505-3, cartridges, arm height, dynamic tracking weight?

[lini]

Steve: *lol* Sorry, I've got to laugh a bit, but just because so many people mix that up. Anyway, yes, you do have a ULM65E, 'cause DN165E is just the type designation of the needle alone (DN = Dual Nadel = Dual needle) - and a ULM65E basically was nothing else than a renamed Ortofon OM(B)10 (B = bulk variant without retail packaging...), while the ULM68E was the Dual rename of the OM(B)20. So, if you'd put a new needle 20 on your ULM65E body, the result would be absolutely equivalent to an ULM68E/OM(B)20 - with the only difference being that the current needle 20 isn't as compliant anymore (as Ortofon reduced the compliance of the needles 20, 30 and 40 with the introduction of the SuperOMs). But, as already mentioned above, currently your best option would be to get a Digitrac 300SE (offered by Williamthakker as well as HT-Audio over here...), pull off its needle, remove the little tab at the rear end of the needle and then use it on your ULM65E body. That way you'd get a needle, which in quality is more comparable with the needle 30, but would cost you less than a needle 20.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[thespirit3]

Fantastic explanation! Thankyou - I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. Now I understand

[raphaelmabo]

There is a difference in sound OM vs the 2M's, it more comes down to personal preferences what's better or not. I used to have an OM10 which I later upgraded to OM20. The OM's offers a relaxing easy-listening sound with good details, imagery and expansive soundstage (more the higher numbered OMs you get) - very nice for small scale classical works, softer rock, soul, singer-songwriter, acoustic based music, jazz... but lost it's way on contemporary complex dance tracks and complex music. The 2Ms are a bit brighter, a bit more spicy and more getting-up-and-move type of sound, one can also say more CD and less traditional vinyl-warmth-smoothness. The 2M Blue has got better reviews than the 2M Red but the red is nonetheless popular among reviewers and buyers of lower cost turntables. But it's not "old school"-sounding.

So basically a matter of personal taste.
The low mass tonearm in the Dual suits higher compliance cartridges well and both the OM's and 2M's fits.

But as has pointed out earlier, yes you could replace the stylus on the existing cartridge that you have with a new OM stylus. Altough Ortofon no longer produces new OM cartridges, they do still produces the replacement stylus - and all the OM's has the same cartridge body so the replacement stylus for any OM fits any OM body. So from a cost perspective it would be more economical to just replace the stylus.

They have continued with this idea with the 2M serie. But unfortunately 2M stylus doesn't fit OM bodies, only 2M bodies.

[lini]

Raphael: Actually that's not quite true - 'cause in fact Ortofon still makes a couple of OM/OMP models for the international market, as one can see on their website. But there can be even more: For example, over here in Germany the SuperOM family has already been reintroduced in mid 2009 - and we also still officially get a couple more models of the OM/OMP range as well as the complete VinylMaster range (if you're curious what exactly is being officially offered over here, just visit the website of the German distributor: http://www.audiotra.de).

Well, and as for the different sounds: You have to keep in mind that the generators are slightly different. Currently there are 3 1/2 different generator variants available: OM(B)/OMP (450 mH/750 Ohm), SuperOM & 5x0II/Vinylmaster (580 mH/1 kOhm) and finally 2M Red & Blue (700 mH, 1.3 kOhm) and 2M Bronze & Black (630 mH/1.2 kOhm). So it's no wonder that even the models with identical needle quality level (e.g. OM(B)20/OMP20, OM20Super, 520(II)/VM Red, 2M Blue) all sound bit different, provided one runs all with the same load parameters. Whereas the differences can be significantly reduced, if one adapts the load (foremost capacity) accordingly. And another thing one should not forget is the higher output level of the 2Ms, which requires careful level matching for comparison...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini