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

Again, if you use MC 2000 at 2.2 grams or more, you’ll probably destroy the suspension. The recommended tracking force for MC 2000 is 1.5 grams.

Dear @lewm  : You must follow the cartridge manufacturer advise on VTF and any opther set up parameter.

The higher VTF range in Ortofon cartridges vs other cartridge models is nothing to worried about because Ortofon knows what it does and everything is prefectly calculated for.

2.2grs. is out of question for the MC 2000. @edgewear is rigth on that.

R.

Raul and Edgeware you are correct and I was wrong in stating that 2.2g to 2.7g was the range of VTF for the MC2000. I was reading a table for the MC2000mkII when I got the info believing it to be for the MC2000. It seemed incorrect to me too, and I just double checked my source and found my error, only to get on line here and find that you’d already corrected me. Thanks for that. I’ve been tracking the MC2000 at 1.6g anyway. The MC2000 is also much higher in compliance than the MC7500, which also jibes with my memory. Whereas the MC2000mkII is about the same as the MC7500 in compliance.

Dear @lewm ​@edgewear  : The grs. range in the LOMC VTF set up has a main function and is to mantain centered the coils. I normally run my cartridges at the middle of that range that in theory is de ideal VTF by the manufacturer.

R.

No argument here.

Thought I would add to this post. Still have the MC3000 MK II here, and use it on a Dynavector DV505 tone arm and Scheu Das Laufwerk No2 table. I also have acquired a MC2000 with T2000 transformer. Expert Stylus refurbished the cartridge and fitted it with their diamond. Still retains stock cantilever, and it is as close as you are going to get to a factory MC2000 at this day and age. It is mounted on a second DV505 arm on the same Scheu table and has a light Supex headshell.

First of all I absolutely love the MC2000, it is as fine a cartridge as I have heard. I might even like it more than my Transfiguration Proteus, even though they are close in overall performance. I use the MC3000 MK II as a casual cartridge, and am going to send it to Expert when this stylus is no longer viable. I have my reservations about who retipped this, and while it performs fine I would be happier if Mr Hodgson worked on it and gave it a bill of health. This cartridge is not as detailed, a bit more relaxed sounding, but has nice tonal balance. Not as dynamically insightful but still very good. An enjoyable cartridge that meets my needs.

I did complete a purchase of a MC5000 that is a Treasure Trove rebuild. Coming from a UK dealer that bought it for personal use and logged less than 100 hours. I am looking forward to it as the gemstone cantilever might provide a bit more sparkle than the MC3000 MK II, and therefore be an excellent alternative once the other cartridge is out of hours. The price was reasonable, so I thought it was worth the effort.

I seem to have a liking for these MC0000 series of cartridges. The MC2000 is one of my favorite. Perhaps a MC7500 can be found, but the current version on Ebay is quite expensive with unknown hours. Too rich for me to gamble on. But perhaps one day I will find one. But until then I can be very content with the MC2000. It is a remarkable piece of engineering.

I own both an MC2000 and an MC7500, both low hours and with OEM cantilever and stylus. MC7500 is possibly the most neutral cartridge I have ever heard, but I prefer the MC2000.

@lewm Well perhaps the Gods of Analog will bless me with their favor and a MC7500 in good condition will become available. I certainly will buy one. On Ebay the Japanese one is about $2300 or $2500 and hours are unknown. So I would plan for a trip to Expert Stylus right away, and by the time taxes are levied I am sure it would be a $3K purchase. With Japan being such a humid climate, I have seen lots of cartridges show pitting and other oxidation that is irreversible, so I tend to shy from buying expensive cartridges from there. I would much prefer the MC7500 to come from Europe. Maybe one day I will get lucky. 

Where do you see lots of cartridges with pitting and oxidation in Japan? Have you been there, and have you toured the various audio stores where used gear is sold? I’m just wondering. In my experience really good quality used audio equipment has generally been very well cared for by Japanese owners. Much of the stuff looks like new. I have seen some equipment on HIFIDO that does look the worse for wear, but my personal experience touring in Tokyo is quite the opposite. Anyway, buying any used cartridge is a crapshoot for sure. You’d like to know who owned it and what kind of person he or she was. Also, although the big cities like Tokyo do get very humid in summer, air conditioning is common everywhere you go. So I don’t know why one would expect cartridges to be rusting out, any more then you’d expect in Miami for example.

Dear @neonknight  : I 'm surprised that you like it the 5000 that's of all ooo series is the worst one but your system and priorities are diferent from mine and could be that you want to have all those Ortofon series.

The 7500 is better but not exiting/emotional.

R.

@lewm As an example. This MC2000 looks fine till you get to the last image. The close up shows pitting. I have been to Japan twice and the shops are nice, but I am not flying over to make the purchase of a cartridge. I am kind of dependent on the online international selling sites. I also try to avoid gear from costal sites, as you can often aww signs of oxidation. 

@rauliruegas  I have not listened to it yet, it is bought and being shipped from the UK. I like the MC3000 MK II, and my understanding is this is the same cartridge with gemstone cantilever. Past experiences have shown I like ruby and sapphire cantilevered cartridges as a whole, so there is a good chance I like this one, especially for a casual use cartridge. I do not expect it to surpass my better cartridges, but for $900 I should get a lot of hours of enjoyment out of it. 

Are you referring to photo #8? On my iPhone that could be grain due to low pixel count and hence poor resolution or it could be shmutz that typically accumulates on the underside of a cartridge that’s been in use.

I have my doubts it’s either of that. The marks on the silver portion of the body could be dust. But what is on the panel behind the cantilever looks too close to corrosion for me to chance the purchase.

This is the image of the MC5000 I am buying. This can be seen as dust on the cartridge body and the metal plate for the stylus, which looks significantly different than what is on the MC2000

You’ve made your decision, and we have no real data on that MC2000, dirt vs corrosion, so any further debate is moot. Enjoy your MC5000, and let us know how it compares to the other Ortofons in the same series that you already own.

Have just checked this thread after some time (years probably) and surprisingly found it still alive. Interesting, it is mostly about 2000 (and 3000mk2, 5-7500) and so less on just 3000, is it because it is rare (I've been told once that it was made in just about 200 pcs?), or for what reason, I do not know.

Well, I have one for about 10 years, purchased from a friend of mine NOS/NIB, with all the original packaging (wooden 'trunk'' with straw, Ortofon crowbar :), Replicant display case, etc). Cannot compare to other x000 carts because have had no one to, but it is definitely the best MC I have ever heard, and I heard quite some vintage and new Denons (103, 300, 301), Ortofons )Kontrapunk, Cadenza.mc30, sl20), AT's (interesting btw, between ART, 09, I like 07 the most), and also some other not in my system. (Dynavectors, zyx, etc).

What I can say, well I totally agree with that old Stereophile review, especially on bass performance, a truly terrific power and control in that scope, but also very detailed mid range and a smooth highs (maybe someone would describe as somehow rolled off, I don't know, 10 years ago my ears were younger, so it was not really the issue). In brief, very, very relaxed sound with a large, meaty stage, absolutely free of any kind of constraint, fatigue or similar nervousness. Of course, a very good phono pre is desirable (luckily I have a very good solid state dual mono with about 70db gain set at 60 Ohm load, but I have a feeling that even less gain would be just fine).

Recently, in the past couple of years, I moved my attention to the very fine MM carts (i.e. Denon dl109d, Elac hsp796, at15xe, AT20ss, ADC25, Technics EPC205clii, EPC22, B&O mmc2 to name just some of them), and btw following some recommendations found here on AG (thanks!), so this old masterpiece is just exhibiting in its acrylic display aside of one of my TT's.

Cart was lightly used thru years, but unfortunately last time I have given it a listen, I  miscarried the tonearm and missed the record brink (so realized :D that time has come to switch to a full auto TT's). The cantilever (of some carbon fiber+ ? mixture) is now just slightly indented on its inner side, but as I can tell, it has absolutely no impact on sound, tracking, plays exactly the same as before.

Well, since I am (sadly) a perfectionist, I would eventually pass it over to somebody not so meticulous like me :) to enjoy it to its last days. Not really an advertisement or a mandatory sale (no idea on market value), maybe also some exchange possible...whatever.

And yes, it's in Europe, so no Japan humidity :) issue.

This thread was initiated about a year ago, and so it is not an old thread by audiogon standards. You can easily find threads that are 20 years old here. Anyway, to be clear, which cartridge do you have? It sounds like you have an MC 3000. Is that correct?

I am interested to hear from the person who started this thread a year ago. He was about to take possession of an MC 5000. I would like to know how it compares to his other Ortofon MCX000 cartridges.