Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Ortofon 2M Blue Phono Cartridge by Marc Bratton

Model:	2M Blue
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$199.00
Description:	Moving magnet cartridge with replaceable nude elliptical stylus
Manufacturer URL:	Ortofon
Model Picture:	View

Review by Marc Bratton on October 05, 2009 at 14:14:30
IP Address: 65.19.15.146 Add Your Review
for the 2M Blue

Anyone who knows me, knows I like the Shure V15VxMR. I have written a positive review about it in these pages, and it has been my go-to cartridge for the last 6 years, a longer span of time than any other cartridge. So, it is definitely a cart you can live with, long term. But recently, I found myself noticing the 'involvement factor' just wasn't there as much as previously, even after putting my (last) NOS replacement stylus in it. My brain needed a change.
I decided it was time to find out what else was out there. Several inmates have posted very positive comments about the new Ortofon 2M line of moving magnets, so I selected the Blue as a logical choice, since it seemed to be where the biggest bang for the buck was.
I'm going to cut to the chase, since you can read a few professional reviews of this cartridge if you go to the NeedleDoctor's website. No need to reinvent the wheel. Cutting to the chase, this is a very smooth and listenable cartridge, with an across the board coherency that is very pleasing. Its output is considerably higher than the Shure's, so you have to adjust the volume accordingly. Once you do, their sound is more alike than different. If you like the Shure, you'll probably love the Blue, because these are the things the Blue does a bit better than the Shure:1.)More, and deeper bass, of a very tuneful and informative nature. The Shure's no slouch in my UP4 arm in this regard; indeed, it beat out the ClearAudio Virtuoso in that regard. But the 2M is clearly a bit better. 2.)Midband-very similar, except the Blue is definitely a bit more vivid in its tonal palette. I used to call the Shure very 'neutral'; now in comparison, it seems to add a slight greyish veil to the instrument timbres, compared to the Blue. This more vivid and lifelike tonal rendition of the Blue definitely increased its involvement factor. 3.)Treble:Not much to comment on here. They were both very similar, with the Blue being a bit more extended and clean than the Shure, not that it made the Shure like chopped liver in this regard. Both had excellent sibilant control. While we're on the subject, both displayed excellent trackability; I never heard any evidence of mistracking with the Blue, with any real world LP. It was as quiet with its dealing with surface noise as the Shure, which surprised me somewhat. It's really in the area of the treble that you can tell these are not fine LOMC cartridges. Massed strings are there, and sound OK..not bright, steely or grainy. Just not the silky detailed rendition of a better MC. Kind of like the difference between a good SS amp and a really good tube amp, in that regard.
4.)Speed, transient response, inner detailing, definitely across the board a little bit better with the Blue than the Shure. I heard details of the venue the string quartets were playing in more easily with the Blue than with the Shure. Sometimes I'd get one of those "Whoa, I've never heard THAT before, buried in the mix!" moments, which are always nice. I don't know, but I suspect it's because Ortofon designed a totally new engine for these carts, they're not relying on anything done before. I'm betting the engine in the Shures are more than a bit long in the tooth. The sound is just more clean and extended, without ever degenerating into analytic or bright, in any way.
In summary, the Blue is clearly a more communicative cart than the Shure in my system, pretty consistently. Not bad for a cart that only retails for $199, and costs $165 to replace the stylus. Not that the V15VxMR has anything to be ashamed of. Put the new JICO replacement stylus in, or have SoundSmith do one of their $250 rebuilds with the ruby cantilever and fine line contact stylus, the results will probably be superior to the stock V15VxMR. I hope somebody reports in detail on these options, as I'd like to know. But if you want a modern sounding MM cart that is easy on your LP's and your wallet, it's hard to see how you can do better for $199.

Product Weakness:	Still shares the limitations of MM cartridges.
Product Strengths:	Smooth, coherent sound that serves the music well.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Odyssey Stratos monoblocs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Quicksilver full function preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Teres 200, Moerch UP4, Ortofon 2M Blue
Speakers: Magnepan 12QR's
Cables/Interconnects: Cardas Quadlink, DH Labs BL-1
Music Used (Genre/Selections): orchestral, chamber music, rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: room not the best
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month. It's broken in, don't think its sound is going to change any more.
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Brickwall PWR20AUD
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Odyssey Stratos monoblocs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Quicksilver full function preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Teres 200, Moerch UP4, Ortofon 2M Blue
Speakers:	Magnepan 12QR's
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Quadlink, DH Labs BL-1
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	orchestral, chamber music, rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	room not the best
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month. It's broken in, don't think its sound is going to change any more.
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Brickwall PWR20AUD
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner