Ortofon Hi-Fi OM 5 E Moving Magnet Cartridge

Better Vinyl on a Budget

The Ortofon OM 5E is an easy, affordable way to improve the sound of a budget turntable. Ortofon's lightest moving magnet design, it fits a huge range of tonearms and adds an elliptical diamond stylus that tracks the groove more accurately than the basic cartridge most starter decks ship with. It's a small upgrade that makes a real difference.

Why You'll Love It

• A real upgrade for little money: Swapping a starter turntable's basic cartridge for the OM 5E brings cleaner tracking, less distortion and more detail, for one of the smallest outlays in hi-fi.

• Fits almost any tonearm: The lightweight OM body mounts easily on top- and bottom-mount headshells, and a removable weight-plate lets you match it to a standard or low-mass tonearm, dropping to just 2.5g.

• Upgrade the stylus, not the cartridge: The OM 5E takes the whole Ortofon OM stylus range, so you can later fit a better stylus (OM 10, 20, 30 and up) for more performance without replacing anything else.

Under the Hood

• Elliptical diamond stylus: The elliptical tip follows groove modulations more accurately than the spherical styli on cheaper cartridges, for better tracking and lower distortion.

• Ortofon's lightest MM design: The low-mass OM body suits a wide range of tonearms, with a removable weight to fine-tune the match, so it tracks cleanly on decks that struggle with heavier cartridges.

• Wide upgrade path: One of the most upgradeable cartridges going, the OM 5E accepts styli from the 3E right up to the OM 40, so it grows with your system.

CHT Insider Verdict

The OM 5E is the cheapest worthwhile cartridge upgrade we sell, and a smart first step for anyone with an entry-level turntable and a basic or worn cartridge. It won't rival the 2M series, but for the money it's excellent, and the OM stylus range lets you keep improving the sound later a little at a time. If your turntable takes a standard half-inch cartridge and you want a step up, look at the 2M Red.

Pro Tip: Check the little removable weight-plate on top before you fit it. Leave it on for a standard tonearm; pop it off for a lightweight tonearm and the cartridge drops to 2.5g. Getting that right is the difference between it tracking cleanly and skipping.