Both the 2M Red and 2M Blue have diamonds which are polished to the highest standards of the industry. 2M Red has a tipped elliptical diamond, and the 2M Blue has a nude elliptical diamond. The design has been optimised for easy mounting on to a tonearm; the weight and size of all 2M models is well-suited to fit the most common turntables on today's market. The 2M Red and 2M Blue also have interchangeable stylus units, and replacement styli are readily available in the UK. High-performance motor system incorporating unique to Ortofon quad coils with split pole pins, delivering a clean detailed and true-to-life sound.

The 2M Series is developed in conjunction with the Danish Industrial designer Møller Jensen Design – the same designer who designed the award winning MC Jubilee and Kontrapunkt series. Inspired by the facets of a diamond, whose contours gracefully trace the grooves on a record’s surface, the 2M’s handsome elegance establishes a great combination of form and functionality. Note that the above assumes a phono-cable capacitance in the range 150-200pF, but for a specific turntable it may be lower or higher. Comparison Bronze adds even more details and resolution but in a very evenhanded way that pays respect to all elements

2M Red Sound

I think you should consider the Ortofon 2M Red if you’re looking for a way to jump into the high fidelity end of the pool without fear that things will get too “techy,” overly complicated, or expensive. I think the 2M Red provides a great balance of high quality and performance with excellent value. Ortofon 2M Red Premounted on Headshell? You may be wondering how you can set up your 2M Red, and specifically, if it comes premounted to your headshell. The one negative thing I’d say about the 2M Blue is that it truly accentuates the treble in your music. And if you’re listening to a female singer that can hit a high octave, for example, there’s a possibility that you’ll feel the sound is a bit too bright or fatiguing to your ears. Comparing with the well-known Audio Technica AT95E, the 2M Red has a much bigger and punchier sound, but doesn’t have the inoffensive charm of the AT95E. The AT-VM95E (replacement for the AT95E) provides stiffer competition and may possess a more agreeable (warmer) sound balance for some listeners, but doesn’t have the sparkle, air and detail of the 2M Red. Having said that, the AT-VM95E is less than half the price of the 2M Red, which price-wise is in the same stable as the AT-VM95EN with nude elliptical stylus. I haven’t heard the latter, so cannot comment on how it compares with the 2M Red. nude elliptical stylus diamond. The stylus tip is a whole diamond, specially shaped and glued or fastened to the

The 2M Red and 2M Blue both use the same engine with split pole pins. With this improved engine Ortofon have been able to increase the output to an impressive 5.5 mV. Well, this of course varies. If you’re upgrading from using a portable record player (whether it’s a Crosley vs Victrola is immaterial) or something like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, you’ll notice an upgrade in sound immediately and you won’t need any break in time to hear the difference in sound quality. While the Sabre's price puts it deep into traditional moving coil territory, this is one premium moving magnet we can really get behind.Well, before I give you my opinion on that, let me first cover what upgrades are made to the 2M Blue that Ortofon feels justifies the fairly dramatic jump in price. Comparing with other Ortofons, the 2M Red is a typical Ortofon in its tight, agile, dynamic presentation, but is brighter than some of the vintage models, such as the F15E MkII. The OM10 would be its equivalent in the OM range, but the 2M Red’s delivery is bigger and livelier. The Super OM10 goes some way to rival its detail and dynamics, and perhaps also offers a more accessible sound for many listeners, with deeper bass and a slightly more refined top-end. Midrange: The mid-band is also open and clear. The midrange is obviously influenced by the treble, giving texture to vocals, but doesn’t quite have the wonderful quality of the 2M Blue. The handling of sibilance on vocals is above average, in my experience.

I always felt that the 2M Red, when it comes to treble in comparison to the 2M Blue, was a bit more rounded around the edges (i.e, wasn’t quite as “harsh”). However, for those that do need to install the 2M Red, I wanted to let you know the three possible applications you may have to deal with: I believe that the bass that the Ortofon 2M Red gives is one of the reasons that a lot of people would pass it up. It isn’t so deep- if you get what I mean. However, for those who are more about the treble, it isn’t really a problem. The 2M Series is designed for precise and accurate retrieval of the information in the record groove The Ortofon 2M Red, on the other hand, sounds noticeably more open and detailed, but it did never sound as pleasant as the AT95E.

2M Red Technology

On the whole, you might have wondered how it mixes and blends it all. This has to do with the balance. I’d rate the blend a solid 7. It is a little short of amazing but it gets the job done and it does it with a great texture and sound to it. The difference in output level (3.5 mV for the AT95E and 5.5 mV for the Ortofon 2M Red) is big enough to make the Ortofon 2M Red play with significantly higher music volume. Noticeable difference there.