The Ortofon 2M (Moving Magnet) Black cartridge sports a Shibata diamond stylus, nude, to better ride the grooves, a low viscosity, halogen free polycarbonate (PC) resin Hopelex body, and a special upgraded engine, featuring split pole pins with a silver plated copper wire.
We shouldn’t be surprised to learn that hifi guys, and it’s always guys, have already come to some conclusions about the Ortofon 2M Black just based on those words. Words!
I chose the Ortofon 2M Black because Ortofon has been at this business of making phono cartridges for as long there’s been such a thing (the company is more than a century old—a century!), and the 2M Black sits near the top of their affordable, in the world of hifi, 2M Series of cartridges. The fact that the 2M Black remains a favorite among Moving Magnet cartridges after 14 years coupled with my unending love—love!—for the classic Ortofon SPU-A stereo pick-up sealed the decision (I used to own a few of the last production runs of the SPU-A and ran with a Shindo modified version for years. Sigh).
As you already know, the Ortofon 2M Black will be mounted to the Michell Gyro SE with TechnoArm 2 and has the honor of dancing with a whole bunch of phono preamps. Color me excited!
Ortofon 2M Black MC Phono Cartridge
Price: $695
Company Website: Ortofon
Specifications
Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec.: 5 mV
Channel balance at 1 kHz: 1 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz: 26 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz: 15 dB
Frequency response: 20-20.000 + 2 / – 0 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force: 80 µm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral: 22 µm/mN
Stylus type: Nude Shibata
Stylus tip radius: r/R 6/50 µm
Tracking force range: 1.4-1.7 g (14-17 mN)
Tracking force, recommended: 1.5 g (15 mN)
Tracking angle: 20°
Internal impedance, DC resistance: 1.2 kOhm
Internal inductance: 630 mH
Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm
Recommended load capacitance: 150-300 pF
Cartridge colour, body/stylus: Black/Black
Cartridge weight: 7.2 g
