Ortofon 2M Bronze 2M Black - Measured Performance

At 1.7gms the Ortofon Bronze just cleared 300Hz lateral tracking test tracks, except the highest where it was marginal. At 1kHz it stayed in the groove at an extremely high 25cms/sec, although there were signs of mistracking on this cut. So its tracking is good and should sound assured in use. The Black was slightly better, but by little. Output of both is unusually high at around 8mV at 5cms/sec rms.

Distortion levels were low, largely because the vertical tracking angle is set at exactly 22degrees (Black), so expect a basically clean, uncluttered sound. It rides low on a disc as a result, however.

Ortofon 2M cartridges, like most modern designs, don’t have an upper midband roll off caused by rising generator impedance. Where the 2Ms differ markedly is in a broadband trend upward toward high frequencies that will give a brightish perceived tonal balance, but one that is also insightful. On outer grooves there is a small treble lift of around +1dB at high frequencies, which tracing losses on inner grooves convert to slight loss, our frequency response analysis show. The Shibata stylus shape of the Black suffers less from inner groove tracing loss (white traces on graphs). So the Bronze and Black offer an accurate sound from outer to inner groove. Both peak up and become brighter with extra capacitive loading, by the way.

The 2Ms are an example of precise cartridge engineering from Ortofon. They measure well in all areas. NK

FREQUENCY RESPONSE - 2M BRONZE

Red - Outer grooves  White - Inner grooves

BRONZE

Tracking force 1.5gms

Weight 7gms

Vertical tracking angle 23degrees

Frequency response 20Hz - 20kHz

Channel separation 29dB

Tracking ability (300Hz)

lateral 88µm

vertical 45µm

lateral (1kHz) 22cms/sec.

Distortion (45µm)

lateral 1.2%

vertical 2.1%

Output (5cms/sec rms) 7.9mV

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

2M BLACK

 Red - Outer grooves  White - Inner grooves

BLACK

Tracking force 1.5gms

Weight 7gms

Vertical tracking angle 22degrees

Frequency response 20Hz - 20kHz

Channel separation 30dB

Tracking ability (300Hz)

lateral 90µm

vertical 45µm

lateral (1kHz) 23cms/sec.

Distortion (45µm)

lateral 1.2%

vertical 1.7%

Output (5cms/sec rms) 8.6mV