When MoFi Electronics jumped into the turntable category a number of years ago with the launch of two new turntables and accompanying phono cartridges made for them in Japan, there was a lot of buzz in the turntable space. The tables were designed in the United States and all of the manufacturing and assembly from inception were domestic projects. Products like the MoFi UltraGold MC Cartridge were always on the drawing board but the brand needed to establish itself first.
The original headshells for the phono cartridges were designed by a company in Pennsylvania but MoFi ultimately went with a different designer in America and OEM supplier in Japan.
The cartridges have always been very quality designs and some wondered if the brand that is tied at the hip to Music Direct in Chicago would run afoul of other cartridge manufacturers that do a lot of business with Music Direct. Through some smart marketing and excellent distribution deals, MoFi has navigated those murky waters without issue and the brand continues to grow both domestically and abroad.
The $1,500 MoFi UltraGold MC Cartridge faces some stiff competition from Ortofon, Grado Labs, Hana, Dynavector, and Clearaudio in the category but we suspect this cartridge will deliver a lot of performance considering its origin.
There is no shortage of high-end turntables from VPI, SME, Clearaudio, Brinkmann, or MoFi that can handle this low-output moving coil and we suspect its Japanese lineage will impress listeners when they compare it to comparable rivals — even made by the same company.
Crafted in Japan using strict quality-control measures for exacting precision, and uniquely voiced by Spiral Groove founder Allen Perkins, UltraGold MC offers analog lovers everything they would expect — and more — from an audiophile moving-coil cartridge.
Namely, exceptionally wide frequency response, clear high-frequency transients, stunning dynamics, and incredibly rich detail. True to MoFi’s core principles, UltraGold MC goes further by providing true-to-the-source faithfulness, lifelike separation, surgical accuracy, and clean tracking.
Nude Shibata Stylus and Boron Cantilever
The MoFi UltraGold MC’s nude Shibata stylus and boron cantilever help account for the cartridge’s palpable low-end reproduction, high transient responsiveness, and robust midrange.
Effortless Setup
Threaded holes in UltraGold MC’s aluminum cartridge body permits the user to mount it on a headshell or integral tonearm with just two screws — no bolts or nuts needed. Analog setup doesn’t get any easier.
Specifications
- Type: Dual Moving Coil Stereo
- Stylus: Shibata
- Output Voltage: 0.4mV
- Frequency Response: 20-35,000Hz
- Weight: 7.3g
- Tracking Force: 1.8-2.2g
- Recommended Load: ≥ 100 Ohm
- Compliance:
- Static compliance: 40 x 10e-6/dyne
- Dynamic compliance: 10 x 10e-6/dyne
For more information: MoFi Electronics
Where to buy: $1,495 at Audio Advice
Related reading: Best Phono Cartridges
