Ortofon
Het Deense Ortofon heeft de wortels in firma
Electrical Phono Film Company die in 1918 door
Axel Petersen en Arnold Poulsen is
gesticht. Het doel was de ontwikkeling van ‘s
werelds eerste geluidssynchronisatie systeem voor
film. In de oorlogsperiode worden voornamelijk
microfoons, dynamische compressors,
oscillografen, optische instrumenten en
accessoires ontwikkeld. In 1946 produceert de
firma die inmiddels Fonofilm Industri A/S is
gedoopt de eerste mono snijkop voor de
grammofoonindustrie. In 1948 ziet het eerste
Moving Coil element het levenslicht met
karakteristieken die passen bij de kwaliteit van
de snijkop. In 1951 ontstaat onder Fonofilm
Industri A/S uiteindelijk Ortofon. Met het
Griekse “orto” dat staat voor “correct” en “fon”
dat staat voor “geluid” is de naam verklaard. In
1957 maakt Ortofon de stap van mono naar stereo
en ontwikkelt de stereo snijkop. In de periode
‘57 tot ‘59 worden de legendarische SPU (Stereo
Pick-Up) elementen gefabriceerd. Tot op heden is
Ortofon niet gestopt met het afleveren van
wereldvermaarde elementen.
Intro video
Get down to the details as Leif Johannsen,
Ortofon's Chief Officer Acoustics and Research,
takes you on a journey through cartridge design.
In this four-part video series, you will learn
everything there is to know about:
1. How does a cartridge work?
2. What technologies do we use in our cartridges?
3. What materials go into a cartridge?
4. What types of styli are there, and how do
they differ?
Chapter 1:
Cartridge Principles - How does a phono
cartridge work?
In this video, Leif Johannsen introduces you to
two main cartridge principles: Moving Magnet and
Moving Coil. Both principles have advantages and
open up different possibilities for the design
of the cartridge, including the use of material,
implementation of technologies, and the choice
of styli. You will learn how the two systems
work differently, how the music is conducted
from the groove and travels true the cartridge,
and how each principle benefits differently.
Chapter 2:
Cartridge Technologies - What are cartridge
technologies?
HIn this video, you will
learn about four cartridge technologies, how
they work, and how they can improve the
listening experience. Leif Johannsen, Ortofon's
Chief Officer of Acoustics and Research, will
take you through the physics, and you will get
to understand everything about:
Split Pole Pins,
which is about magnetics, and how to reduce
the loss of energy and, as a result, reduce
the loss of the musical signal.
Selective Lazer
Melting, which is about making houses
with no unwanted vibration.
Field Stabilizing
Element, which is about improving the
properties of the magnetic field in the
moving coils and, finally
Wide Range Damping,
which is about enhancing the properties of
the rubber suspension system in the
cartridge.
Chapter
3: The Power of Materials
What materials go into a
cartridge?
Chapter three delves into the
power of materials used in the different parts
of a cartridge and their significant impact on
its performance. The chapter covers the
following:
Cartridge
housing, where Leif
Johannsen discusses the different benefits
of the materials used in cartridge housings.
The
magnetic system, where you
will learn about Neodymium Magnets and their
high energy density.
The rubber suspension
system, where Leif Johannsen
demonstrates the differences in the damping
properties of the rubber, and you’ll get a
look inside the Ortofon Rubber Facility.
The Armature, where
you will learn about the magnet, semi
non-magnetic and non-magnetic armatures.
The cantilever,
where you’ll learn about the various
materials used for cantilevers, including
aluminum, boron, and diamond.
Chapter
4: The world of styli
What are the different styli?
In this final video, Leif
Johannsen guides us through the fascinating
world of styli - a delicate yet indispensable
part of the cartridge that plays a crucial role
in translating the microscopic waves extracted
from the groove into captivating musical moments.
Leif will take us on a comprehensive exploration
of seven distinct styli variations. From tipped
to nude diamonds, he will delve into the
intricate nuances of diamond shapes and contact
areas, unveiling the advantages of each design.