Ortofon

Ortofon is a company based in the Danish city Nakskov manufacturer of audio accessories. The product range includes pickups, tone arms and accessories for record playback such as preamplifiers, transformers, installation templates, cable and medical equipment. Ortofon is the market leader and world's largest manufacturer of magnetic cartridges for record players, about 500,000 are sold each year. Meanwhile, more than 300 different cartridges were developed.

Company History

The engineers Arnold Poulsen (1889-1952) and Axel Petersen (1887-1971) founded 1918, the Electrical Phon Film Company with the aim to develop the first image and tonsynchrone Filmtonverfahren. By 1945, however, arose in the first place microphones, measuring and optical equipment for the film industry.

1946, the first cutting head for the preparation of mono records were presented. This was able to handle frequencies between 5 Hz and 14 kHz. In the same year we changed the company name in Fonofilm Industri A / S. In 1948, the first dynamic pickup. Early fifties was the final name change to Ortofon A / S, which ( dt correctly ) and fon (German sound ) is derived from the Greek ortho.

In 1957, the stereo LP was introduced, required for their manufacture cutting heads as well as the first high-quality scanning the " SPU " series produced under the direction of Robert Gudmandsen (short for "Stereo Pick- Up", dt Stereo Cartridge ). The pickup, which was presented in 1959, came in first place in the professional field to use ( radio and record industry ). The system is produced in various versions until today.

Ortofon developed in 1969 the first magnetic pickup, the "M -15". A year later the production was relocated to its new headquarters in Nakskov.

Beginning of the eighties took over the long-term employees Erik Rohmann the company from American-owned and dedicated to the development and research. At this time, the pickup series " Concorde " was presented, which was awarded the "Danish Industrial Design Award " and should establish itself in 1984 with the introduction of the model "Pro" as the standard for use in nightclubs. In 1981 Ortofon before the first magnetic pickups of "OM" series, which (approximately 25 mN ) can be operated with very low tracking forces. 1986 Micro Scan was founded where the future Abtastdiamanten were manufactured.

On the 70th anniversary Ortofon introduced in October 1988 before the pickup " MC 70 Anniversary" and thus began the tradition to bring a special pick-up system on the market for every anniversary. In 1996, the " SPU Meister Silver" scanning system on the market. In the new edition of the " CG Di" - and "CA -di " mono pickup was the same technique used, which was already used in the new development in 1948. 1997 Ortofon has been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Denmark.

After the company's acquisition by a group of private investors in 2004, the production of high quality tonearms was also resumed. For 90 -year corporate anniversary new pickup systems were developed, including the " Cadenza " series, the "A -90" and the " MC Wind Field ", named after the long-term wind field development engineer Per. Meanwhile Ortofon is divided into three divisions:

  • Ortofon: record playback for the home ( pickups, tone arms and accessories)
  • Ortofon DJ: playing records for the disco area ( pickup, headphones and accessories )
  • Ortofon Microtech: engineering services for precision parts, micromechanics, micro coils made ​​of high purity copper, hearing aids

Products (Selection )

Pickup Systems

Tonearms

  • " AS- 212S " (9 " tonearm )
  • " AS- 309S " (12 " tonearm )
  • "RS- 212D " (9 " tonearm )
  • "RS- 309D " (12 " tonearm )

Distribution channels

In 2008, the structure of the German distribution was reorganized. The company's Global Distribution and Lighttech took over the distribution of DJ - division, while the hi-fi sector is overseen by: Audio Trade.

Trivia

  • The preview ( trailer ) of the film Soul Kitchen starts with a closeup view of a Ortofon pickup ( Concorde S), which is reduced to a record.
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