Whats happened to the Ortofon Black 2M ?

[happylad]

Just received my new Ortofon black 2 m and gone is the classy Gloss black finish to be replaced with a boring matt black finish similar to the 540 series. Really tkes the shine of it (if you pardon the pun) . I thought the gloss finish material waas some special material that helped the sound !

[bauzace50]

He he he heeeeee I had one 2M Black and liked it very much. Was VERY sorry to see it go for raising some cash a year ago. At that time it had the glossy black body.

I must laugh now that I have a Matte Black Denon DL-103 "R". Despite the matte finish, I like its sound VERY much, also.

Here's trusting your cartridge will perform up to its considerable (and justified) good reputation.

Regards,
bauzace50

[garygillespie]

My 2m Black just came in.
I think I'm going to put it on a Rega RP3 or RP6, not sure which table I'm going to buy yet.
I want to get an Graham Slee Era Gold V, but not sure if that is overkill for this set, and maybe I should go with the Gram Amp 2 Special Edition.
I wanted to know what everyone thinks?

[avole]

Perhaps overkill for the RP3, though it has a fine arm. I'd also pick the Clearaudio Nano over the Graham Slee, as it's so flexible, and sounds pretty good, too.

[duficity]

The 2m Black deserves as good a phono stage, arm and turntable as you can afford.

[denti alligator]

So is it true that the Black is now matte, not glossy?

[moon unit]

I want to get an Graham Slee Era Gold V, but not sure if that is overkill for this set, and maybe I should go with the Gram Amp 2 Special Edition.

Get the best phonostage you can easily afford.

It is just as (if not more) important as the cartridge is.

[garygillespie]

So is it true that the Black is now matte, not glossy?

I tried to take a picture of it, but my crappy camera couldn't take that close of a picture and still come up clear.
I did a Google images search, and notice some of the 2M is writing in white and some gold (not sure if that matters). Mine has gold writing, and looks to be matte.

[garygillespie]

Thank you duficity & moon unit.

[happylad]

My black has gold lettering but it dont seem as as "rich" in colour as they use to be. As I said before the matt finish is no where attractive as the Glossy look of the one's I have seen in magazines and on the web . Also considering this is the top of the range MM in the ortofon range the handbook ( tiny 14 page booklet ) and packaging is a letdown too , not expecting anything like the Shure and Stanton's of old but it's pretty cheap and shoddly put together . Not sure if they have changed the look of the other 2M cartridges in the range , if they have I would think the blue and bronze will look horrible.

update - just spoke to the UK ortofon distributors ,guy didnt seem to know what I was talking about after talking for 5 mins. we got on to the fact the stylus is 70 per cent of the visible body of the thing , I now think it's a case of Ortofon changing the stylus grip material from glossy to a granite matt black finish , he is going to get back to me , will keep you posted.

[happylad]

Ortofon guy got back to me and has confirmed the stylus texture and finish has changed but didnt think it was that different to the original look, I can only go by the pictures I have seen in the mag's and on the web but it look's different to me but will try and see a old 2m in the flesh

[denti alligator]

Let's get two close-ups on here to compare. Anyone?

[lini]

It probably lost it's glossy cheeks, when it became aware that the new Audio Technica AT150ANV would sport a MicroLine on sapphire cantilever needle in a titanium framed body carrying a low inductance generator: "Oh, darn, I'm outclassed - big time..."

Grinnings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[happylad]

But ! I have to forgive it ! What a cartridge ! just got through my first two albums and first impressions are it puts my Shure 500 in the shade ! looking forward to bedding it in , lovely lovely sound !