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Classic Ortofon Cartridges: The MC2000 MK II or the MC3000 MK II?

So I have owned quite a few Otofon cartridges over the years, everything from the modest OM cartridges to a couple of Cadenza up to an A90. I typically enjoy Ortofon cartridges.

Now one I have never owned is the MC2000. It seems from a bit of reading I have done that owners of the MC2000 felt it was the most accurate of the Ortofon cartridges, and that releases after it were not its equal.

However, when you look at the MC3000 it has a higher output level that would allow it to work with my Esoteric phono stage. The Esoteric is happy running an MC200 on it which has .09 mV output. but the MC2000 is .05 mV. The MC 3000 MK II is .13 mV from what I find.

Has anyone spent time listening to these classic MC 000 series of Ortofon cartridges? I know there is also a 5000 and 7500, but those seem to be pretty rare.

Regarding the MC2000, I wonder if I use a low mass headshell if I can use it on the Dynavector DV505. I don’t think the mass of the arm in the horizontal plane should affect it, and the vestigial arm can be configured to be an appropriate match for the compliance on this cartridge.

I currently have an MC200u on the arm and its very surprising regarding how good it sounds. Its actually pretty neutral, pretty expressive, but just a bit relaxed in the top end. I certainly enjoy it, but I wonder how these statement cartridges from the classic Ortofon line will sound. These would have been from their long time designer who has now retired, so its a different era of Ortofon versus what their current offerings are. Even though we should acknowledge that the current cartridges use design principals that were developed from this earlier time period and engineering team. 

Thoughts?
neonknight

Showing 8 responses by pindac

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
Recent Adverts
About $1000 will get you owning the complete Set Up
Caveat Emptor Applies to these types of sales. 

I also discovered a recent MC 2000 sale Ad' where a Beryllium Cantilever is in use.
I am using Beryllium Cantilevers on my Ortofon MC Rebuilds and am totally satisfied.
I have another Ortofon MC rebuild lined up to use the Beryllium with a Ogura Vital. 

orutohonn ortofon MC-2000 operation unused goods : Real Yahoo auction salling

Ortofon T-2000 MC step up trafo, silver wiring *reservert * | Hifisentralen
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
Apologies for going off topic and referencing Beryllium.
My advice to express Caveat Emptor for such types of sale adverts seems an appropriate guidance.
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
I once and once only put out a Search for a Cartridge in Europe and was for multiple Months approached by scammers, sending ID Images and demanding a Payment.
For fun, I inquired if a deal could be done on the Tonearm in the image, amazingly it was on offer as well.
When I informed the administration of the Portal, they were extremely helpful and suggested I use another Site if I am not satisfied.

I have not suffered anything like this when importing from Japan.
Lots of Images, and if not trialled or not wanted to be in a dispute, the Item will be declared as Junk.
From my experience, a Purchaser will be quite clear about the Vendors offer and a informed decision can be made.

Again Caveat Emptor 
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
If a Cantilever has been treated in a manner where it has damaged the Bobbin, with the earlier designs of Ortofon Cartridges, there is going to be a long search to get the support to repair the damage.
Even Ortofon will not guarantee the original parts are used, an updated compatible part might be substituted, and might not be to the Spec of the original design.

A Cartridge purchased with a Damaged Stylus will be a Wild Punt, as the Internal Damages will be a unknown.
A Inspection from a Third Party Rebuild Service might result in a rejection of the build as the Donor Cartridge is not suitable.

Many of Ortofons Internal Assemblies are in house designs, that are unique to their Brand and not items selected from a supply chain, as some other recommended Cartridges.
Ortofon does not share these assemblies freely.  

Again Caveat Emptor is the best guideline for such a purchase 
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
VAS NY Inc now has a Video of a Needle Drop of a MC 7500.
Always contentious listening in this manner, but a rough outline of an  idea can be gathered for the performance, especially when compared to a few other Videos of Needle Drops on other MC Models.

Only hearing any Cartridge 'in the flesh' will be the best practice for a demonstration.
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
In a conversation with a Cartridge Rebuild Service, it was intimated that the Bulk of the Body albeit it Stream Lined/Reduced or Voluminous and with Bulk will effect the presentation of the Cartridge.
Also the Cantilever Length was made known to have an impact on the presentation.
These are the wonderful experiments only a few get to compare, and the choices of ownership are a result of the choices of the Design Teams.

Following the Wonderful Work of a Design Team, mere mortals as myself have the pleasure of interfering with the the VTA , Azimuth and Stylus Rake.
That not half as much fun, I like to discuss with a Builder there thoughts on methods to use on a Cartridge and make a 'Road Not Too Travelled' decision.

I am at present enforced to look for a Service to work on my Cadenza Black.     
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
In terms of advanced technology, the Jubilee was the next generation.
New Body Shape, WRD was possibly with changed materials to suit the new cantilever,  Silver Wire on the Coils, Boron Cantilever with Shibata Stylus.
The Kontrapunkt Range was most likely produced using loaned technologies from this design, but veered in the design with the use of the Cantilever and Stylus assemblies.
This range never received the WRD Technology, but was produced with the early versions of the FSE Technology. 
Literature uses references to the Jubilee as comparisons in the delivery.

The Ortofon Vienna was an added design to fit in with a certain market demand, it also has the Jubilee Technology on board with a changed WRD to produce more Bass and the FSE was incorporated.
It was almost the base model for the Windfeld to be built from.  

The Windfeld was the next generation in advancement to the Jubilee and Kontrapunkt Range.
The Cadenza Range was produced loaning the updates in Technologies used on the Windfeld. 

The Ortofon 0000's Range used early WRD Technology, Copper Wire for the Coils, Aluminium Cantilevers and Replicant and FG Stylus.
There was a noticeable mass to the bodies.
I would feel there would be a noticeable richness to the presentation of this type of design.    
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 
When reading the latest reveals by Ortofon on their Cadenza Range of
MC's they are more interested in informing on the advancements in selected for Materials use in the assembly within the Housing .

They do not focus in on any special properties about the Cantilevers in use, but do reference the Aluminium Cantilevers in use.
The Bronze Model is identified as having a Conical Aluminium where as the others in the range are Aluminium.
Again the conical shape could be used, as it has proved to impact on the Sound Produced and separates the Bronze allowing it to be noticeably different to the Siblings.
It might just be a better material to mount the Replicant Stylus onto.

I am not sure how many of the contributors to this thread will be in a position to debate the metallurgy of the Ortofon Cadenza Range of cantilevers 35 Years on from now .      
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