Here’s some news that should make vinyl fans happy. Leading phono cartridge manufacturer Ortofon has released a new range for low-profile turntables, including models from Rega. These new hi-fi cartridges have the same characteristics as the legendary Ortofon 2M series in a more compact format.
Nine years after the release of the Ortofon 2M range, which includes the best-selling Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, the Danish manufacturer has unveiled new models inspired by the latter. While the new Ortofon 2MR series has the same characteristics, the more compact format make these cartridges suitable for upgrading low-profile turntables such as the Rega Planar 1, Rega Planar 2 and Argon Audio TT, for example.
A more compact design
With this new range, Ortofon has developed hi-fi cartridges that are compatible with low-profile turntables. The seven new cartridges in the Ortofon 2MR series are 14mm high, compared to 18mm for the previous Ortofon 2M cartridges. As a result, the Ortofon 2MR models are perfectly suited to turntables without height-adjustable tonearms. These new phono cartridges are therefore compatible with a vast selection of turntables that do not feature vertical tracking angle (VTA) adjustment, such as most Rega models.
Ortofon, 8 decades of expertise
Thanks to expertise established since the early ’50s, Ortofon is capitalizing on the winning recipe of its legendary Ortofon 2M cartridge range. All the models in the Ortofon 2MR series have the same characteristics as their counterparts. Each new cartridge is compatible with the Ortofon 2M replacement diamond.
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The seven moving magnet (MM) models ensure excellent performance, both in terms of response curve and musicality. The Scandinavian manufacturer has renewed its proprietary split pole pin technology. This technical choice, which reduces eddy currents, offers the advantage of a flat frequency response curve and sensitivity ranging from 4mV to 5.5mV, depending on the model. As a result, these cartridges are easy to pair with a phono preamp.
Ortofon 2MR cartridge characteristics
| Ortofon Red / Blue / Bronze cartridges | |||
| Model | 2MR Red | 2MR Blue | 2MR Bronze |
| Stylus | Elliptical | Nude Elliptical | Nude Fine Line |
| Cantilever | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Sensitivity | 5.5mV | 5.5mV | 5mV |
| Compliance, dynamic, lateral | 18 µm/mN | 18 µm/mN | 20 µm/mN |
| Weight | 6g | 6g | 6g |
| Price | €99 | €199 | €389 |
| Ortofon Black cartridges | ||
| Model | 2MR Black | 2MR Black LVB 250 |
| Stylus | Nude Shibata | Nude Shibata |
| Cantilever | Aluminum | Boron |
| Sensitivity | 5mV | 5mV |
| Compliance, dynamic, lateral | 20 µm/mN | 22 µm/mN |
| Weight | 6g | 6g |
| Price | €589 | €989 |
| Ortofon 78 / Mono cartridges | ||
| Model | 2MR 78 | 2MR Mono |
| Stylus | Spherical | Nude Spherical |
| Cantilever | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Sensitivity | 4mV | 4mV |
| Compliance, dynamic, lateral | 22 µm/mN | 22 µm/mN |
| Weight | 6g | 6g |
| Price | €149 | €389 |
With this new range, Ortofon adds to its catalog and enters the low-profile turntable market. Music lovers whose turntables have no tonearm height adjustment can now upgrade to an Ortofon 2MR cartridge.
