Ortofon 2M Blue

“I heard a well-focused and relatively neutral sound, tidy and tuneful. Unlike moving-magnets which can sound a little ‘lumpy’ in their frequency response, the 2M Blue was not so obviously contoured in the mid-bass and treble, sounding instead more focused around a level midband. It could find low bass where needed but didn’t draw attention here.”

“Ortofon’s 2M Blue catapults moving magnet performance into the modern era. It delivers the high resolution audiophiles expect from cartridges at any price, and does so with remarkable affordability. Like any revealing component, it requires special attention to setup and system matching, but it rewards those efforts in spades. If you’re looking for a warm and relaxed cartridge, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you’re in the market for insightful state-of-the-art performance and moving magnet flexibility on a budget, I can’t imagine a more attractive package.”

“Exceptional insight and smoothness allied to fine tracking makes this a great buy for those seeking a modern sound.”