Ortofon OM-5S Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge

The Ortofon OM-5S is a moving magnet phono cartridge for stereo vinyl playback on turntables with a standard cartridge mount or headshell. It is designed as a practical replacement or upgrade for listeners who need a low-mass cartridge with a user-replaceable stylus. Its spherical stylus profile supports dependable general-purpose record playback.

This cartridge is intended for home hi-fi turntable systems rather than DJ use. Its 4.5 mV output is suited to moving-magnet phono stages with a 47 kOhm load. The OM-5S is a sensible choice for systems that need a compact cartridge without adding substantial mass to the tonearm.

The OM-5S uses a spherical stylus with an R 18 µm tip radius and a specified frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Ortofon specifies 20 dB channel separation at 1 kHz and 60 µm tracking ability at 315 Hz. Its recommended tracking force is 1.8 g, helping provide a defined setup target during installation.

A removable weight plate is integrated into the mounting bracket to help match the cartridge to different tonearms. With the extra weight installed, cartridge weight is 5 g; removing it reduces the cartridge weight to 2.5 g. This flexibility is useful for both standard and lower-mass tonearm applications.

The OM-5S is part of Ortofon's OM platform, which supports interchangeable replacement styli. It comes fitted with the Stylus 5S and can be used as the starting point for future OM-series stylus changes. This lets a listener replace a worn stylus or tailor the cartridge setup without necessarily replacing the cartridge body.

Key Features

• Moving Magnet Design: Works with compatible MM phono inputs and preamps.
• Spherical Stylus: Provides reliable general-purpose stereo record playback.
• 4.5 mV Output: Delivers an output level suited to MM phono stages.
• Removable Weight Plate: Helps adapt cartridge mass for different tonearms.
• Low-Mass Body: Weighs 2.5 g without the extra weight.
• Replaceable Stylus: Allows stylus replacement and OM-series upgrade options.

Design & Installation

The OM-5S has a black cartridge body and black stylus assembly, with a lightweight body designed around a removable brass extra-weight system. Its triangular upper mounting area is designed to reduce unnecessary mass, while slotted mounting points support a range of mounting-screw diameters. The cartridge is specified at 5 g with the extra weight fitted and 2.5 g without it.

Install the OM-5S on a compatible top-mount or bottom-mount headshell or cartridge mount, then align the cartridge and set tracking force to Ortofon's recommended 1.8 g. Use it with a moving-magnet phono stage set for a 47 kOhm load and 200-500 pF load capacitance. The OM-5S is intended for hi-fi record playback; avoid scratch and back-cueing use, which can damage the stylus.