Ortofon Cadenza Bronze, Blue, Black

I find the Cadenza cartridges to be superb performers that are competitive well beyond their price points. I run the Bronze mounted in an Origin Live Enterprise arm on a Nottingham Dais table, and before I purchased it I discussed the differences between the Blue, Bronze, and Black directly with Louis (the main man) at Ortofon US. He described the Blue as being ultra detailed, and that it tends to match best with systems that are laid back and can benefit from its very revealing perspective. The Bronze is the warmest of the three, with a tonality in the midrange that gives it a very smooth and rich balance along with a subtle sweetness. The Black has more of a neutral perspective and is exceptionally revealing while being a bit less forgiving than the Bronze. The differences are primarily due to differences in the cantilever material and stylus profiles used in each. I have only personally heard the Bronze in my system, but I have to mention that when properly aligned the Ortofon Replicant stylus profile is amazingly quiet in the groove. I have never heard another cartridge that has such silence behind the music. Virtually all of the surface noise heard with other cartridges which I thought was inherent to the vinyl playback process has miraculously vanished. Highly recommended!

Cadenza's are good value. But i highly recommend you to listen transfiguration, lyra, zyx, dynavector cartridges.

Black is the best performer between cadenzas, i choose red against blue, becuase its more lively sound. Bronze maybe the sweet spot. it is lively, detailed and kind of neutral enough.

Thanks you both for your opinions. Bill K- Nice to hear that the Bronze is quiet in the grooves, as I have owned carts which I can't say the same. I think it's one of those ignorance is bliss things until you hear one that is quiet. Then, there's most likely no going back. Can you leave just a general comment on the tonality as you hear it in your setup.

I moved into the Cadenza Bronze from an Audioquest 7000 which was an OEM model from Scan Tech, and known as being a bit lean but very detailed. Comparatively the Bronze has better dynamics along with a touch of warmth in the midrange and a sweeter high end, but the tonal warmth is subtle and not overwhelming. Ortofon's neutrality and excellent tracking are still in play, with only a slight amount of tonal richness added.

I have read reviews in Hi-Fi World from the UK where the reviewer auditioned the Cadenza Blue, Bronze, and Black. He concluded that if he had to select his one "desert island" cartridge to live with it would have to be the Bronze due to its slightly warmer and more musical balance.

I recently purchased the Black to replace to replace my heavily used Jubilee. The Black is outstanding on all types of music. I posted a short review here.

Has anybody listened to the Cadenza carts, and the Benz carts to make a comparison? I was looking at a Bronze, but went with a Benz L2 without hearing either one prior to making the choice. Just curious.

Get a Hana Umami Blue for roughly the same price and that blows away any of the Cadenza lineup. 

I am a Ortofon Advocate, I know the house sound well and have a familiarity with the Tonal differences that can be detected across a range of few different Models released at different era's, as well as Hybrid Models that are not entirely Ortofon.

I do have my favourites, but less favourite models when given extended playtime and not just the time given for comparisons have the ability to make a good impression.

I lean more to the range of models using Silver Wire for the Coils, as the Aucurum Gold Plated Copper Wire used on models has a Richness of Tone, easily detectable to myself, which moves away from the Transparency I really like.

If Aucurum Wire was my only Option as a Coil Wire, I could easily overlook the Richness of Tone, it isn't the same Weighty Tonal Influence that is easily detectable from Cart's using certain types of Wood as the Body and thick Coil Wire at around 0.05mm - 0.07mm.

 What is not discussed openly is the Ortofon Research into Rubber Compounds to support the Medical Industry and how that research lends itself perfectly for the Damper selection on Ortofon Cartridges.

I know an individual who has investigated Ortofon Cartridges Dampers from Cart's that are between 20 - 30 Years Old with a exposed to a typical environment for this period of time. Their Assessment being the Dampers show no signs of being effected by the ambient environment and longevity of being used as a Damper.

There are Brands of Cart's that come with a cost that is substantially more than a certain range of Ortofon Models, and it is known that there are Brands Dampers that are shot prior to the Cart's initial 1000 Hours of usage, or Dampers shot before 2-3 years of ownership has occurred. Probably Shot whilst the Cart' has a warranty but the fault present is not known to the Cart' user.

Looking at Ortofon will show stories where there are historical accounts of quality concerns for a Stylus Bond to a Cantilever, but interestingly numerous Cart's have similar reports clise to them during a particular era. 

Looking at Ortofon is certainly not to waste ones hard earned money. The longevity on offer of critical parts is just one reason to feel one is releasing their monies towards a sound place and the purchase is based on being sure footed.               

One would hope the OP has been enjoying whatever chosen 12 years ago!

The  info following was the message I really wanted to have made known.

"What is not discussed openly is the Ortofon Research into Rubber Compounds to support the Medical Industry and how that research lends itself perfectly for the Damper selection on Ortofon Cartridges." 

@abucktwoeighty I've had a Kontrapunkt C (the father of the Bronze), a Cadenza Bronze, and also a BM Ruby 3 and LP-S. I like to listen to the Ortofons now and then, but could listen to the Benz cartridges all day. They are very different: after the smooth liquidity of the Benz carts, the Ortofons sound etched with more detail than I like. But if I listen to the latter for a few days I get used to them and appreciate their detail! They are all great cartridges, but if you have a strong preference for either warmth or detail, you will be happier with one of them.

I've heard the Black on a Music Hall 9.1

It's very revealing.

@fjn04 

@dogberry stated  "But if I listen to the latter for a few days I get used to them and appreciate their detail! They are all great cartridges"

I have carried out many many comparisons and been present at numerous comparisons arranged on other systems where comparisons are not limited to Cartridges Only.

When I talk of a Cartridge Comparisons undertaken by myself and the ones I have taken part in over the past 10 Years. The set up for Comparisons has been well thought through.

The same TT>TA>Headshell>Audio System has been used to carry out the comparisons.

The Set Up used does allow for the Cartridge to do its job, or show how the Cartridge is able to interface with the Tonearm.

l do believe from experiences had, that I have not heard a Poor Cartridge in recent years.

I do believe I have heard a Poor Performance from a Cartridge, which the fundamental cause of the Cart' seemingly struggling to release itself is the Interface with the Tonearm.

My reasoning for this belief, which is a conjecture, is that it seems certain Cart's may have been voiced at some time in their design stage by being listened to as the end design. The final voicing as a result of the listening is done to meet the sound the design team favours.

This then leaves the notion the Cartridge as a design is voiced to present sound in a certain form when attached to a certain type of Tonearm Design.

Cartridge Comparisons carried out in recent years are using a Tonearm that as far as I concerned is the most get out of the way Tonearm I have ever used, it has superseded other owned Tonearms that are now left on the Subs Bench.

As Dogberry has stated, when comparing the conditions are as instant as can be to create the exchanges of items being compared. This if done speedily usually creates a change to the end sound that is noticeable and easy to comment on for the difference detected.

Commenting on a difference detected for the end sound as being a betterment is the misleading judgement, as a very basic action to see how misleading the assessments can be. I have at the end of a Comparison asked for the device least thought of to be reintroduced and encouraged a extended listen, during this extended listening period and one that is not too long heard, the device in use seemingly starts to receive appreciation not voiced earlier.

With the above in mind, I have no longer limited myself to a Particular Type of Sound as being the Best, I am totally detached from that as the notion for being the end goal.

In the earlier post I made it known I lean towards the Silver Wire used as the Coil on Cart's. The Reality Is, I own both the Silver and Aucurum Wires, as this is the methodology I am creating, the following will be a better description.   

In my system I have expanded the options on producing a Formed Sound. To broaden the experiences of types of end sound produced. I have different Sources, Different Supporting Ancillaries to enable the Source to Function, Different Designs for Pre Amp's, Different Designs for Power Amp's, Different Designs for Speakers. Whichever the configuration for the Audio System, after a short duration, less than one Album, I am able to express appreciation for the new form of end sound being heard.    

 

 

  

I’ve seen the Cadenza Bronze often used by several audio manufacturers in high-end audio shows to demo their products.  Of the 3, the Bronze seems the most popular safe musical choice.

The Cadenza Blue was an upgrade from the AudioTechnica ART9.  I targeted it for its dynamics and it definitely delivered. 
It has similar tonal balance to the ART9 which is a complement.  The Blue sounds on the warmer side of neutral but still smooth and clear sounding with huge bass.  Noticeably warmer and smoother vs. a 2M Black for example.  Soundstage is bigger and bolder than with the ART9, a very big complement.  

The  only negative is that the sound deteriorated at 1300 hours or so.  Some may not find issue with that.  

Current cartridge is a Lyra Delos and it is a noticeable upgrade from the Cadenza Blue.