OTTA Mandolin Moving Coil Cartridge

OTTA Mandolin Moving Coil Cartridge

Resolution vs. Musicality

Many audiophiles value resolution. It’s perfectly natural to want to hear everything a recording has to offer. But where do you draw the line? When does resolution become too important? All too often, audio components, especially moving-coil cartridges, sacrifice the warmth of the lower midrange in favor of emphasizing the upper midrange, creating the illusion of detail. The soul of music lies in the lower midrange. To sacrifice this range means diminishing the listener’s emotional connection with the music, the performer, and the composer. Without this range, random sounds or noises are left without context.

To create this emotional connection to the music, it is important to find the right balance. At the same time, we want to hear the performance venue and the performers in a three-dimensional soundscape before us.

It’s a difficult balancing act – we want to captivate the listener with magical midrange while simultaneously offering sufficient resolution to distinguish a Stradivarius from a Guarneri, a Hamburg Steinway from a New York Steinway.

In addition to musicality and resolution, we also strive for dynamics, low background noise and powerful bass – that emotionally charged low-frequency energy that makes the music physically captivating.

For example, when you listen to Leonard Bernstein’s final recording of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony (DG), we want you to be left speechless, emotionally overwhelmed, and convinced of a unique spiritual experience. You will appreciate how Bernstein emphasizes the spiritual and mystical aspects of the work, creating a powerful acoustic and mystical atmosphere. Similarly, when you hear Louis Armstrong sing and play “Saint James Infirmary,” you will be captivated by the poignant lyrics and the musical journey that brings the song’s full emotional depth to life.

It’s a captivating blend of jazz and blues, delivered by Satchmo’s charismatic vocals, raspy yet melodic, accompanied by his powerful trumpet playing. As you listen to “Kind of Blue,” we want to remind you once again that Miles Davis forged a connection with the listener like no other, before or since. Journey from the breathtaking subtleties of “So What,” through the solitary tale of “Blue in Green” with its tranquil, serene mood, to the lighthearted humor of “Freddie Freeloader,” which lifts your spirits as you ride on Miles’ flying carpet. And that’s just the first side of the record!

OTTA technology

Precision engineering

Our precision CNC-machined wooden enclosures are machined to the tightest tolerances to perfectly enclose the aluminum base motor. The motor utilizes our proprietary magnet system with a larger magnetic gap, driven by a samarium-cobalt magnet. The magnetic gap is closed by gold-plated pure iron yokes to ensure a uniform magnetic field. Our new magnet system is the secret to the OTTA’s warm, rich sound, especially in the low and mid-frequency ranges, where the human ear is particularly sensitive.

Materials

The wooden case is made from red sandalwood from a very old tree, which has been naturally dried for a long time. The wooden cases are challenging to work with, as each batch is different. To achieve the best performance, they must be dried and aged under varying conditions to prevent future cracking and expansion.

Wire

The coils were wound by our most experienced technicians with the highest tolerances to avoid uneven capacitance that would negatively affect the sound. The wires are certified and genuine 6N OCC.

Craftsmanship

First-class craftsmanship by technicians with over 25 years of experience. Every OTTA cartridge undergoes independent quality control after manufacturing. Not only are test signal measurements recorded, but each cartridge is also mounted in a tonearm and its performance evaluated against various test recordings that the craftsmen use daily as a reference.

Our first pickup system offers a glimpse into the musical pleasure that awaits the adventurous music lover. The mandolin pickup system is packed with technology.

OTTA’s goal, however, is to make this technology invisible, allowing the music to stand out against a deep black background. The musical reality is enhanced by a silky smoothness, making each instrument, performer, and group appear clear and distinct with a warm and full presence.