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Ortofon 2M Black?

Alright guys... I realized just how long it had been since I updated or even logged into my profile... So my little 2 channel system has evolved...

My table is still a Technics SL-1200MKII... BUT... It has:
TimeStep EVO Power Supply
TimeStep EVO Bearing
Oyaide Platter Mat
Same weight
KAB Fluid Damper
Cardas arm rewire

My phono preamp is still fairly elementary but solid:
Schiit Mani

My Speakers are:
Koss CM1030's
Recapped and replaced all crossover components with top shelf items
Replaced Tweeters with new ones (knockoff's of the orginals)

My Amp:
Well a work in progress for now I am back to the Onkyo TX-8522 receiver
I have an older onkyo setup with a Grand Integra M508... But it is in the shop (AND WILL BE RETURNING SHORTLY)

So the question of it all:
I have been cartridge hunting and trading... I still have my shure m97xe with the JICO SAS... However, that stylus's suspension gave up the ghost and I am replacing it with a simple LP Gear Line Contact one because I seriously don't care for the sound of the cart... My wife's favorite to date is my older than dirt Grado Blue... For that reason I was looking at either the SoundSmith Otello or Carmen... However, after some facebook and research; I had several tell me to quit messing with idea of a ruby retip dynavector 10x5 or anything similar and just go Ortofon 2M Black and be happy... So that is what I am about to pull the trigger on... LP Gear has a really good deal on them... Having owning the SAS; I am REALLY familiar with setting correct VTA, Azimuth (it is manual and a bit of a pain on my table--but is easily measured with my Fozgometer), and of course the all important alignment... I really don't mind the exotic shapes and most of my albums are pristine and the few that aren't... Well then I still have the Grado... Well unless the cuts I am interested in are on the inner grooves... But don't get me started on that one.

Long story short; Do you guys think I am making a mistake with the Ortofon 2M Black, or is it a good idea?
bc5k
bc5k OP
29 posts
 
Well about 15 hours in I will say it sounds ANYTHING but thin!  I aligned it with an arc protractor specifically for my table from vinylengine...  I find that this particular alignment to be more pleasing than any other protractor I have used.  Of course I set my VTA easily with my Technics SL-1200... Got a Zupreme headshell and used my fozgometer and test record to set proper azimuth.  I will say that it sounds better than any other cart I have heard to date and the wife is HAPPY!!!  She loves it!!!

Also, in the meantime I bought a Line Contact stylus for my Shure M97xe with the broken JICO SAS... HOLY CRAP!!!  This LC stylus sounds 1000x better than the JICO!  NO JOKE!!!  It is on my office table (Fisher MT-6330) and I listen to it all day... Total different tonal quality; full spacious, and no longer nasal...  WOW!!!
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
Soundsmith and Grado cartridges are WORLDS apart from each other regarding the way they sound....not to say one is better than the other...just WAY different.
bc5k OP
29 posts
 
So I didn't go with the Soundsmith... I did go with the 2M black... I really wish I could have heard them side by side... However, with the deal I got on the 2M Black; that would have put me in the budget range of the Otello.  I really wanted to go Soundsmith and it was looking favorably when the 2M Black was at the price point of the Carmen because that is the one I wanted...  (ok I wanted something with the ruby cantilever LC stylus... but oh well... I would have settled for the Carmen), but when the shipped price of the 2M Black was magically under 600.00; I just ordered it... No regrets.
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