Audio T Verdict
The 2M Black is where Ortofon's familiar 2M moving magnet range gets seriously ambitious. It keeps the convenience and healthy output of an MM cartridge but adds a Nude Shibata stylus capable of retrieving considerably more information from the record groove than simpler elliptical designs.
That does mean setup deserves care. A Shibata profile is capable of excellent tracking and superb detail retrieval, but accurate alignment, tracking force and phono-stage loading matter if you want to hear what it can really do.
Get those things right and the 2M Black makes a superb upgrade for a good turntable, offering impressive resolution, strong dynamics and the convenience of a replaceable stylus without requiring a moving coil phono stage.
Ortofon 2M Black
The Ortofon 2M Black is a high-performance moving magnet cartridge designed for listeners who want to extract substantially more information from their vinyl collection while retaining the convenience and compatibility of an MM design.
At its heart is a Nude Shibata diamond stylus mounted on an aluminium cantilever, partnered by Ortofon's upgraded quad-coil generator with split pole pins and silver-plated OFC coil wire.
- High-performance moving magnet cartridge
- Nude Shibata diamond stylus
- Aluminium cantilever
- Quad-coil generator system
- Split pole pin technology
- Silver-plated OFC coil wire
- 5mV output voltage
- 26dB channel separation at 1kHz
- 80µm tracking ability at 315Hz
- 22µm/mN dynamic lateral compliance
- 1.5g recommended tracking force
- 47kOhm recommended load resistance
- 150 to 300pF recommended load capacitance
- Replaceable and upgradeable stylus
- Standard half-inch mounting
- Designed and made in Denmark
The Flagship Standard 2M Cartridge
The 2M Series has become one of Ortofon's best-known moving magnet cartridge families, ranging from accessible models such as the 2M Red and Blue through to the more sophisticated Bronze and Black designs.
The 2M Black sits at the top of the standard 2M range and introduces a Nude Shibata stylus designed to retrieve extremely fine information from the groove.
Above it sits the more specialised 2M Black LVB 250, which develops the Black concept further with a Boron cantilever and upgraded suspension system.
Nude Shibata Stylus
The defining feature of the 2M Black is its Nude Shibata stylus.
Unlike a bonded stylus, where a small diamond tip is attached to a separate metal shank, a nude stylus uses a diamond formed directly into the required profile. This reduces moving mass and allows the stylus assembly to respond more accurately to rapid groove modulations.
The Shibata profile itself is considerably more sophisticated than a conventional spherical or elliptical shape.
Greater Contact With the Groove
The Shibata diamond has a long and narrow contact profile designed to create a larger contact area with the groove walls.
That allows it to trace extremely fine groove information, including high-frequency detail that can be more difficult for simpler stylus profiles to follow accurately.
Ortofon specifies a stylus tip radius of r/R 6/50µm.
The result is a cartridge designed to retrieve subtle spatial information, instrumental textures and low-level details while tracking difficult passages with considerable precision.
Why Stylus Shape Matters
The record groove contains extremely small variations that represent the original audio signal. Different stylus profiles contact the groove walls in different ways. More advanced profiles such as Shibata are designed to trace a larger area of the groove and follow complex high-frequency information more accurately, but they also reward careful cartridge alignment.
80µm Tracking Ability
Ortofon specifies a tracking ability of 80µm at 315Hz.
Good tracking is about much more than avoiding obvious distortion. It helps the stylus maintain consistent contact with both groove walls during demanding musical passages and towards the inner grooves of a record.
The combination of the Shibata profile, compliant suspension and carefully controlled tracking force is central to the 2M Black's performance.
Aluminium Cantilever
The Nude Shibata diamond is mounted on an aluminium cantilever.
The cantilever transfers the tiny movements generated by the stylus as it traces the record groove into the cartridge's generator system.
Its stiffness, mass and mechanical behaviour therefore have a direct influence on the cartridge's ability to respond to fine musical information.
Quad-Coil Generator
The 2M Black uses a quad-coil generator incorporating Ortofon's split pole pin technology.
This moving magnet architecture produces a relatively healthy 5mV output, making the cartridge suitable for conventional moving magnet phono stages rather than requiring the additional gain normally needed by a low-output moving coil cartridge.
The generator has been designed to provide high channel separation and accurate stereo reproduction while maintaining the convenience associated with MM cartridges.
Split Pole Pin Technology
Ortofon uses its own split pole pin design within the 2M Black generator.
This technology was developed to improve the electrical behaviour of the moving magnet generator and contribute to a more controlled frequency response.
In the 2M Black, the generator is further upgraded with silver-plated OFC coil wire.
Silver-Plated OFC Coil Wire
The internal quad-coil system uses silver-plated oxygen-free copper wire.
This upgraded generator is shared with the upper models in the 2M family and distinguishes the Black and Bronze architecture from the simpler designs further down the range.
5mV Output
Ortofon specifies an output voltage of 5mV at 1kHz, 5cm/sec.
This is firmly within conventional moving magnet territory and means the 2M Black can be partnered with a wide range of integrated MM phono inputs and standalone moving magnet phono stages.
As always, the quality of the phono stage still matters. A cartridge as revealing as the 2M Black can make improvements elsewhere in the analogue chain particularly obvious.
Do I Need a Moving Coil Phono Stage?
No. The 2M Black is a moving magnet cartridge with a 5mV output and is designed for a conventional MM phono input. If your phono stage has selectable MM and MC modes, use the MM setting and follow Ortofon's recommended loading.
47kOhm Load Resistance
Ortofon specifies a recommended load resistance of 47kOhm.
This is the standard input impedance used by the overwhelming majority of moving magnet phono stages.
150 to 300pF Load Capacitance
Recommended load capacitance is 150 to 300pF.
That total can include the capacitance of the tonearm wiring, interconnect cable and phono-stage input, so customers using a phono stage with adjustable capacitance have scope to optimise the electrical loading more precisely.
Where the phono stage does not offer adjustment, most conventional MM inputs are designed around broadly appropriate loading for cartridges of this type.
1.5g Recommended Tracking Force
Ortofon recommends a tracking force of 1.5g, or 15mN.
The permitted adjustment range is:
- Minimum: 1.4g / 14mN
- Recommended: 1.5g / 15mN
- Maximum: 1.7g / 17mN
For most installations, we would begin at Ortofon's recommended 1.5g figure rather than assuming that running at the lightest possible tracking force is automatically better.
Correct Tracking Force Matters
Do not deliberately run the 2M Black below Ortofon's specified tracking-force range in an attempt to reduce record wear. A cartridge that is mistracking can place greater stress on the groove than one operating correctly at the manufacturer's recommended setting.
22µm/mN Dynamic Compliance
The 2M Black has a dynamic lateral compliance of 22µm/mN.
Compliance describes how readily the stylus suspension moves in response to groove modulation and is one of the factors that determines how well a cartridge mechanically matches a particular tonearm.
The 2M Series has been designed around the dimensions, weight and requirements of many modern turntables and tonearms.
7.2g Cartridge Weight
The standard 2M Black weighs 7.2g.
This falls comfortably within the adjustment range of many modern counterweighted tonearms, although cartridge compatibility should always be checked before purchase where the arm has unusual weight or mounting requirements.
Standard Half-Inch Mounting
The standard 2M Black uses the widely adopted half-inch cartridge mounting system.
This makes it compatible with a broad range of conventional detachable and fixed headshell tonearms, subject to cartridge height, tonearm adjustment and overall mechanical compatibility.
The body incorporates threaded mounting points, simplifying installation because separate nuts are not required above or below the headshell.
What About Rega Turntables?
Ortofon now offers the separate 2MR Series specifically for turntables and tonearms that benefit from a lower-profile cartridge body.
Ortofon specifically identifies turntables and tonearms such as Rega as examples of where the 2MR housing may be preferable.
If you are considering a 2M Black for a Rega turntable, speak to Audio T before ordering so we can check whether the standard 2M or lower-profile 2MR version is the more appropriate choice for your particular deck and arm.
Cartridge Compatibility
A cartridge should be chosen for the complete turntable rather than by price alone. Mounting type, cartridge height, cartridge mass, tonearm geometry, compliance and available phono-stage loading can all influence whether a particular cartridge is a sensible match.
Accurate Alignment Is Important
Cartridge alignment matters with every stylus profile, but it becomes particularly important with a sophisticated line-contact design such as the Nude Shibata used by the 2M Black.
The cartridge needs to be aligned correctly within the headshell so that the stylus follows the intended geometry as it travels across the record.
Tracking force, anti-skate, cartridge azimuth and tonearm height should also be checked where the turntable allows adjustment.
20-Degree Tracking Angle
Ortofon specifies a tracking angle of 20 degrees.
Correct cartridge installation helps the stylus sit within the groove at the geometry intended by the manufacturer.
26dB Channel Separation
The 2M Black has a specified channel separation of 26dB at 1kHz, with channel balance specified at 1dB.
Good separation between the left and right channels contributes to stable stereo imaging and clearer placement of instruments and voices within the soundstage.
20Hz to 20kHz Frequency Response
Ortofon specifies a frequency response across 20Hz to 20kHz of +2 / -0dB.
The emphasis with the Black is not simply extending the numerical bandwidth but tracing the information cut into the groove as accurately as possible throughout the audible range.
Replaceable Stylus
One of the practical advantages of the moving magnet 2M design is that the stylus assembly can be replaced without replacing the entire cartridge body.
The correct replacement is the Ortofon Stylus 2M Black, retaining the Nude Shibata profile and the intended performance of the original cartridge.
Ortofon states that, with proper care, up to approximately 1,000 hours of stylus life can be possible without degradation of performance.
Stylus Life Is Not a Fixed Clock
The actual service life of a stylus depends on record cleanliness, cartridge setup, tracking force and general care. If performance deteriorates, distortion increases or the stylus is suspected of damage, stop using it until its condition has been checked.
An Upgrade for 2M Bronze Owners
Ortofon officially recommends the 2M Black replacement stylus as an upgrade for the 2M Bronze cartridge body.
This gives existing Bronze owners an especially simple route into the Shibata stylus without necessarily replacing the complete cartridge.
The Black stylus is also recommended for the corresponding 2MR Bronze and premounted Bronze variants.
2M Bronze or 2M Black?
The Bronze and Black share the same broad position within the upper half of the 2M family, but their stylus profiles give them distinct approaches to extracting information from the record groove.
2M Bronze
- Moving magnet cartridge
- Nude Fine Line stylus
- Upper-tier 2M generator architecture
- Replaceable stylus
- Black stylus can be fitted as an upgrade
- Excellent choice for a serious MM system
2M Black
- Moving magnet cartridge
- Nude Shibata stylus
- Silver-plated OFC coil wire
- Wide groove-wall contact
- Exceptional detail retrieval
- Flagship standard 2M model
The Black is not simply about producing more treble or sounding more impressive. Its Shibata stylus changes how the cartridge contacts and traces the groove, making setup quality and system matching increasingly important as you move up the range.
2M Black or 2M Black LVB 250?
The 2M Black LVB 250 develops the standard Black architecture further rather than replacing it.
2M Black
- Nude Shibata stylus
- Aluminium cantilever
- 5mV output
- 22µm/mN compliance
- 1.5g recommended tracking force
- Outstanding high-end MM performance
2M Black LVB 250
- Nude Shibata stylus
- Boron cantilever
- Upgraded suspension system
- Carbon nanotube-based rubber compound
- Further refinement of Black concept
- Top 2M Series option
The standard Black remains an extremely capable cartridge in its own right, while the LVB 250 is aimed at systems capable of making the most of its more advanced cantilever and suspension technology.
Made in Denmark
Ortofon designs and manufactures its phono cartridges in Denmark, drawing on more than a century of experience in sound reproduction.
The distinctive 2M body itself was developed with Danish industrial designer Møller Jensen Design, with its angular form inspired by the facets of a diamond.
Key Features
- Ortofon 2M Black
- Moving magnet cartridge
- Standard half-inch mounting
- Nude Shibata diamond
- r/R 6/50µm stylus profile
- Aluminium cantilever
- Quad-coil generator
- Split pole pin technology
- Silver-plated OFC coil wire
- 5mV output voltage
- 1dB channel balance at 1kHz
- 26dB channel separation at 1kHz
- 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- +2 / -0dB frequency response tolerance
- 80µm tracking ability at 315Hz
- 22µm/mN dynamic lateral compliance
- 1.4 to 1.7g tracking-force range
- 1.5g recommended tracking force
- 20-degree tracking angle
- 1.2kOhm DC resistance
- 630mH internal inductance
- 47kOhm recommended load resistance
- 150 to 300pF recommended load capacitance
- Polymer and aluminium body
- Black / Black colour
- 7.2g cartridge weight
- Replaceable stylus
- 2M Bronze stylus upgrade path
- Designed and crafted in Denmark
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ortofon 2M Black still current?
Yes. The 2M Black remains a current Ortofon moving magnet cartridge within the 2M Series.
Is the 2M Black a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?
The 2M Black is a moving magnet cartridge.
What stylus does the 2M Black use?
It uses a Nude Shibata diamond stylus with an r/R 6/50µm tip radius.
What cantilever does it use?
The standard 2M Black uses an aluminium cantilever.
What is special about a Shibata stylus?
The Shibata profile provides a relatively large and narrow contact area against the groove walls, allowing it to trace fine groove information with considerable accuracy.
What is the output voltage?
5mV at 1kHz and 5cm/sec.
Do I need an MM or MC phono stage?
The 2M Black requires a moving magnet, or MM, phono input.
What input impedance should I use?
Ortofon recommends a load resistance of 47kOhm.
What capacitance does Ortofon recommend?
150 to 300pF.
What tracking force should I use?
Ortofon recommends 1.5g, or 15mN.
What is the permitted tracking-force range?
1.4 to 1.7g, or 14 to 17mN.
What is the cartridge compliance?
Dynamic lateral compliance is 22µm/mN.
How much does the 2M Black weigh?
7.2g.
What mounting system does it use?
The standard 2M Black uses half-inch mounting.
Will the 2M Black fit a Rega turntable?
Compatibility depends on the particular Rega turntable and tonearm. Ortofon offers the lower-profile 2MR Series specifically for turntables and tonearms such as Rega, so speak to Audio T before choosing between the standard 2M Black and a 2MR version.
Can I replace the stylus?
Yes. The replacement is the Ortofon Stylus 2M Black.
Can I fit a 2M Black stylus to a 2M Bronze?
Yes. Ortofon officially recommends the Stylus 2M Black as an upgrade for the 2M Bronze cartridge.
How long does the 2M Black stylus last?
Ortofon states that with proper care, up to approximately 1,000 hours may be possible without degradation of performance. Actual stylus life depends on setup, record condition and maintenance.
What is the difference between 2M Bronze and 2M Black?
One of the major differences is the stylus. The Bronze uses a Nude Fine Line profile, while the Black moves to a Nude Shibata design with a different groove-contact geometry.
What is the difference between 2M Black and Black LVB 250?
The standard Black uses an aluminium cantilever. The Black LVB 250 retains the Nude Shibata stylus but adds a Boron cantilever and upgraded suspension technology.
Where is the 2M Black made?
Ortofon designs and crafts its cartridges in Denmark.
Does cartridge alignment matter with the 2M Black?
Yes. Careful alignment is especially worthwhile with an advanced line-contact stylus such as the Shibata profile used by the 2M Black.
Related Ortofon Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy an Ortofon Cartridge From Audio T?
A cartridge can make a dramatic difference to a turntable, but choosing the right model is only half the job. Tonearm compatibility, cartridge alignment, tracking force and phono-stage matching all influence the final result, particularly with a stylus as sophisticated as the Nude Shibata fitted to the 2M Black.
- Turntable and tonearm compatibility advice
- Cartridge fitting guidance
- Cartridge alignment advice
- Tracking-force setup
- Anti-skate setup guidance
- MM phono-stage matching
- Capacitance and loading advice
- Stylus replacement advice
- 2M Series upgrade guidance
- Turntable upgrade advice
- In-store demonstrations where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss whether the Ortofon 2M Black is the right cartridge for your turntable and phono stage.