Ortofon 101 (Years unknown)

Very little is documented about the Ortofon 101. The research turns up no specifications, no design details, no production years and no original price. The magazine archives that mention Ortofon cartridges in passing don't cover the 101 either. A 1989 test report in HiFI-Stereo (April 1989, p.44) gave an Ortofon cartridge output of 3 millivolts, channel balance of 1.5 dB at 1,000 Hz, and a nominal vertical tracking angle of 20 degrees. Those figures belong to a different, unnamed Ortofon model. The 101 is absent from that report and from every other period source examined.

The model number suggests an early or entry-level spot in Ortofon's lineup. The brand is best known for its moving-magnet and moving-coil phono cartridges. But that is inference, not fact. No catalog listing, no advertisement and no service manual for the Ortofon 101 has surfaced in this search. Whether it was a cartridge, a tonearm or something else entirely can't be confirmed from the available evidence.

A page for the Ortofon 101 can honestly say only this: the model exists in name, but the Archive has yet to find a single verified fact about it. If you own one, or have documentation, the Archive would welcome the contribution.

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Ortofon 101 vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 1
Ortofon SM-101 Cork Record Mat
$39.99
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