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Post by mshump on May 13, 2016 22:09:55 GMT -5
Last night I posted a new purchase of the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. Novisnick asked for a review so here it goes and if you don't like my review feel free to blame Nick !!
I and my wife installed a new Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge on my turntable. Let me back up a few steps before the skinny on this cartridge. I started with an old Technics turntable about 4 years ago(again after approx 20 yrs). I had a Grado red p mount cart on it and really enjoyed the sound, but isolation was terrible, I tried many ways to isolate the turntable but never had good luck. I finally gave up and upgradeitis hit and bought a new Pro-ject Debut III knowing it had a much better/heavier plinth and ordered a Grado red for it at the same time. I used the Ortofon OM-5E that came with it for a week or two and then got the red installed. Grado does not isolate the body like other cartridge makers and with Pro-ject the are susceptible to hum. I was able to keep the hum down at low volumes but if I wanted to crank up the volume a bit, the hum was there and eventually became a complete nuisance. I then got a sure M9XE cartridge and the hum was gone but the old vinyl ( slightly muffled sound ) was there. I lived with the cart for about a year and a half. I finally ordered the Ortofon 2M Blue and installed it tonight with my wife's help (she's a trooper) So here a few thoughts so far.
Installation: The Ortofon was much easier to install. The Sure had the bolts and nuts so it was tough getting the coordination going for installation. The Ortofon has 2 bolts and threads in the top of the shell so no overhang checking either. Alignments were a breeze.
Sound: I've only played one album so far " Who are You" The Who. The dynamics are much more detailed and bright as compared to the Sure slightly muffled sound. The separation and soundstage are just a hair better than the Sure. So far the 2M Blue is a keeper. Now the big question is, is the 2M Bronze worth 200 more?? Upgraditis again ??
Mark
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Post by brubacca on May 14, 2016 6:45:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the review. I have not loved my 2M Blue until really yesterday. With my TT issues after I purchased the cart it has taken about a year to break in.
I am sitting here and I just did a comparison with Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams. I would say that my vinyl rig including 2M Blue is every bit enjoyable as my Schiit Gungnir Multibit on my system.
I have my blue on a VPI Traveler going through a Lounge Audio LCR.
Can you tell me about your Cambridge Audio CXN?
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Post by mshump on May 14, 2016 9:15:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the review. I have not loved my 2M Blue until really yesterday. With my TT issues after I purchased the cart it has taken about a year to break in. I am sitting here and I just did a comparison with Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams. I would say that my vinyl rig including 2M Blue is every bit enjoyable as my Schiit Gungnir Multibit on my system. I have my blue on a VPI Traveler going through a Lounge Audio LCR. Can you tell me about your Cambridge Audio CXN? I was very hesitant about the Cambridge due to it up-samples everything to 24/384 which ended up being a non-issue. I've got one of the older Cmbridge DAC magics and really liked it's sound so I thought I would give it a try. The sound is a nice warm sound but not quite as warm as the Marantz I owned before this one though. It is also a DAC so I use it for my cd player also. It had no problems it finding my library in my office. I haven't really explored all it's capabilities yet. My Son used one of the music apps off his phone for it and other than the music sucked, the quality was very god. The price I think is a little steep but what isn't anymore. I picked it up during a Cambridge sale a couple months ago from Music Direct. I have put the APP on my tablet and have used it a little and it works really good. All in all with the warmness and some of that British sound, I think its a very nice streamer and am very happy with it. My only real complaint is the remote, it is a bit of a universal remote for all the Cambridge streamers so some area don't work with it, but that's more of a matter of just plain using it and getting used to the remote set-up. Mark |
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Post by autiger on May 14, 2016 10:32:54 GMT -5
Mark I Eliminated all my isolation problems (old house, hard wood floors, crawl space) got scrap plexi-glass sheet 3/4 inch from glass dealer and put sorbothane 1/2 spheres under it then placed tt on top. now you can jump up and down right next to it with no consequences.  |
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Post by Raven on May 14, 2016 14:41:13 GMT -5
Nice review mshump
My previews Sansui SR222 was susceptible to hiss
most likely because tonearm's wires wear out in bending point
Luckily I have no such issues with Traveler
BTW my 2m Blue's sound has improved after few days of installation
I've notice it first time after installation on Sansui and the same has happened after setting up my current VPI tt
it looks like a self alignment of cantilever's suspension...
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