SPUCartridges

The Sound of ExcellenceSPUCartridges

The SPU was launched back in 1958 in response to the demand for cartridges to reproduce the newstereo records. The term “SPU” stands for “stereo pick-up” as phono cartridges were called “pickups” in the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Robert Gudmandsen, one of Ortofon’s then leading engineers, tooka principal part in developing this cartridge.
Based on Ortofon’s already 10 year old technology andexperience in mono cartridges, the SPU immediately set thestandard for professional and audiophile applications andpointed the way for the next 57 years of high-end cartridge
design:- a generator comprising two low-impedance coils- wound with very fine copper wire and crossed insuch a way that the two walls of an LP’s
stereo microgroove could generate
two discrete signals with maximum
separation

The so-called “Ortofon sound“ became
synonymous with the sound from the SPU, atan early stage. The sound of the SPU
cartridge is characterized by a richbass and a transparent treble range
plus those extra qualities, which areso hard to define, but so easy toappreciate when they are realized.

With no other cartridge over the course of half a century, have
we ever had to take so much care in respecting this original
sound when improving technical data, as with the SPU model.
As a result and in order to show considerations for this goal,
our customers will after 59 years still find the basic visuals,
the original design, as well as the original elements in theconstruction of the magnetic circuit kept fully intact.

and magnetic & damping systems have been employed to
improve the SPU and its performance, whilst at the same time
we remain faithful to the original concept.

Evidently, the product has changed throughout its lifetime.
New possibilities in regards to housing materials, diamonds

A key SPU feature is an integrated headshell, designed
to mount directly into classic tonearms with detachable
headshells - tonearms such as the SME 3009 and 3012, andother tonearms with similar “universal” tonearm mounts. Quite
simply, there is no finer complement to a classic tonearm witha detachable headshell than an Ortofon SPU.

Back in 1958 the Ortofon SPU sounded like no other cartridge
because it was way ahead of its competition. Today the SPU
still has a sound that is definitely its own and it enjoys
a remarkable following - in particular amongaudiophiles whose systems are comprisedof vintage valve equipment and hornor reflex speakers.

SPU Mono Series

SPU Classic Series

SPU Meister Silver GM MkIISPU Synergy GMSPU RoyalSPU WOOD A

The SPU Mono models provide an authentic method of playing
back early Mono recordings with a remarkable level of sonicaccuracy.

The SPU Classic series, as the name implies, embodies theessence of the original Moving Coils. With their linearity and fullbodies, these cartridges are a perfect solution for the playback ofboth early and contemporary Stereo recordings.

The masterpiece of Mr.Robert Gudmandsen, the SPU Meister
Silver was introduced in 1996 as a technological improvement ofgreat importance: Ortofon has succeeded in having the purest
silver wire ever produced for coil winding process.

The SPU Synergy modernizes the classic SPU design with anumber of optimizations developed for optimum compatibility
and sonic purity. The SPU Synergy transducer system allows
extraordinary synergy of sonorous sound.

The SPU Wood A was introduced in 2018. A perfect combinationof Japanese and Danish craftsmanship and technique, the SPU
Wood A is beautiful in finish and form, as well as in its sonicexpression.

The SPU Classic series is known for its
dynamic and powerful sound reproduction,
without any roughness, minimum ofintermodulation distortion and a splendid
channel separation, the images being firm andpositive.

The SPU Meister Silver GM MkII has been
outfitted with high purity multi-conductor 6–nines Silver wire for a more open and revealing
high-end presentation.
The Nude Elliptical stylus tip mass has been
decreased by a factor of more than 50%,
resulting in increased tracking ability and reproduction of dynamicdetail.

Very low coil-resistance combined withunusually high output of 0.5 mV, achieved byusing Neodymium magnets, is decisive forreaching the high signal-to-noise ratio.
The exceptional black polished Urushi painting
on the SPU Synergy wood-based housingsuggests a precious jewel-like appearance.

The SPU Royal GM and Royal N models were launched in 1998
to celebrate the Ortofon 80-year anniversary. The SPU Royal GMMkII provides a playback experience that embodies the essenceof analog, with generous refinements, which bring the legendary
SPU cartridges into the realm of unrivaled
perfection.

The SPU Mono GM MkII is a high output cartridge a with aspherical stylus profile, for the playback of early
25 µm mono recordings with 33 and 45 r.p.m..
Its 3 mV high output eliminates the need for amoving coil transformer.
The SPU Mono CG cartridges are available in two versions
determined by the diamond tip radius 25 and65 µm: the 25 µm diamond for Mono LPs with33 and 45 r.p.m. and the 65 µm diamond for
78 r.p.m.
The SPU CG models have a 1.5 mV output,
which makes the cartridges suitable for use with a variety of
medium-gain moving coil transformers.

The SPU Classic N and SPU Classic NE
cartridges, with their half-inch adaptor, provide
the ability to mount the unit on standard
headshells, as well as in a wider range oftonearms.

The generator system has been revised to produce a slightly higher
output to ensure compatibility with a wider range of moving coiltransformers and active MC preamplifiers.

A revised generator system, which allows for a maximum output of
0.5 mV, relaxes the requirement for high gain transformer or active
pre-amplification systems.

SPU #1 S and E
Advantages of using a Mono cartridge to play Mono records
If you play a mono record with a stereo cartridge you will not achieve the same signal in the two channels due to imperfections such as crosstalk, noise, phase errors, tracking error, antiskating anddistortion. This difference between the channels will result in an unstable and partially fuzzy image. A mono switch, to some extent, can improve this.
Playing the same record with a mono cartridge will have none of the aforementioned problems, as this cartridge only produces one signal, which afterwards is directed to both channels in the system.
This will provide a much more forceful and stable image with a fuller sound.
Another significant advantage of using a mono cartridge to play mono records is the absence of response to vertical movement. This means that a mono cartridge is essentially impervious to thepinching effect which comes into action when the stylus is pushed vertically upward in very narrow grooves. In addition, the response to dust, dirt and wear will be reduced substantially as the verticalcomponent will not be heard. The final result will be a much more clean and noiseless reproduction of the mono record. These effects simply cannot be achieved merely by the use of a mono switch.

The SPU #1 models are perfect all-rounders for the newcomers to the world of SPU. The SPU #1 S and SPU #1 E feature
respectively Spherical and Elliptical styli, High Purity Copper armature windings and Ground wood and resin composite
housings. The SPU #1 E elliptical stylus profile provides more detailed sound reproduction and expansive imaging.
With their linearity and full bodies, the SPU #1 models are a perfect solution for the playback of stereo recordings.
Sonically, the SPU #1 models are genuine SPUs, known for their full-bodied and powerful music image, minimum of intermodulation distortion
and an impressive channel separation.

The addition of Ortofon’s unique Replicant 100
stylus and reduced tip mass ensures open
and detailed sound reproduction for a purely
exquisite listening experience.
Electrum coils, consisting of a gold and silver alloy, provide
uncolored and precise transmission of armature movements, while
the slightly modified damping system makes it possible to reduce
vibrations within the cartridge body and achieve a higher level oflinearity.
The SPU Royal N cartridge, with its half-inch
adaptor, provides the ability to mount the unit on
standard headshells, as well as in a wider rangeof tonearms.

The SPU Wood A unique characteristics
includes an outstanding housing made ofJapanese Beech wood, famous for its strengthand hardness. For the exclusive surface
treatment, the 6000 years old Japanese
Urushi lacquer method was chosen in orderto achieve a hard, resistant and beautiful multilayer surface in darkmaroon colour.
The wooden housing has a strong influence resulting in a very
pleasant, open, dynamic, straightforward and present tone range
characteristic for the SPU sound.
The SPU Wood A requires an APJ-1 adaptor that extends SPU
A-shell models to standard SPU GM-length.
“The SPU Wood A musical and sonic strengths were enough tosatisfy an SPU connoisseur. A distinguished new member of a veryfine family.” Art Dudley, Stereophile.com, December 2018

SPUCartridges

The Sound of Excellence
Being the inventor of the world famous SPU stereo cartridge in 1958, most music lovers find thattoday there is no other name, which is more involved in the history of analogue reproduction thanOrtofon.
The fact that Ortofon has kept the SPU in production for more than half a century says a lot about
the enduring rightness and beauty of the SPU design. The SPU is the only Ortofon stereo cartridgethat has survived since 1958 and from all over the world gained a reputation second to none for an
outstanding analogue sound reproduction.

Ortofon SPU Brochure 09-2020/9990044

SPUCartridges

TECHNICAL DATAMONO G MkIIMONO CG 25 Di MkIIMONO CG 65 Di MkII

Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5cm/sec.
Channel balance at 1 kHz
Channel separation at 1 kHz
Channel separation at 15 kHz

3 mV

1.5 mV

1.5 mV

20-15,000 Hz+2/-1 dB

20-15,000 Hz+3/-1 dB

20-15,000 Hz+3/-1 dB

Frequency response
Tracking ability at 315Hz
at recommended tracking force *)Compliance, dynamic, lateral
Stylus type
Stylus tip radius
Tracking force range
Tracking force, recommended
Tracking angle
Internal impedance, DC resistance
Recommended load impedanceClassic G MkII /Classic N

Classic G E MkII /Classic N E

0.2 mV< 1 dB> 20 dB> 10 dB
20-20,000 Hz±3 dB

0.2 mV< 1 dB> 20 dB> 10 dB
20-20,000 Hz+3/-2 dB

70 µm

60 µm

60 µm

60 µm

60 µm

12 µm/mN
Spherical
R 25 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
100 Ohm
47 kOhm
Ground wood andresin composite

7 µm/mN
Spherical
R 25 µm
3.0-4.0 g (30-40 mN)
3.5 g (35 mN)
20°
6 Ohm
> 100 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

7 µm/mN
Spherical
R 65 µm
4.0-5.0 g (40-50 mN)
4.5 g (45 mN)
20°
6 Ohm
> 100 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

8 µm/mN
Nude Spherical
R 18 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
2 Ohm
> 10 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

8 µm/mN
Nude Ellipticalr/R 8/18 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
2 Ohm
> 10 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

High Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
30 gHigh Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
37 gHigh Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
37 gHigh Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
30 g
13 g

High Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
30 g
13 g

TECHNICAL DATA

Meister Silver G MkII

Synergy G

SPU #1 S/ERoyal G MkII /Royal N

SPU Wood A

Output voltage at 1 kHz, 5cm/sec.
Channel balance at 1 kHz
Channel separation at 1 kHz
Channel separation at 15 kHz

0,3 mV< 1 dB> 20 dB> 10 dB
20-20,000 Hz+2/-1 dB

0.5 mV< 1.5 dB
> 23 dB> 15 dB
20-20,000 Hz±2 dB

0.18 mV
1.5 dB
20 dB
10 dB
20-20,000 Hz±3 dB

0.2 mV< 1 dB> 25 dB> 20 dB
20-20,000 Hz+1.5/-0 dB

0.18 mV
1.5 dB
20 dB
10 dB
20-25,000 Hz
±2 dB

70 µm

60 µm

60 µm

60 µm

70 µm

8 µm/mN
Nude Ellipticalr/R 8/18 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
3 Ohm
> 10 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

8 µm/mN
Nude Ellipticalr/R 8/18 µm
3.0-4.0 g (30-35 mN)
3.5 g (35 mN)
20°2 Ohm
10 - 50 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

10 µm/mN
Spherical / Elliptical
R 18 µm / r/R 8/18 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
2 Ohm
> 10 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

8 µm/mN
Nude Replicant 100
r/R 5/100 µm
2.5-3.5 g (25-35 mN)
3.0 g (30 mN)
20°
7 Ohm
> 100 Ohm
Ground wood andresin composite

10 µm/mN
Spherical
R 18 µm
3.0-5.0 g (30-50 mN)
4.0 g (40 mN)
20°
2.5 Ohm> 10 Ohm

High Purity Copper(OFC)
Shiny black
30 gHigh Purity Copper(OFC)
Black matte
30 gCartridge body material
Coil wire material
Cartridge colour
Cartridge weight, GM model
Cartridge weight, N model

Frequency response
Tracking ability at 315 Hz
at recommended tracking force *)Compliance, dynamic, lateral
Stylus type
Stylus tip radius
Tracking force range
Tracking force, recommended
Tracking angle
Internal impedance, DC resistance
Recommended load impedance
Cartridge body material
Coil wire material

Silver, 6-nines

Cartridge colour
Cartridge weight, GM model
Cartridge weight, N model

Shiny black
30 g*) Typical value

Ortofon A/S | Stavangervej 9 | DK-4900 Nakskov | Denmark | support@ortofon.dk | www.ortofon.com

Gold plated silver
Shiny black
30 g
13 g

WoodHigh Purity Copper(OFC)
Dark maroon
31 g