For those of you who don’t know, Ortofon is a Danish company that develops, manufactures, and markets the world-acclaimed Ortofon phono cartridges. And if you do know who they are, you already know how amazing their cartridges are. Among many of their series, the 2M is a highly popular one and, which is even better, you can shop it here at SKY by Gramophone. Ortofon products concentrate not only on providing the best sound but more importantly the faithful and correct reproduction of recorded sound. And here enters the 2M series of moving magnet cartridges. Let’s discuss the range in detail so you can decide for yourself which one is the best for you, your needs, and your budget.
Before we start, let us specify a few things in order for this read to be easier and flow more smoothly:
As you go up the range (RED ▶️ BLUE ▶️ BRONZE ▶️ BLACK), you get a stylus and engine combination that is getting you closer to the very music of the vinyl itself. The engine is the moving magnet assembly deep inside the cartridge and the 2M series has 2 different engine designs in the moving magnet:
RED and BLUE
Coil material: Copper
BLACK and BRONZE
Coil material: Silver-Plated Copper
The RED and BLUE have the same engine, but different stylus. The BRONZE and BLACK have different engines compared to the RED and BLUE, but still the same as each other, and different stylus.
2M RED
▶️Engine: Split Pole Pins with a Copper Wire.
▶️Stylus: Tipped Elliptical Diamond
The first of the range, the entry-level on the 2M series, it’s an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound. It provides great detail in the price range and pairs perfectly with entry-level turntables, such as the Technics 1500C. In a nutshell, the 2M RED is very surprising for its price and is able to take most records and give you back an enjoyable experience regardless of what you’re playing.
2M BLUE
▶️Engine: Split Pole Pins with a Copper Wire.
▶️Stylus: Nude Elliptical Diamond - instead of having an extra point of metal between the rest of the cantilever and the very tip, it binds the diamond tip right to the primary body of the cantilever, meaning that it’s one less thing in the way.
The 2M BLUE has a lot in common with the 2M RED, sharing the same body and engine. The main difference, however, is that the blue leads to a different sound character, adding more dynamics and resolution, and sounding more open. It gets a little bit closer to the groove of your actual record, making it a little more transparent. What’s even better: it has an increased sense of dynamics with higher highs, lower lows, a range of punch, and a touch more clarity in the mid-range. It is a little bit heavier, sturdier, a little bit of a better tonearm, and so is designed to go on a table that’s going to be a little bit of a better host for it. Overall, compared to the previous cartridge in the series, the BLUE offers a better range of dynamics.
2M BRONZE
The 2M BRONZE can be considered the first of the second order of the 2M family and adds even more resolution in an even-handed way.
▶️Engine: Split Pole Pins with a Silver-Plated Copper Wire.
▶️Stylus: Nude Fine Line Diamond - even more “to the point”, and more accurate.
A cartridge that is suitable for most tonearms, with its dimensions meeting industry standards. The bronze’s level of resolution, transparency, and ability to pick out certain details in the music, can’t be achieved with the red and the blue. It can be considered to offer the best value of the whole range in terms of “getting what you’re paying for”. Overall, compared to the previous cartridge in the series, the BRONZE offers a better bass, treble, dynamic, separation, and sense of image.
2M BLACK
The 2M BLACK is the flagship of the 2M range, the best of them all, and is true to the groove. It all begins with its presentation, which already separates from the rest of the series, as it comes hanging in a container as if it was hanging from a tonearm.
▶️Engine: Split Pole Pins with a Silver-Plated Copper Wire.
▶️Stylus: Nude Shibata Diamond - an asymmetric shape that is more ground down on one side than the other, maximizing contact with the groove.
The reality is that the 2M BLACK defeats many moving coil cartridges out there, while also being the most transparent, the most resolving member of the entire moving magnet range. It delivers massive transparency and point-for-point reproduction of everything in the record. It truly sounds excellent. It is capable of taking any record and showing you everything that is there - including the flaws.
The 2M moving magnet cartridges series has been engineered to the highest standards, and you can learn more about them by watching our reviews of each of them on our YouTube Channel by clicking HERE!
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions, as we are happy to assist you in any way possible! Contact us through the chat right here at the bottom-right of the page or call us at 1.844.GRAMOPHONE!