Ortofon SPU 85th Anniversary

The SPU 85 was launched in 2003 to celebrate Ortofon 85 year anniversary

In 2003 Ortofon celebrated its 85 year anniversary by launching this SPU cartridge only produced in a limited number of 500 units. An idea was to create an outstanding kind of housing made of Japanese Hida Beech wood, famous for its strength and hardness.  For the exclusive surface treatment the 6000 years old Japanese Urushi lacquer method was chosen in order to achieving a hard, resistant and beautiful multilayer surface in dark maroon colour.

Additionally in order to influence sound from the motor system, Ortofon has succeeded in developing a new wire concept for the armature windings called “AUCURUM”. The basic material here is specially developed composite consisting of a very pure copper and gold, creating high conductivity and environmental resistivity.

The expectations about influence on sound reproduction from this very beautiful anniversary design (yet with all the previous classic elements preserved in the motor system) now had to be examined by the Ortofon Listening Panel. SPU 85 prototypes were made to be compared to SPU systems mounted in standard metal housing with the same motor system.

The Ortofon Listening Panel proclaimed: Very charming, open, dynamic, straightforward and present intermediate tone range between 200 and 1500 Hz typical for the SPU sound.

The wooden housing first of all seems to have strong influence especially in the range from say 4000 Hz and up, resulting in a very pleasant integration with intermediate frequency range compared to the metal housing. The musical integrity obviously tends to be improved by the lower Q for resonance in the wooden housing compared to the metal.

SPU 85 is an integrated phono cartridge with standard Ortofon/SME connector. Its high mass permits only mounting in heavier type tonearms.

To obtain all benefits of SPU 85 superb performance capabilities, it is important that the tonearms with which it is used be as rigid as possible with a minimum of resonance. It must be correctly mounted and adjusted. Mount the SPU 85 on your tonearm and balance. Set tracking force between 3-4 grams, e.g. 3,5 grams. After setting tracking force, adjust antiskating.

We offer Special Repair Service for SPU 85th Anniversary »