In 1979, the Concorde certainly looked like no other cartridge offering on the market. The elongated design was conceived by award-winning industrial designer Jan Trägårdh and eliminated the need for a headshell and fiddly cables when mounting a cartridge into an SME-style tonearm.

Thanks to its unique design the Concorde has been in continuous production by Ortofon ever since, mainly as a DJ model. It, therefore, makes total sense that there should be a special edition model to coincide with the brand's centennial celebrations. Furthermore, it will also mark the first time the design has been used for audiophile applications in many years.

Priced at £525, the Concorde Century is a premium Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge, released in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces. Information retrieval is of the highest standard thanks to the Nude Fine Line diamond stylus profile, which will track even the highest frequency information with ease. Additionally, according to Ortofon, the larger footprint of the stylus combined with the general Concorde design ensures reduced distortion and record wear.

To elevate the sound presentation, Concorde Century uses silver-plated copper wire in the generator system for optimal signal transfer. We are promised that all of this results in a cartridge that "delivers a full, relaxed and homogenous sound with space, depth and detail suited to any kind of music."

The shiny chrome finish and special Ortofon Anniversary logo highlight the exclusive nature of the design. Adding to the luxurious experience, the Concorde Century is delivered in a sturdy presentation case bearing the anniversary logo, shipped with a user manual and maintenance pack in a tailored purse inside.

The Concorde Century is available in the UK now.

For more information visit Ortofon.