Audio T Verdict
The Ortofon OM 5E is something of a vinyl stalwart. It has appeared on countless turntables over the years because it is light, easy to match, straightforward to drive from a normal moving magnet phono stage and, most importantly, gives you plenty of room to upgrade without replacing the complete cartridge.
Its Elliptical stylus provides a useful step beyond a basic Spherical profile, while the clever removable weight plate allows the cartridge to work with both conventional and particularly low-mass tonearms.
Where the OM concept really earns its keep is further down the road. A wide range of Ortofon replacement styli fit the same cartridge platform, so an inexpensive OM 5E today can become the starting point for a much more ambitious analogue front end later.
Ortofon OM 5E
The Ortofon OM 5E is a lightweight moving magnet cartridge fitted with an Elliptical diamond stylus for balanced, low-distortion vinyl playback.
Its compact OM body has been designed to work with a wide variety of tonearms and includes a removable weight plate that allows its mass to be reduced from 5g to just 2.5g for particularly low-mass arms.
- Moving magnet cartridge
- Elliptical diamond stylus
- r/R 8/18µm stylus radii
- 4mV output voltage
- 22dB channel separation at 1kHz
- 60µm tracking ability at 315Hz
- 20µm/mN dynamic lateral compliance
- 1.8g recommended tracking force
- 20-degree tracking angle
- 47kOhm recommended load resistance
- 200 to 500pF recommended load capacitance
- Removable weight plate
- 5g with weight plate fitted
- 2.5g with weight plate removed
- Half-inch mounting
- Replaceable and upgradeable stylus
The OM Philosophy
OM stands for Ortofon's 'Optimum Match' concept: a cartridge family designed to work successfully with a particularly broad range of tonearms.
One of the cleverest parts of the design is hidden in the top of the mounting bracket. A small removable weight plate allows the physical mass of the cartridge to be altered according to the type of tonearm being used.
For a conventional tonearm, the weight plate can remain in position. For a particularly low-mass tonearm, it can be removed.
Just 2.5g Without the Weight Plate
With the additional weight fitted, the OM 5E weighs 5g.
Remove that plate and the cartridge body weighs only 2.5g.
This unusual flexibility is one reason OM cartridges have remained useful across such a wide variety of turntables and tonearm designs.
Should I Remove the Weight?
Not automatically. Ortofon recommends leaving the weight plate fitted with a standard tonearm and removing it when using a low-mass arm where the reduced cartridge mass is advantageous. If you're unsure which arrangement suits your turntable, Audio T can help check the tonearm specification.
Elliptical Stylus
The OM 5E uses an Elliptical diamond stylus with radii of r/R 8/18µm.
An Elliptical stylus has different radii across its front-to-back and side-to-side axes, enabling it to trace finer groove modulation than a basic Spherical profile.
For everyday music listening, it provides a useful balance between detail retrieval, tracking and relatively straightforward setup.
Why Elliptical?
The record groove becomes particularly demanding as musical information becomes smaller and more complex, especially at higher frequencies and towards the inner grooves of an LP.
The narrower tracing radius of an Elliptical stylus allows it to follow these changes more accurately than a simple round-tipped design.
That can mean cleaner reproduction of fine detail and reduced tracing distortion when the cartridge is properly aligned.
The Stylus Is the Upgrade
One of the great strengths of the OM design is that you don't necessarily need to replace the cartridge body when you want better performance. Changing to a more sophisticated compatible Ortofon stylus upgrades the part actually tracing the record groove.
4mV Moving Magnet Output
The OM 5E produces 4mV at 1kHz and 5cm/sec.
This is a conventional moving magnet output level, making it easy to partner with the MM phono inputs found in many integrated amplifiers and standalone phono stages.
You do not need the additional gain required by a low-output moving coil cartridge.
Which Phono Stage Do I Need?
The OM 5E is a moving magnet cartridge.
Use a suitable MM phono input with a recommended load resistance of 47kOhm.
Ortofon recommends a total load capacitance between 200 and 500pF.
What Does Capacitance Include?
The total capacitive load includes the tonearm wiring, interconnect and phono-stage input capacitance. Most straightforward MM systems will fall within a sensible operating range, while an adjustable phono stage provides additional flexibility.
750-Ohm Internal Resistance
The cartridge has an internal DC resistance of 750 ohms and internal inductance of 450mH.
These electrical characteristics are part of the reason a moving magnet cartridge is partnered with the conventional 47kOhm phono-stage load rather than the much lower impedances commonly used by moving coil cartridges.
60µm Tracking Ability
Ortofon's current dedicated OM 5E specification gives a tracking ability of 60µm at 315Hz.
Tracking ability describes how successfully the stylus can follow demanding groove modulation without losing stable contact.
Correct alignment, tracking force and anti-skate all contribute to achieving the intended performance.
1.8g Recommended Tracking Force
Ortofon currently specifies a recommended tracking force of 1.8g for the OM 5E.
Once the cartridge has been installed and aligned, the tonearm counterweight should be adjusted accordingly and ideally checked with an accurate stylus-force gauge.
Use the Current 1.8g Setting
Older Ortofon comparison material may show a slightly different figure for the OM 5E. The current dedicated OM 5E product specification gives 1.8g, so that is the figure we recommend using.
20µm/mN Compliance
The OM 5E has a dynamic lateral compliance of 20µm/mN.
Compliance describes how readily the cartridge suspension moves and is an important factor when matching a cartridge with a tonearm.
The OM's removable weight makes that matching particularly flexible because the cartridge can be configured for standard or low-mass arms.
22dB Channel Separation
Channel separation is specified at 22dB at 1kHz, while channel balance is specified at 2dB at 1kHz.
These figures describe the cartridge's ability to distinguish information contained in the left and right groove walls and maintain consistent output between both channels.
20Hz to 20kHz Frequency Response
Ortofon currently specifies the OM 5E at +3 / -3dB from 20Hz to 20kHz.
It is designed as an accessible all-round cartridge rather than an exercise in chasing extreme bandwidth figures.
Half-Inch Mounting
The OM 5E uses conventional half-inch mounting.
Ortofon designed the OM body to simplify fitting and alignment on both top-mount and bottom-mount headshell arrangements.
Once the complete cartridge is fitted, normal cartridge alignment should still be checked for the particular turntable and tonearm.
A Huge Stylus Upgrade Path
Perhaps the biggest long-term advantage of the OM platform is its range of interchangeable styli.
Ortofon currently identifies the following as interchangeable within the OM 5 Series:
- Stylus 3E
- Stylus 5E
- Stylus 10
- Stylus 20
- Stylus 30
- Stylus 40
- Stylus 78
- D 25 M
This gives the OM cartridge body an unusually broad range of replacement, upgrade and specialist playback options.
Replacing the Original Stylus
The direct replacement for the cartridge is the Ortofon Stylus 5E.
Replacing only the stylus means the cartridge body can remain in position, making routine replacement much simpler than removing and realigning the entire cartridge.
Moving Up the OM Range
The compatible OM styli become increasingly sophisticated as you move through the range.
OM 5E
- Elliptical stylus
- r/R 8/18µm profile
- 4mV output cartridge platform
- Accessible starting point
Future Stylus Upgrades
- Stylus 10
- Stylus 20 with Nude Elliptical diamond
- Stylus 30 with Nude Fine Line diamond
- Stylus 40 with advanced line-contact profile
This means an OM 5E owner can improve the stylus considerably while retaining the cartridge platform already installed on the turntable.
Check Tracking Force After an Upgrade
Compatible OM styli do not necessarily use the same recommended tracking force. If you change to a different stylus model, reset the tonearm according to the specification of the new stylus rather than continuing to use the OM 5E's 1.8g setting.
OM 5E or Super OM 5E?
The Super OM 5E shares the basic OM concept and Elliptical stylus format but uses a more sophisticated cartridge body.
Ortofon's Super OM design incorporates split pole pins and an optimised mechanical system intended to improve linearity, channel separation and high-frequency behaviour.
If you're buying a complete new cartridge rather than simply replacing a worn OM 5E, the Super version is therefore worth considering as an alternative.
OM 5E or 2M Red?
Both are moving magnet cartridges, but they have been designed around different priorities.
The OM 5E's unusually low mass and removable weight plate make it particularly useful with lightweight tonearms and turntables originally designed around the OM format.
The 2M range uses a larger, more modern cartridge body and its own stylus upgrade families.
Which is more appropriate depends on the tonearm, turntable geometry and the cartridge already fitted rather than simply choosing the newer design.
A Familiar Choice on Pro-Ject Turntables
The OM 5E has historically been supplied on a number of Pro-Ject turntables, which means many owners encounter it as the original factory-fitted cartridge.
If your existing turntable already uses an OM 5E body, replacing or upgrading the stylus can therefore be a very straightforward way of refreshing the system.
Key Features
- Ortofon OM 5E
- OM 5 Series
- Moving magnet cartridge
- Stereo playback
- Half-inch mounting
- Elliptical diamond stylus
- r/R 8/18µm stylus radii
- 4mV output voltage
- 2dB channel balance at 1kHz
- 22dB channel separation at 1kHz
- 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- +3 / -3dB response tolerance
- 60µm tracking ability at 315Hz
- 20µm/mN dynamic lateral compliance
- 1.8g recommended tracking force
- 20-degree tracking angle
- 750-ohm internal DC resistance
- 450mH internal inductance
- 47kOhm recommended load resistance
- 200 to 500pF recommended capacitance
- 5g with weight plate fitted
- 2.5g with weight plate removed
- Replaceable Stylus 5E
- Extensive compatible stylus range
- Suitable for standard and low-mass tonearms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ortofon OM 5E still current?
Yes. Ortofon continues to list the OM 5E as part of its OM 5 Series.
Is the OM 5E moving magnet or moving coil?
It is a moving magnet cartridge.
What stylus does the OM 5E use?
It uses an Elliptical diamond with r/R 8/18µm stylus radii.
What is the output voltage?
4mV at 1kHz and 5cm/sec.
Which phono stage do I need?
The OM 5E requires a moving magnet, or MM, phono input.
What load resistance does Ortofon recommend?
47kOhm.
What load capacitance is recommended?
200 to 500pF.
What tracking force should I use?
Ortofon's current dedicated OM 5E specification recommends 1.8g.
What is the tracking ability?
The current dedicated OM 5E specification gives 60µm at 315Hz.
What is the compliance?
Dynamic lateral compliance is 20µm/mN.
What is the channel separation?
22dB at 1kHz.
What is the frequency response?
20Hz to 20kHz at +3 / -3dB.
How much does the OM 5E weigh?
It weighs 5g with the removable weight plate fitted and just 2.5g with the plate removed.
Why is the weight removable?
Ortofon recommends retaining the plate for a standard tonearm and removing it for particularly low-mass tonearms where the lighter cartridge configuration is advantageous.
What mounting system does it use?
The OM 5E uses standard half-inch mounting and is designed for easy fitting to top-mount and bottom-mount headshell arrangements.
Can I replace the stylus myself?
Yes. The direct replacement is the Ortofon Stylus 5E.
Can I upgrade the OM 5E stylus?
Yes. One of the main advantages of the OM platform is its extensive range of interchangeable replacement and upgrade styli.
Which styli are compatible?
Ortofon currently lists Stylus 3E, 5E, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 78, together with D 25 M, as interchangeable options within the OM 5 Series.
Do all compatible OM styli use the same tracking force?
No. Always reset tracking force according to the specification of the stylus you fit.
What is the difference between OM 5E and Super OM 5E?
The Super OM 5E uses an enhanced cartridge body with split pole pin technology and mechanical improvements intended to increase linearity and channel separation while reducing distortion.
Related Ortofon Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy an Ortofon Cartridge From Audio T?
The OM 5E is straightforward to own, but the removable weight plate and wide choice of upgrade styli mean there is still plenty to consider when matching it to a particular turntable. Audio T can help check compatibility, fit and align the cartridge and advise whether replacing or upgrading the stylus makes the most sense.
- Turntable and tonearm compatibility advice
- Standard and low-mass tonearm guidance
- Removable weight-plate advice
- Cartridge fitting and alignment
- Tracking-force setup
- Anti-skate adjustment
- MM phono-stage matching
- Capacitance and loading advice
- Replacement stylus guidance
- OM stylus upgrade advice
- Turntable upgrade advice
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss whether the Ortofon OM 5E is the right cartridge for your turntable or which stylus upgrade best suits an existing OM cartridge.