ORTOFON 2M BLUE

by **lpman_t** » 08 Jun 2007 01:07

Hi all.. Today I replaced my Ortofon Super OM 30 cartridge with the new series of Ortofon 2M Blue . That really sounds and tracks better than the OM 30. It has just been for almost 4 hours and it already has a quite deep bass, clear vocals and a big soundstage . It is a really musical cart. I dont like describing the sound of a cart. or an equipment so let me say that I really did ENJOY listening to music tonight with the 2M Blue

I highly recommend auditioning it to all who is in search of a new MM cart. around 200 Euros.

by **bauzace50** » 08 Jun 2007 03:26

lpman_t,
it's always good to hear testimonials from actual users! Better than reading specifications!
Regards,
bauzace50

by **purple_pill67** » 10 Jun 2007 23:52

gets good praise in the new "hifi choice"(??) review for the new goldring 2500-which also gets a good review...wonder what the top one (2600) is like??
they compare the G2500 to the ortofon blue+the g1042.

by **satanfriendly** » 11 Jun 2007 02:54

It is nice to hear someone give praise to something which has brought them pleasure. Half the HiFi world seem entrapped in numbers and theorising. Glad you like the Ortofon.

In passing I recently bought a Benz MC20e ($175) in the US and it sings like nothing in the cheaper end I've met so far. Only gripes, it's exceptionally light and made in some gold coloured crappy plastic. But it betters my last Blue Point in it's ability to play music. In my system anyway. I'll give it a big thumbs up to anyone considering. And there's a new low output version which is getting raves in the States.

by **vinyl_junkie** » 15 Jun 2007 20:09

Hi guys, I'm new here but I have also just got a 2M Blue needle about a month a go. Let me just say this thing get's better with age/use

It's nice to hear that it sounds better than the OM30 as that was my other option.
I'm a 21 year old DJ/music lover and use the much hated Techincs SL-1210Mk2 lol but I can't afford Rega arms on them. I use the 2M to archive my records to CD and it does a great job.
Here are some pics

This is how it sounds (recorded after only few hours of use):
http://rapidshare.com/files/27385530/Ortofon_2M.mp3

Track Listing....

1. Luomo-Diskonize Me
2. Mateo Murphy-Inside Out
3. Jeff Bennett-Front Spiral
4. Jeff Bennett-Front Spiral (Mix)
5. Luomo-Body Speaking
6. Miguel Migs-So Far (Mix1)
7. Martinez-Antares Pt1
8. Ball Room-Open Air
9. Kevin Yost-Ky Funk And Stuff
10. Jamiriquai-Canned Heat (Spooky Remix)
11. Michael Jackson-Don’t Stop till you get enough
12. Michael Jackson-Get on the floor
13. Paul Simon-Diamonds on the souls of her shoes
14. Jean Michelle Jarre-Oxigene
15. Nina Simone-Save Me
16. Nina Simone-Funkier than a mosquito’s tweeter
17. El’Michaels Affair-C.R.E.A.M
18. Quincy Bright-My Ghetto Looked Like This
19. Inland Knights-See Yo’ Face
20. Can’t remember this track name
21. Joey Youngman-My First Love
22. Miguel Migs-So Far (Mix 2)
23. Trentemoller-White Lable
24. Trentemoller-White Lable

No normalizing or eq was applied to the recording or any of the tunes.
Truntable>Urei1620>CD Recorder and that's it.
Stuck into Wavelab and exported as a 320Kbps MP3 for easy download.

The CD recorder is a Marantz CDR-630 and it was recorded using the House Balanced outs from the mixer, it's transfomer isolated balanced output.

by **bauzace50** » 15 Jun 2007 20:25

vinyl_junkie,
love that vinyl setup...just love it. Hear, hear!
bauzace50

by **bauzace50** » 16 Jun 2007 01:49

lpman_t,
When you say that the Blue sounds better than the S-OM-30, please explain...question: how do the treble compare between the two?
Thanks,
bauzace50

by **vinyl_junkie** » 16 Jun 2007 10:08

Thanks for the comments bauzace50

I was also surprised that lpman_t said its better sounding to him than the OM30 as I would of thought the Super OM would have been a better needle as it's fine line. I did have a 520 Mk1 years ago and thought that sounded too laid back and bland, I didn't think bass was great either (what I mean by not great is I didn’t think it had a lot of bass presence) but it was all there sound wise. I guess it was just too neutral for my liking. This is just going from my memory though.
The Blue is a nice needle, very crisp even on the ol’ SL-1210. I am planning on uploading more audio samples of various other types of music that way people can hear what it’s like in my setup. Next few records I want to record/upload is Marlena Shaw’s The Spice Of Life, I can’t stop listening to that one.

by **lpman_t** » 16 Jun 2007 10:25

Thanks to all who replied on this post

vinyl_junkie,
nice set up , I am using the 2M Blue on Technics 1210 too

bauzace50,
I wanted to wait for some time before writing an other post about the 2M Blue. I didnt have so much time to spin as many LPs as I really wanted to,I was busy. I listened to about 15 LPs , and the sound is still good and getting slightly better

The treble when compared to Super OM 30 , is more natural,it is not bright. The sound on Neil Diamond's "Tap Root Manuscript"(1970) was the best sound I have ever had from this album. The treble and bass occure when and where they are needed and (as closely as possible) to the original sound. No more treble brightness . I also loved the way this 2M represents the vocals and horns. Vocals are very clear, strong and pronounciation is like real. I loved the bass and vocals on Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" though it was the second LP I was listening with the 2M. Just an other thing to mention, the cartrdige plays the worn out records much better with less distortion.

may be the elliptical stylus helps this may be not..I dont know but all I can say that this cartirdge worths the money I paid for it.

by **ben556473** » 16 Jun 2007 13:46

Nice one, my friend has 1210's and we listen to them alot, they sound really good. I particularly like Jean-Michele Jarre he does electronic music better than most, cheers.

by **lpman_t** » 16 Jun 2007 17:57

I forgot to mention in my previous posts that it is much more easier to align the 2M when compared to OM series and most other cartrdiges.. The reason is 2M Blue has threaded holes , no need to use bolts anymore

Also the structure of the cartridge body helps this easy alignment too.

by **bauzace50** » 16 Jun 2007 18:03

vinyl_junkie,
Not to get greedy here, but, could you post a photo of the cartridge with the stylus assembly off? Just to see what they look like. Don't want to inconvenience...
Thanks, bauzace50

by **vinyl_junkie** » 16 Jun 2007 21:43

bauzace50 wrote:vinyl_junkie,
Not to get greedy here, but, could you post a photo of the cartridge with the stylus assembly off? Just to see what they look like. Don't want to inconvenience...
Thanks, bauzace50

No probs, I'l try and take some pics for you some time this week. They look a lot like the OM needles.

by **vinyl_junkie** » 16 Jun 2007 22:21