A tale of three cartridges (revisited).

[catman]

G'day all, with a bit more phono stage flexibility available to me now, I've been revisiting cartridges that don't get used much these days.

The other day I mentioned my old AT95E and today I'll talk about the Ortofon 2M Red (both loaded at 47 k). I'll admit that my perceptions of this cartridge have 'changed' a little. When I first obtained the cartridge I reviewed it and whilst my initial perceptions have not changed too much, I've come to regard this Ortofon 2M Red a little less than I did previously.

As I mentioned in my reviews there is a certain 'euphonic' quality about the 2M Red which is difficult to define. There is a strong bass end, but also a rising treble response and the net sonic result is a somewhat 'glossy' sound that can sound endearing initially, yet quite 'artificial' and inaccurate. Increasingly, I find I don't like it!

So rating the three cartridges again from best to worst I put the 'standard' Shure M97xE (optimally loaded at 62 k as is done here), at the top with honest, smooth and clean sound, followed by the Audio Technica AT95E with a very well balanced and satisfying overall sound, and down the bottom in a slightly disappointing third, the Ortofon 2M Red.

Some may love it's 'sound' as I did once, but now I clearly prefer the more 'honest' sound of my Shure M97xE and Audio Technica AT95E. It's all very interesting! Regards, Felix aka catman.

 

[guiller]

Thanks for sharing your views on these three carts.

 

[Isotonic]

Tanks Catman! Interesting for sure!

 

[aabottom]

Hummm ..., maybe I'll just get the Shure M97xE for my newly acquired Pioneer PL-518.

catman-

Are you using the standard stylus with your Shure M97xE, or did you upgrade the stylus?


Thanks for posting

 

[catman]

G'day mate, on this system, I used my 'standard' stylus M97xE loaded at 62 K on my DIY phono stage but I have another M97xE with Jico SAS stylus working beautifully at 47 k on my 'main system'. If you can afford the Jico SAS stylus for the M97xE, get it!

Doing this comparison between these three cartridges have made me realize that the Shure M97xE is a cartridge that really does 'tell the truth'. Sometimes that might be a touch boring, but just like life itself, that's often the way it really is. :yes: Regards, Felix aka catman.

 

[clydeselsor]

The Ortofon 2M Red is an excellent sounding cartridge. For quite some time, I felt that it was the best sounding cartridge that I ever had. That is until my Shure M97XE showed up the other day. I am still running it with the stock stylus and all I can say is wow!! The Shure is really a great cartridge. I will pick up the Jico stylus after the holiday based on you and PMSUMMER's recommendations. I picked up the Shure because it was a bargain and wanted to try something different. It has been one of the biggest surprises in audio that I have had in quite sometime, and works well on my Pioneer PL-518.
I also own a AT-95 and was never very thrilled with it. I did pick up an after-market mono 78 rpm stylus for it, and that combo seems to work well for my 78's on my Miracord TT.