Reviews:

'Outstanding Product' in Hi-Fi News, March 2011.

Awarded 5 Stars in What Hi-Fi?, April 2011.

About the unique 2M design

2M is developed together with the Danish designer "MøllerJensen Design" from Copenhagen, Denmark - the same designer who designed the award winning cartridge MC Jubilee and the Kontrapunktseries.

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. We wanted a modernname which should be easy to pronounce and to remember, and therefore an alpha numerical name was chosen. 2M means MM, which is the abbreviation for moving magnet.

We are using the same names on our 2M series as we use at our Rondo series: Red, Blue and Bronze. The 2M Black will become the flagship of 2M.

2M was the last product of our former chief engineer Per Windfield. He has worked with the 2M for the last two years.

The 2M technology

2M are designed for precise and accurate retrieval of the information in the record groove. Our philosophy is to play the record sound as accurate as possible, without coloring the sound. We have optimized the design for ease of mounting the cartridge, weight and size to fit the most common turntables at the market today.

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.

The 2M series has interchangeable stylus units and replacement stylus is available.

To obtain a flat frequency response as with a Moving Coil cartridge we are using the slit pole pins to reduce the eddy current. The slit pole pins is an Ortofon invention which was presented in the 500 series and the Super OM series.

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.

Technical Data:

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 1- 5 dB 
Frequency range at - 3dB - 20-31.000 Hz 
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 - 1,4-1,7g (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 
Replacement stylus unit - 2M Black

Ortofon 2M Black

Hi-Fi News, Yearbook 2011 
Reviewed by: 
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 
Reviewed by:
Score: 5 Stars

Comments of Note:
"... it showed real power and dynamics, as well as crisp timing." 
"The most transparent and detailed stylus here...handles subtlety well, with vocals especially possessing supreme inflection and insight." 
"The midrange is expressive, and the treble is insightful and vivid."

Hi-Fi News, March 2011 
Reviewed by: 
Score: 'Outstanding Product' 

Comments of Note: 
"...the Ortofon 2M Black was immediately engaging, sounding powerful and vivid." 
"Further listening showed the Ortofon to be highly revealing, with fabulous clarity and openness..." 
"...the regal piano chords sounded full-bodied and startlingly real." 
"...the seismic bass...was again tight and solid. Deep bass...was textured, detailed and extraordinarily clear."  

Hi-Fi World, November 2007 
Reviewed by: Noel Keywood 
Score:

Comments of Note: 
"The 2M Black has a silky smooth presentation...no glare or treble emphasis..." 
"The 2M Black has to be one of the best moving magent cartridges currently available...one of the most practical." 
"totally cohesive, smooth and easy sound...wonderful insight and dynamics."