Otta Mandolin Stereo MC Phono Cartridge

OTTA Mandolin, Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge A high-end moving coil phono cartridge designed for vinyl playback systems, voiced for natural midrange presence and tonal realism. It delivers a detailed, emotionally engaging listening experience and was recognized with the LP International Product of the Year 2025/26 award. Sandalwood Sandalwood is a very old tree and it comes in different color types. OTTA Mandolin’s wooden cases are made from black sandalwood, a choice pick due to its tonal nuance that aligns with the Founder’s vision. The wood must be dried and aged overtime to prevent future cracking and expansion and to achieve the best performance. They can be difficult to work with as each batch is different and needs to be treated under varying conditions. Warmth and Resonance: Sandalwood can produce a rich, warm, and resonant tone, making it a well sought-after material for instruments requiring depth and a full, rich sound. Clarity and Articulation: Instruments made from sandalwood often have a bright, bold, and articulate sound, with clear and clean tones. Natural and Pure Sound: As a wood, sandalwood offers good resonance absorption and high noise reduction, resulting in a natural, pure, and authentic sound. Acoustic Properties: It possesses excellent acoustic plasticity, moderate hardness, and moderate density, contributing to its effectiveness as a sounding body for instruments. OTTA Ruby Cantilver Precision Cut Elliptical Diamond Stylus & Ruby Cantilever Tracks with exceptional accuracy and low mass for detailed, dynamic, and transparent playback, the ruby cantilever was chosen over a sapphire cantilever, as it helps to deliver the warm, musical performance that we aspire to. Motor The motor utilizes our proprietary magnet system with a larger magnetic gap, driven by a samarium-cobalt magnet. The magnetic gap is closed by gold-plated pure iron yokes to ensure a uniform magnetic field. Our new magnet system is the secret to the OTTA’s warm, rich sound, especially in the low and mid-frequency ranges, where the human ear is particularly sensitive. The motor is shielded with an anodized aluminum cover for resonance control and vibration isolation. Wire The coils were wound by our most experienced technicians with the highest tolerances to avoid uneven capacitance that would negatively affect the sound. The wires are certified and genuine 6N OCC. DL-103 Compatible. To ensure compatibility with existing & future headshell designs, the OTTA cartridges are all compatible with the DL-103 profile. Craftsmanship First-class craftsmanship by technicians with over 25 years of experience. Every OTTA cartridge undergoes independent quality control after manufacturing. Not only are test signal measurements recorded, but each cartridge is also mounted in a tonearm and its performance evaluated against various test recordings that the craftsmen use daily as a reference. Our first pickup system offers a glimpse into the musical pleasure that awaits the adventurous music lover. The mandolin pickup system is packed with technology. OTTA’s goal, however, is to make this technology invisible, allowing the music to stand out against a deep black background. The musical reality is enhanced by a silky smoothness, making each instrument, performer, and group appear clear and distinct with a warm and full presence. OTTA Mandolin MC Cartridge Weight 8.4 g Body Black Sandalwood Cantilever Ruby Stylus Refined elliptical diamond Vertical Tracking Angle 20° Coil Pure Iron Cross Coil Electrical Output Voltage 0.35 Internal Impedance (Ohm) 5 Ohm Frequency Response low +/- 3dB(Hz) Frequency Response high +/- 3dB(Hz) 20 25,000 Channel Balance < 0.8 dB Channel Separation > 26 dB Dynamic Compliance 15 μm/mN Set-Up Recommended Loading Impedance 100 – 470 Ohm Recommended Tracking Force 1.5 – 2.0 g (1.8 g recommended) Tracking Ability (315 Hz / 2 g) 75 μm Recommended Tonearm Medium mass Break-In Period 40 hours