What they say:

The Ortofon 2M red

Features:

– an improved engine, which provides an increased output of 5.5 mV and an optimized sound reproduction and a high level of sonic accuracy
– a tipped Elliptical diamond and split pole pins with a copper wire
– the cartridge body is manufactured from Hopelex, an environment-friendly material which ensures high rigidity while eliminating unwanted resonances.

We have optimized the design for ease of mounting the cartridge, and the weight and size to fit the most common turntables on the market today. The 2M Series provides excellent compatibility when used in an assortment of playback systems and with a wide variety of phono preamps.

2M Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth.

APPLICATIONS
EASE OF USE
The weight and dimensions of the 2M Series have been optimized to fit the most common turntables on the market today.The cartridge body has also been streamlined to provide easy mounting and alignment.
2M cartridges provide excellent compatibility in an assortment of playback systems and with a wide variety of phono preamps. 2M standard model for top mount headshells. We have optimized the design for ease of mounting the cartridge; the weight and dimensions fit the most common turntables on the market today.

2M Verso configuration for bottom mount headshells. 2M Verso allows for easy mounting on tonearms which do not allow the screws to pass through the top of the headshell.

2M PnP is designed for direct mount on s-shaped arms with universal mount. 2M PnP provides correct Baerwald alignment with the majority of tonearms with universal mount.

“The 2M line has become a de facto reference for moving-magnet cartridges… and it is due to both the
sound quality of the various 2M models as well as the wide price range across the line.”
as Mark Michelson wrote in the review for The AudioBeat.

ADVANCEMENTS IN SOUND
The differences among the 2M variants concern three primary areas: engine, body material and stylus profile.
The entire 2M Series features Ortofon’s trademark split pole pins, an invention which enables moving magnet cartridges to have a flat frequency response as with a moving coil cartridge. Split pole pins were invented by Ortofon, and were originally presented in the 500 and Ortofon OM Super Series. The 2M 78, 2M Mono, 2M Red and 2M Blue use an improved engine, which provides an optimized sound reproduction and a high level of sonic accuracy. The 2M Bronze and 2M Black use a special upgraded engine, featuring split pole pins with a silver plated copper wire. The cartridge body material used for the 2M Bronze and 2M Black is manufactured from Lexan DMX Piano Black, a revolutionary material which ensures high rigidity while eliminating unwanted resonances.
STYLI TYPES
All of the 2M cartridges feature diamonds which are polished to the highest standards of the industry. The 2M Red features a bonded Elliptical diamond, while the 2M Blue features a Nude Elliptical diamond. The 2M Bronze features a Nude Fine Line diamond stylus, which is particularly suited for demanding applications. The
slim profile of the Fine Line stylus will track even the highest frequency information, making it a must for discerning listeners. Additionally, its larger footprint ensures reduced distortion and record wear.
The 2M Black is the moving magnet flagship from Ortofon. The 2M Black is graced with a Nude Shibata diamond stylus – the same diamond as on the acclaimed MC Cadenza Black. 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. Users of the 2M
Black will enjoy the benefit of impeccable sound quality, along with reduced record & stylus wear and reduced distortion and phase error as a result of the diamond’s improved tracking geometry.
The 2M 78 features a 65 µm Spherical stylus that is perfect for playback of 78 r.p.m. records, which require a larger stylus profile for proper playback. The 2M Mono features an 18 µm Nude Spherical stylus that is
an optimal solution for playing mono microgroove vinyl records. Both 2M Mono and 2M 78 feature an optimized engine for superior sound quality and use a strapped output to deliver the same output signal from both sets of terminal pins. This effectively eliminates the need for mono-specific equipment, making it easily possible to enjoy true mono reproduction on any stereo playback system.
The 2M Blue, Bronze, Black and Mono’s diamonds are mounted directly onto the cantilever, rather than being mounted on a metal shank which is affixed to the cantilever. Nude mounting reduces tip mass, enabling the stylus to respond more quickly to rapid changes in groove modulation. This improves portrayal of strong transients.
STYLI INTERCHANGEABILITY
2M Series styli are engineered for a tight fit to minimize coupled vibrations, thereby improving sound reproduction. Physically 2M styli will fit on alternative 2M cartridges bodies, but 2M Series cartridges’ engines, coils and magnets configurations are not quite identical: Red and Blue are identical, so are the Bronze and Black and so are the true mono variants 2M Mono and 2M 78. 2M series styli are interchangeable within the below combinations:
• 2M Red and 2M Blue
• 2M Bronze and 2M Black
• 2M Mono and 2M 78
STYLI LIFETIME AND CARE
With proper care we find that up to 1,000 hours is possible without degradation of performance. The stylus does begin to exhibit changes after 1,000 hours, but the stylus life as a whole is expected to top 2,000 hours.
Proper care is comprised of the following:
• Cleaning of record by means of fibre brush before and after every use. Cleaning of record by using record cleaning machine once in a while.
• Cleaning of stylus by means of a fine antistatic brush. Please remember to remove dust from the diamond tip before and after playback of each record. Use the brush in the forward direction from the rear of the cartridge towards the stylus tip, never from stylus tip to the rear of the cartridge and never from side to side.
• Proper adjustment of alignment, antiskating, azimuth and tracking force.
• Ortofon do not recommend the use of solvents of any kind for cleaning of either record surface or stylus.