Ortofon 2M Red
Ortofon 2M Blue
Ortofon 2M Bronze
Ortofon 2M Black
The entry level to the 2M range is far from entry level in performance. It’s no wonder this cartridge enjoys the following it has.
Much of this is down to the facets of the stylus - how the stylus profile is cut. This allows the stylus to travel further into the groove of each disc and reach information that is unavailable to other cartridges at this price point.
What we say:
There’s no doubt that this cart punches well above it’s weight. It has bags of detail and presence and is an excellent ambassador for the Ortofon brand.
This builds on the abilities of the 2M Red with some interesting tweaks.
Whilst it shares the same stylus cut, this is a ‘nude’ eliptical stylus which means the diamond stylus is not coated, giving a more natural sound which, when fitted to a turntable of sufficient quality, is clearly evident in it’s presentation of the music.
What we say:
The literal and figurative big brother of the 2M Red. This has the same characteristics of the Red but turns them up to 11. It presents a sophisticated take on vinyl replay and ability to retrieve and portray detail.
Significant changes to the stylus and body type sets the 2M Bronze (and latterly, the Black) apart from the rest of the 2M range. Aimed at discerning listeners, this cartridge demands a quality system to give it space to really show it’s character.
What we say:
The is where it starts to get serious. Whilst it doesn’t appear to have the immediacy of sound like it’s smaller brethren, the Bronze is a beautifully accomplished cartridge that really excels with complex music.
A more relaxed initial presentation gives way to a confident portrayal of music that gets deep into the performance. An understated beauty.
The 2M Black is the Flagship of the 2M Range and shares the Shibata stylus from the MC Jubilee.
Its slim, highly polished profile allows an exceedingly wide contact area to the groove walls and ensures notably detailed reproduction throughout the spectrum, including even the most high-frequency groove information.
Users of the 2M Black will enjoy the benefit of impeccable sound quality, along with reduced record & stylus wear, and reduced distortion and phase error as a result of the diamond’s improved tracking geometry.
What we say:
This is a monster and a personal favourite of ours. We were stunned when we first heard one of these.
Straight out of the box, it had bags of authority, detail, control, and most of all, fun. It sounded so engaging and so much like a moving coil cartridge. Incredible dynamics and lifelike presentation makes this one of our heroes and something which isn’t out of place on a high-end turntable. .