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Defective Ortofon 2M Bronze?

B

BorisN

New Member
Defective Ortofon 2M Bronze?

I recently purchased a Technics SL-1200G with Ortofon 2M Bronze installed. A private seller assured me that the cartridge had about 100 hours on it and proved it with a sales receipt from about a year ago. I have been listening to it for a while but wasn't completely satisfied with the way the bass sounded. Low frequencies are there but not enough punch. So I bought a USB microscope to check on the condition of the stylus. As can be seen on the frontal photo, the stylus itself looks ok, but I was shocked to see a gigantic sprout growing from the cantilever. Any idea what this is? To me it looks like a blob of glue in which case it would be an obvious manufacturing defect. And yes, I have been cleaning it regularly with an included Ortofon brush.

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kwayde said:
Looks like wet debris that had been on a record then stuck to the stylus and hardened.

What is being used to clean records?
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That was my first thought, as well. Personally, I'd use a pair of fine tweezers, and carefully roll it down and backwards to remove it. As long as it comes off without pulling the cantilever with it, and it should, you should be fine.
 
I was cleaning with an Ortofon brush as the wet cleaning is not recommended by them. Tried to use alcohol just once to see if it will remove this thing, didn't help. Part of it is attached to the front of the cantilever. Not sure how any debris would get there. When I am touching it, it is moving along with the cantilever and stylus, doesn't bend at all. I am afraid that any force applied to it could break out the stylus.
 
Maybe send the photos to Ortofon tech support? They've responded to a couple of my questions in the past.
 
It looks like it picked up something from a record, though apparently not one of yours. I don't see how it would be from manufacturing. Maybe take a few more pictures of the base of the stylus. When I see something vaguely similar to that on a stylus, it comes off easily with a record brush or something like Magic Eraser. But maybe somewhere it has become glued onto the stylus. I wouldn't use any liquid on it, unless recommended by the manufacturer or someone who knows more.

I do think it might be helpful to clip off some of the extended portion, just to try to figure out what the substance is. You should do it without putting any stress on the stylus/cantilever. Maybe the substance could be held with tweezers and cut off part of the end of the substance, with the stylus body out of the cartridge so that it is free to move, so that no force would be applied to the stylus, if that makes sense.
 
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Even if you get the stylus and cantilever as they should be you will not be happy with the sounds. Friends of mine have found the cartridge to be bass shy. Maybe you should try one of the new X models by Ortofon, or a Denon 110 model or bite the bullet and try Dynavector's newest and latest 10 X 5 with the Shabita shaped stylus. I have particularly liked all the 20 series carts they have made since the early 2020's and just love the XX-2 MK II. Its a fantastic cartridge, but it should be for the asking price. The new XX-2A at the same price has even better qualities. But I will wait till I get a 1000 Hours on my MK II. Maybe some thing else will have come along by then.
 
sound hound said:
When I see something vaguely similar to that on a stylus, it comes off easily with a record brush or something like Magic Eraser.

I do think it might be helpful to clip off some of the extended portion, just to try to figure out what the substance is. You should do it without putting any stress on the stylus/cantilever. Maybe the substance could be held with tweezers and cut off part of the end of the substance, with the stylus body out of the cartridge so that it is free to move, so that no force would be applied to the stylus, if that makes sense.
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The problem is that the extended portion of this sprout is about 1 mm as measured with a calibration ruler. I am not sure what I can use to cut such a miniature thing especially that it's attached to the cantilever which moves upon a slightest touch. I will try Magic Eraser next. Will also contact Ortofon support.
 
twiiii said:
Even if you get the stylus and cantilever as they should be you will not be happy with the sounds. Friends of mine have found the cartridge to be bass shy. Maybe you should try one of the new X models by Ortofon, or a Denon 110 model or bite the bullet and try Dynavector's newest and latest 10 X 5 with the Shabita shaped stylus. I have particularly liked all the 20 series carts they have made since the early 2020's and just love the XX-2 MK II. Its a fantastic cartridge, but it should be for the asking price. The new XX-2A at the same price has even better qualities. But I will wait till I get a 1000 Hours on my MK II. Maybe some thing else will have come along by then.
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I thought about upgrading to the Shibata-shaped Ortofon 2M Black, but I would like to fix this Bronze if possible. I downloaded a few third-party needle drops of an album that I own including the one done with the Bronze, and unlike mine the bass was tight and punchy. It's a little bright for my taste but that makes it a good option for playing dull records.
 
I think my eyes were bigger than my brain. Didn't realize the extension was just a mm. If you use ME, I would recommend just a very tiny sliver. I take a block that is a little less than an inch square and cut a square piece off the end that is about 1/16" deep and then cut a tiny sliver off the edge of that, nothing that has any substance to it, just a floppy little piece. Not sure that it will do much to budge the sprout, but is safe for the styli I've used it on.

Also, a micro picture of the stylus, looking down on it from the tip of the stylus would help. (In fact, that is the perspective I usually use to pick up the flat wear facets on each side of the stylus, though it probably needs more magnification than your pictures above.)
 
BorisN said:
Defective Ortofon 2M Bronze?

I recently purchased a Technics SL-1200G with Ortofon 2M Bronze installed. A private seller assured me that the cartridge had about 100 hours on it and proved it with a sales receipt from about a year ago. I have been listening to it for a while but wasn't completely satisfied with the way the bass sounded. Low frequencies are there but not enough punch. So I bought a USB microscope to check on the condition of the stylus. As can be seen on the frontal photo, the stylus itself looks ok, but I was shocked to see a gigantic sprout growing from the cantilever. Any idea what this is? To me it looks like a blob of glue in which case it would be an obvious manufacturing defect. And yes, I have been cleaning it regularly with an included Ortofon brush.

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Get an insulin needle from the chemists, you can peel it down with that under the microscope.
Chris
 
I want to thank everyone here for their suggestions. I tried Magic Eraser, and it didn't help. So I decided to take a chance and try to remove this thing with small tweezers under the microscope. I was able to grab it without touching the cantilever, but when I tried to move it, the cantilever was pulling along. I then soaked the whole site with alcohol using a brush (even though Ortofon warns against it) and tried again. After several up and down motions the sprout came off. Here is how the stylus looks now. There is also a noticeable improvement on the tightness of bass.

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sound hound said:
Glad you got the added mass off the cantilever. Hopefully the alcohol will not have a lasting effect.
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Alcohol does nothing to the glue on Ortofon, thry use epoxy like everyone else.
My guess is they warm against solvents to protect themselves against thr lowest common denominator ie they guy who gives the stylus, suspension and half the cartridge a bath in alcohol.
A damp with Alcohol stylus brush when needed won't hurt anything.
Chris
 
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