Soundsmith Otello Phono Cartridge

Our entry level design captures more than its share of recorded beauty —by design. Big soundstage, detail and resolution at an affordable price.

The Otello is Soundsmith’s entry level Fixed Coil design, realizing an affordable pathway into the world of high-performance cartridges. Built by hand like all Soundsmith cartridges, the Otello provides a perfect balance of tone and resolution at a great price. The result is a cartridge that is at ease with any type of music. Just slightly warmer than other Soundsmith designs, Otello yields a richness of timbre that is utterly beguiling with a level of speed and dynamic range that no other cartridge in this price. The result? A wonderful design that gives the warmth of MM and the light-footedness of Moving Iron design.

Also available in dual-coil mono.

Specifications

Cartridge Type

Fixed Coil

Stylus Type

Elliptical

Output

High

Available As Dual Coil Mono

Yes

Type: • Fixed Coil / Moving Iron
Mount: • Standard ½”
Stylus: • Elliptical Titanium Bonded, 0.20 mm round
Radius of Curvature: • 6 x 17 µm
Cantilever: • Aluminum Alloy
Recommended Tracking Force: • 1.3 - 1.6 g Standard (Medium Compliance)
• 1.0 - 1.2 g (Special Order High Compliance)
Effective Tip Mass: • 0.50 mg
Compliance: • 22 µm/mN (Medium Compliance)
• 28 µm/mN (High Compliance)
Frequence Response: • 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 2.5 dB
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz: • > 24 dB
• N/A (Mono version)
Channel Separation @ 50 - 15,000 Hz: • > 20 dB
• N/A (Mono version)
Channel Difference: • < 1.8 dB
• < 1.0 dB (Mono version)
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec: • > 2.12 mV (HIGH)
DC Resistance (DCR): • 680Ω
Coil Inductance per channel: • 190 mH
Suggested Preamp Gain: • 38 - 44 dB
Cartridge Weight: • 9.20 g (ES series)
Recommended Load Resistance: • ≥ 47kΩ
Recommended Load Capacitance: • n/a