Technology Shared by the 2M Models
First, we thought it might be interesting to clue you in on how the name of this series came about. Take a look at this phrase: Moving Magnet. Do you see the two-letter M’s? Yes, the 2M series are all moving magnet phono cartridges designed to work with just about any phono preamp.
Split Pole Tech
Back in the heyday of CD’s Ortofon was developing a new technology to allow moving magnet cartridges to have a flatter response at the top end of their range. If you were to chop apart a typical moving magnet cartridge, on the end of the system that generates energy, you’d find what are called pole pieces which then get wired to the connections on the back of the cartridges. Historically these were tiny hollow cylinders.
Ortofon found if you put a tiny slit down the length of the cylinder, it would reduce eddy current losses caused by magnetic hysteresis. This is called split pole pins. That’s a lot of tech talk, but the end result is a more flat frequency response with greater extension and more accurate phase between the two channels. All of the 2M models share this tech.
Hopelex
Almost all 2M models are made from the same pretty neat polycarbonate material called Hopelex. This is an environmentally friendly material with very high rigidity that also is almost resonant free. Using Hopelex means no external resonances will make their way into the sound the cartridge is pulling out of the record grooves.
Universal As Can Be
Ortofon designed the output of the 2M series models and the size and weight to be compatible with as many different turntables and amplifiers on the market as possible. This along with their great sound value for the money is another reason you’ll see 2M models on many different turntables.
Easy Stylus Replacement and Possible Upgrade
When your stylus wears out, you will not have to take the cartridge off as all of the 2M models have a user-replaceable stylus. This leads into another really great feature the 2M models have.
If you have a Red or Bronze, these have identical insides as the next models up, the Blue and Black. The big difference between the Red and Blue or Bronze and Black is the stylus assembly. You can easily upgrade your sound when it's time to buy a replacement stylus if you have a Red or Bronze, by simply installing a Blue or Black stylus. This is pretty cool, especially for all of those Red’s that came with pretty decent turntables like the Debut Carbon. We should point out you can not jump from a Red to a Bronze or Black as the internal workings are different.
Or if you are into mono and 78’s, those two cartridges also have interchangeable stylus assemblies, pretty neat!
Three Different Configurations
While most people will use the standard 2M type, Ortofon does offer two other versions of these great cartridges, just from a mounting standpoint. There are some vintage turntables out there that require the cartridge to mount from the bottom side of the tonearm. This is called the 2M Verso. If you have a turntable with a bayonet-type mount where the entire headshell comes off, you can get any of the 2M models premounted to a specially designed Ortofon headshell which uses a very nonresonant compound Ortofon developed for the Medical industry. This is called the “Plug & Play MkII” model.