the design of the new MC Anna cartridge was the creation of a highly efficient magnetic system patented by Ortofon. A deeply redesigned system of magnets, using both a neodymium alloy and an iron-cobalt alloy with an original geometry, made it possible to achieve an unprecedented flux density in the air gap of the magnet. Due to the increased presence of active material in the system, it was possible to achieve a more uniform distribution of the magnetic field, where each coil is in an identical magnetic flux. Due to this, the dynamics and linearity of the pulses becomes phenomenal. The use of this new magnet system made it possible to use the lightest polymers for damping the MC Anna cartridge as a whole, which could not but have a beneficial effect on its dynamics. 

The idea of using a high-tech non-magnetic polymer is that it does not affect the magnetic field generated inside the cartridge. Combined with the use of ultra pure oxygen-free copper as conductors of movable coils, the movement of the cantilever is flawless, providing uncompromising sound transmission. It is also worth noting that due to the high density of the magnetic flux, the number of rings in the magnetic coil to obtain sufficient output voltage has significantly decreased, which, due to a decrease in the effective mass, also had a beneficial effect on the dynamics of the process.

Moreover, the use of a new system of magnets gave a significant increase in the space in the air gap between them, which allowed the coils not only to be wound exceptionally evenly, but also with a fixed gap, without any intersection of one of the other. The cumulative effect of the applied innovations is amazing - a lively, full-size sound without any conventions, boundaries and barriers, full-fledged dynamics and spatial resolution.

Finally, MC Anna introduces the degree of vibration control to a whole new level. The latest development using an improved broadband damping system (WRD) by increasing the reinforcement behind the magnet coils, and the possibility of its direct interaction with rubber shock absorbers, which are a sandwich with a small but very heavy platinum disk. This design provides more uniform and consistent movement, thereby improving stereo perspective and transients.

An additional thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) placed on the bottom of the housing is an additional, extremely effective damper.

The best diamond in the world

As in some other cartridges of the Exclusive MC A90, Windfeld, Xpression series, MC Anna uses a unique development of Ortofon - a diamond of special sharpening Replicant 100, known for its thin, light profile having an extraordinarily large contact surface.

A properly installed Replicant 100 diamond cartridge tracks the most complex audio track modulations with unprecedented accuracy for any other needle. The special polishing of the diamond installed in the Harrow cantilever gives unprecedented synergy, fantastic transparency, signal transmission speed and responsiveness surpassing any other combinations.