|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
74.214.45.172
Well, yes, the subject line says it all. This is one fine cartridge MM or MC or whatever. The Shibata stylus gives me the best, most open, transparent and extended top end of any cartridge I've ever owned. Comparing it to my reference Dyna 20XL, I give the Dyna a subtle edge in the bass and midrange, but the Black pulls away on top. It is detailed without the sterility and lack of "soul" I heard from my OC9. The top end simply shimmers. Brushed cymbals have that harmonic sheen that few carts can accurately capture and most simply smear.
And the Ortofon is nimble, like the Dyna. It wants to boogie when the music calls for it and is laid back when that is called for. It's a good tracker, too. No signs of mistracking at 1.6 g VTF.
Associated equipment includes the Scout/JMW-9, Hagerman Cornet II (no SUT required, a plus), Hagerman Clarinet line stage, NAD C272 power amp (the Forte is in CA for upgrades and a conversion to Class A operation) and Maggie MMGs supplemented by an Infinity sub.
Let's put it this way. I like the Black enough to plunk down $400 for a third wand for my JMW-9. I now can quickly swap from among three good carts.
The 2M Black has a MSRP of $599, but Thakker on eBay sells it for $100 less. Highly recommended.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Follow Ups:
Has anyone had the opportunity to compare the OM40 Super with the 2M Black?
Would it be worth the expense of the upgrade?
Fluid damper and re-wire in play...
You've got me curious to say the least - I've got an OC-9 running now that I love. This, however, sounds very interesting...
The 2M Black easily betters it, but then again, I really came to dislike the OC9's sterile, lifeless presentation of detail for details sake.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
.
that with any cart I've owned.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Hi there Henry,
That's one strong recommendation for the Ortofon 2M.
According to HiFi Choice ~1989, the Shure Ultra was, without equivocation, the best MM on the market!
Brian
even with the VN5MR stylus.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
groove noise on older records? That HiFi World review seems to warn about brightness. Is there any data--anecdotal or otherwise-on how long the Shibata stylus lasts or how it treats your records? Just curious ... seems like a good mate for my AES PH-1. FWIW, below is a link with *.wav file comparisons of the 2M Black to other cartridges (no affiliation). Keep us up-to-date on your impressions ...
Tom
I can find absolutely no faults in the Black's top end.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
There's a good review of the Black and Bronze on the Needle Doctor's site.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
nt
Greetings Henry,
I couldn't help but notice the finger lift on your JMW-9 has a 'step-up' on it where mine has it coming straight out of the headshell. Is this the way VPI makes them now or was this a diy?
after purchasing the table have straight fingerlifts. The original one had the double angle. I don't know if it came that way from VPI as I bought the Scout from another inmate. The 2M is now in one of the straight fingerlift wands.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Looks impressive enough. I'll try one this week on my Tecnoarm.
Thanks for sharing this Henry.
I'm running a Techno arm with a Shure xv15, and was thinking the black 2M would be good replacement when retip time comes along.
I really like low tracking weights, one of the benefits of moving mag designs. Yes, I know higher tracking doesn't hurt records. Sadly, my concerns are the mistakes between play and putting the needle in the grooves.
I just feel better knowing the needle skipping across the entire side of an album and putting the big ZIPPPPP across the sound spectrum, is at one gram rather than more.
With all the MMs out there, what was it that led you to that one? I am starting to become a real MM fan because all the records I love sound so "correct" on them. Something I couldn't say about my previous Gliders. I was always thinking I had further "tweaking" to do. MMs seem to be more "set it and forget it" and get on with enjoying the records instead.
I just read up on them. Never had a Shibata stylus cart before. Also, I was impressed with two previous Ortofons, the LC tipped 320U and the FG tipped 540 MKII
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Are you using standard 47k ohm loading and have you experimented with different capacitance settings? I've found with MM cartridges loading can make a difference but capacitance settings have little or no effect on sound, and the higher signal-to-noise ratios of the MM stage is an added reason not to give up on the design. Compared to the MC's I've been looking at, the 2M Black is a bargain.
The VPI interconnects are 140 pF. Dunno about Cornet II as spec not listed. Normally it is around 100 pF, so I'm guessing 240-250 pF. I've found on some carts, Shures in particular, using a lower than usual capacitance brings out the high end nicely.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Thanks for the review Henry, I have converted to a Virtuoso Wood. I think I will stay in MM territory for awhile, I've been thinking about the black too. Maybe after I clear up my preamp problems.....DK
I am sure the list is long.
Pickering V15s and XSV-3000
Empire 808 and 888
Stanton 681 and 881
Shure M91ED, M95ED, M97xE, V15s from the Type II to the V15VxMR and Ultra 500
Grado Prestidge Red and Statement Platinum
Goldring 1012GX and 1022GX
ATs from the 110E, 120E/T through 440MLa.
Ortofons from the 20 super through the 320U and 540MKII.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
Think you meant to say... latest.
:)
Everything matters, don't forget to tweak your placebos!
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: