2M Red and Black

Posted by hairydog (A) on August 18, 2010 at 12:12:58

In Reply to: you gotta give it a bit more time posted by OMalley on May 30, 2008 at 06:00:43:

Obviously marketed directly at Rega RB arms the 2M cartridges are very much in line with Ortofons "accurate" sound. I agree with some of the points in your review, and if you read between the lines of the hi-fi world review and the absolute sound review, the general conclusion is that these cartridges are not the quietest in the groove and phrases like "forensic" imply their warts 'n all character. On the plus side they have supberb staging and low distortion. The Red really gives you an idea of the whole 2M sound in general. Going to the black is not the 500 dollar extra of sound you might expect. Both have the same surface noise levels- so in this case the exotic stylus shape might do something for tracking distortion, but noise levels are the same as the bargain eliptical. The red to its credit is a very impressive cartridge for the money. When you get to the blacks price level, you expect certain things and the balck delivers on most except ultra low groove noise. As was mentioned this might partially be a function of phono stage, and possibly high output (but the Rega Exact is also very high output and is quieter in the groove than the 2M black). You have to live with the 2M cartridges for awhile to really get a handle on things. They definitely do have some great qualities- overall balance is not at all like traditional magnets (even the lowly red), I am reminded a little of the Ortofon X5MC I used to have.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Somewhat Long Review: Ortofon 2M Blue MM Cartridge - FrankieLuvsVinyl 05:28:30 05/30/08 (16)

The bigger picture... - FrankieLuvsVinyl 07:50:59 05/30/08 (1)

great! - Plinko 05:44:31 05/31/08 (0)

My 2M Black went through a lot of changes in the first 25 hrs... - Bry 07:04:43 05/30/08 (3)

RE: My 2M Black went through a lot of changes in the first 25 hrs... - FrankieLuvsVinyl 07:54:45 05/30/08 (2)

Just so you know... - Bry 08:03:45 05/30/08 (1)

No I didn't take it as a shot - FrankieLuvsVinyl 08:24:43 05/30/08 (0)

Thanks for the review. - freefallrob 06:46:17 05/30/08 (3)

RE: Thanks for the review. - Bry 11:39:52 05/30/08 (1)

That would explain it then;-) n/t - freefallrob 12:43:29 06/01/08 (0)

I think your comment is telling - FrankieLuvsVinyl 08:09:11 05/30/08 (0)

This is a very interesting review, but I have to agree with Omalley - Bandit 06:30:08 05/30/08 (0)

Comparison - creativepart 06:11:34 05/30/08 (1)

That makes sense. - StylinLP 09:32:48 05/30/08 (0)

you gotta give it a bit more time - OMalley 06:00:43 05/30/08 (2)

2M Red and Black - hairydog 12:12:58 08/18/10 (0)

Surface noice may be a function of the preamp also - Plinko 06:37:10 05/30/08 (1)

RE: Surface noice may be a function of the preamp also - Right! - OMalley 07:19:17 05/30/08 (0)

Follow Ups

2M Red and Black - hairydog 12:12:58 08/18/10 (0)

2M Red and Black

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