Ortofon 2MRED 2M Red Moving Magnet Cartridge

Very clear, on its 3rd record, lacks warmth, will see if that comes later, lots of high and mids, great seperation. A decent amp will pump up the bass. The little screwdriver provided won't fit in the screws. I'm looking for trouble free playing, will update. Its replacing a nagaoka 110. Which replaced a Shure nx97 both of which sounded amazing but are very fragile and temperamental.Nearly 3 months later, it has warmed somewhat, still good and I'm happy, but played beside the Nagaoka it is not as clear, the mids are still very prominent.

Just brilliant for the price this is a huge upgrade from the Audio Technica that came with the turntable. The sound is clear bright and really detailed. A little louder to since the output is a little higher and really does pick up those background sounds you don't hear so much. This can be a problem as pops and crackles can be up front but keep your records clean and no problem. Just but it.

I was looking for a replacement for an Audio Technica AT440ML, which was regarded as something of a reference at its price point when I bought it about 10 years ago. It has been superseded by another AT model, which was available on Amazon for £140-150. I saw a number of Amazon reviews on the Ortofon 2M Red, comparing it favourably with this AT model and costing about £50 less. I bought it and am extremely happy with it. It sounds great. Some of my LPs were beginning to sound a bit "ragged" at the top end with the old AT cartridge, but the Ortofon has cleaned everything up. It also presents the musicians and instruments in a different way and it's a great pleasure rediscovering these records. System comprises Rega Planar 2 turntable , SME arm and headshell, Quad 44 pre amp, Quad 707 power amp, Celestion Ditton 66 series 2 loudspeakers.

I have been using Ortofon DJ Cartridges since I can remember. I wasn't expecting such a drastic change and level of detail when I purchased the 2M Red. I am rediscovering my music and falling in love (again) with the warm sound of the vinyl.The sound if symbals is crisp but controlled. Voices are distinct, clear, the upstage is wide, open and airy. Lovers of strong basses might be disappointed but for me, it's more about quality than quantity. And this little cartridge has plenty to offer.

After not replacing my cartridge for many years due to the drop in frequency of playing vinyl, the purchase of 4 new LPs encouraged me to invest. Having used a variety of cartridges in the past, I decided to keep with a manufacturer I knew, and after some investigation decided to invest in the Ortofon, and am I glad that I did.I use a Rega 3 turntable which is a bit fiddly to fix a cartridge, but having set it up correctly (using an alignment protractor) and setting the tracking weight to the maximum recommended I gave it a whirl, and the difference compared to the sound before was remarkable. After a few hours use, I reckon the sound improved more as it became "worn in".For a budget cartridge, I consider this Ortofon excellent and recommend it, but remember as it's an elliptical stylus, correct setting up is essential.

Bought this as a replacement for my Linn Adikt on my Linn Turntable (not being able to hunt down a like for like replacement in my budget), so it had big shoes to fill. I have to say I am very impressed, it sounds absolutely fantastic. At this price you really can't go wrong. Should add that it came with all the correct screws, for both top and bottom mounted tonearms, and even a matching screwdriver as well as a detailed manual and stylus cleaning brush.

It was a treat to listen to good quality sound again (my previous cartridge was damaged several years ago). I have only used it a couple of times but so far the sound seems even and well balanced. I didn't want any emphasis on low frequency, nor at the top end either. Just natural sound. That is what this one provides. Very happy with it.

The price is about the same as most other vendors but the free next day delivery is what swung it for me. It was a good upgrade for me.