Ortofon 2M Blue Mounted on SH-4 Blue Headshell

One of the Ten "Best Cartridges 2020" – What Hi-fi? Magazine

"A Full-Range, Highly Resolving Presentation" – On SH-4 Headshell

Ortofon's 2M Blue moving magnet phono cartridge features a new, improved engine that provides an increased output of 5.5mV, an optimized sound reproduction, and a high level of sonic accuracy. The 2M Blue adds more dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details than its highly popular 'little brother,' the bestselling 2M Red cartridge.

This version of the 2M Blue comes pre-mounted on Ortofon's popular SH-4 blue headshell – a practical and elegant solution if you're looking for direct and easy mounting and replacement on your S-shaped tonearm. The quality of the SH-4 headshell is sturdy and rigid, yet the design emphasizes a slim and delicate form factor. The strong, lightweight headshell has an ergonomic design with a long finger lift that is easy to pick up.

England's What Hi-fi? magazine honored the Ortofon 2M Blue by naming it as one of the ten "Best Cartridges 2020." According to the article, "This is a step up from the 2M Red in the number four slot in this list, and as such it's a little more pricey," reports Joe Svetlik. "So, sound? The Blue delivers a real sense of vitality to recordings, and brings a good sense of timing to proceedings… This is a very capable little cartridge indeed."

Elliptical Diamond Stylus and Split Pole Pins

The 2M Blue Nude boasts an elliptical diamond stylus and split pole pins with a copper wire. Split pole pins are an invention that enables moving magnet cartridges to have a flat frequency response, as with a much higher-priced moving coil cartridge. Split pole pins were invented by Ortofon, and were originally presented in the 500 series and Super OM series.

"With the 2M Blue ...you get the audiophile treatment: a full-range, highly resolving presentation that sounds neither stiff nor unforgiving," raves Mark Mickelson atThe Audio Beat. "In fact, the 2M Blue's balance, both tonally and in terms of overall resolution, may be its greatest feat. It's an easy cartridge to listen to…"

Ortofon's 2M Series

The 2M Series is designed for precise and accurate retrieval of the information in the record groove. The 2M Series is developed in conjunction with the Danish Industrial designer Møller Jensen Design – the same designer who designed the award winning MC Jubilee and Kontrapunkt series. Inspired by the facets of a diamond, whose contours gracefully trace the grooves on a record’s surface, the 2M’s handsome elegance establishes a great combination of form and functionality.

The name 2M was selected from among several ideas. Ortofon wanted a modern name that would be easy to pronounce and remember, and therefore an alphanumerical name was chosen. 2M means MM, which is the abbreviation for moving magnet.

Of course the 2M isn’t just another pretty face. It has been engineered to the highest standards and is congruent with Ortofon’s unrelenting commitment to providing the most precise and accurate reproduction possible without coloration.

Easy Mounting

Ortofon has 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.

Product Features

Moving magnet phono cartridge
Comes mounted on Ortofon's popular blue SH-4 headshell
Sturdy and rigid, with a slim and delicate form factor
Ergonomic design has a long finger lift that is easy to pick up
Easy and direct mount on S-shaped tonearms with universal mount
Correct Baerwald alignment with tonearms with universal mount
New, improved engine provides an increased output of 5.5mV
Elliptical diamond stylus and split pole pins with a copper wire

Product Specs

Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec.: 5,5 mV
Channel balance at 1 kHz: 1,5 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz: 25 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz - 15 dB
Frequency range at - 3dB: 20-25.000 Hz
Frequency response: 20-20.000 Hz + 2 / - 1 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force: 80 µm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral: 20 µm/mN
Stylus type: Nude Elliptical
Stylus tip radius: r/R 8/18 µm
Tracking force range: 1,6-2,0g (16-20 mN)
Tracking force, recommended: 1,8 g (18 mN)
Tracking angle: 20°
Internal impedance, DC resistance: 1,3 kOhm
Internal inductance: 700 mH
Recommended load resistance - 47 kOhm
Recommended load capacitance: 150-300 pF
Cartridge color, body/stylus: Black/Blue
Cartridge weight: 7,2 g
Replacement stylus unit: 2M Blue (interchangeable with 2M Red and 2M Silver)

One of the Ten "Best Cartridges 2020" – What Hi-fi? Magazine

"This is a step up from the 2M Red in the number four slot in this list, and as such it's a little more pricey... So, sound? The Blue delivers a real sense of vitality to recordings, and brings a good sense of timing to proceedings… This is a very capable little cartridge indeed."

- Joe Svetlik, What Hi-Fi?, June 17, 2020

"With the 2M Blue ...you get the audiophile treatment: a full-range, highly resolving presentation that sounds neither stiff nor unforgiving. In fact, the 2M Blue's balance, both tonally and in terms of overall resolution, may be its greatest feat. It's an easy cartridge to listen to…"

- Mark Mickelson, The Audio Beat

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