Ortofon 2M Black MM Cartridge

2M Series

The 2M Black is the new moving magnet flagship from Ortofon. The 2M black is graced with a Shibata diamond stylus - the same diamond as on the acclaimed 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 The cartridge body used for the 2M Bronze and 2M Black is manufactured from a newly-developed Noryl plastic/glass combination, a revolutionary material which ensures high rigidity while eliminating unwanted resonances. The 2M Bronze and 2M Black use a special upgraded engine, featuring split pole pins with a silver-plated copper wire.

The 2M technology
2M cartridges are designed for precise and accurate retrieval of the information in the record groove. Ortofon's philosophy is to play the record sound as accurately as possible, without colouring the sound in any way. Both the 2M Bronze and 2M Black have diamonds which are cut and polished to the highest standards of the industry. The 2M design has also been optimized for easy mounting on to a tonearm; the weight and size of all 2M models is well-suited to fit the most common turntables on today's market. The 2M Bronze and 2M Black also have interchangeable stylus units, and replacement styli are readily available in the UK.

About the unique 2M design
2M was developed by Ortofon in conjunction with "Møller Jensen Design" from Copenhagen, Denmark - the same designer who collaborated on the award-winning MC Jubilee cartridge, and the coveted Kontrapunkt series. The inspiration for designing the 2M was related to the facets of the diamond - elegantly concentrating its contours against the grooves on the record surface. The name 2M was selected among several ideas. Ortofon wanted a modern name which would be easy to pronounce around the world, and to remember. Therefore an alpha-numerical name was chosen... 2M means MM, which is simply the common abbreviation for Moving Magnet. 

The 2M range has been structured in the same way as the popular Rondo and Cadenza Moving Coil series, with ascending quality as you move from Red - Blue - Bronze - Black. The spectacular 2m Black has become the flagship of 2M, and all Ortofon moving magnet cartridges. 2M was also the last product designed by Ortofon's former chief engineer, Per Windfield. He developed the 2M series over the final 2 years of his 30 year tenure with Ortofon.

2M Verso
The 2M series of cartridges are now also available in a special version, suited for bottom-mount tonearms. The 2M Verso are available to special order in the UK. If you'd like to order one, please call our offices on 01235 511 166 to find out more.

Key Features:

• Special upgraded engine, featuring split pole pins with a silver plated copper wire
• Shibata diamond stylus tip
• Detailed sound reproduction throughout the spectrum, including even the most high frequency groove information
• Reduced distortion and record wear
• Cartridge body made from highly rigid and resonance eliminating materials
• Improved dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces greater details
• Supplied with 2 different sets of screws (M2.5 x 5 & M2.5 x 7)
• Carbon fibre stylus brush and tracking force gauge included
• Also available with integrated headshell or verso version

Reviews

Hi-Fi News, Yearbook 2011

Score: 'Outstanding Product'

Comments of Note: 
"... the two best [cartridges in the 2m range] - the £280 2M Bronze with a Nude Fine Line stylus and this 2M Black model - are formed from a more rigid Noryl plastic/glass compound as well as employing better 'engines' featuring split pole pins with silver-plated copper wire." 
"When set-up, the Ortofon 2M Black was immediately engaging, sounding powerful and vivid." 
"But it was natural recordings of full orchestra that confirmed that the 2M Black is a stellar moving-magnet cartridge." 
"The 2M Black delivers a holographic imagery worthy of the most sophisticated vinyl replay systems."

What Hi-Fi?, April 2011

Score: 5 Stars

"The most transparent and detailed stylus here...handles subtlety well, with vocals especially possessing supreme inflection and insight." 

Click here to read the full review at What Hi-Fi?

Specs