The OTTA Mandolin is a brand-new moving-coil (MC) cartridge from an equally new manufacturer — one that clearly believes in the ongoing strength of vinyl.
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of OTTA before, and that’s perfectly understandable: it’s a newcomer to the hi-fi scene. The name itself stands for Over The Top Analogue — a bold statement, and whether it lives up to that promise remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the new OTTA Mandolin cartridge is designed with an emphasis on midrange performance and musical naturalness. According to the company, the goal is to transmit emotion and artistic intent from source to listener as faithfully as possible.
To achieve this, OTTA combines traditional materials with modern engineering. The Mandolin’s body is crafted from red sandalwood, carefully dried and aged under varying environmental conditions to prevent cracking or warping. The housing is then CNC-machined for a precise fit around the aluminium core, which forms the cartridge’s “motor.”
Handcrafted Coils
At the heart of that motor lies a newly developed magnetic system, designed to maintain an exceptionally uniform magnetic field. The coils themselves are hand-wound by skilled technicians, with each one undergoing strict quality control. That process includes not only detailed electrical measurements but also extensive listening tests, ensuring that every finished unit meets the company’s sonic standards.
The OTTA Mandolin is expected to go on sale “soon,” with a retail price of around €2,000 — placing it firmly in the high-end cartridge segment, both in ambition and execution.