Ortofon 2M MONO
Overview
Mono reissues are multiplying: 1950s jazz, 1960s rock, remastered Beatles box sets. Yet a stereo cartridge does not do them full justice. Playing a record cut on a single channel with a stereo cartridge also picks up surface noise located in the vertical plane of the groove. Ortofon therefore fits a strictly monophonic generator to the proven body of its 2M series.
Reading the mono groove in its single plane
A mono record is cut horizontally: the stylus only needs to move laterally to reproduce the music. A stereo record, on the other hand, carries information on each groove wall, cut at 45 degrees, requiring the tip to read both lateral and vertical movement.
A stereo cartridge placed on a mono pressing combines its two channels, picking up everything located in the vertical plane in the process. Yet this is precisely where much of the crackle, dust and wear marks of an old record are found. The 2M Mono reads only the horizontal plane. Vertical noise is never picked up, never amplified: the noise floor drops and the central image gains clarity.
A mono signal on a stereo system
Mono cartridges of the past required a dedicated input or a mono switch on the preamplifier. The 2M Mono does away with this thanks to a doubled output: its two sets of pole pins are connected to deliver exactly the same signal on the left and right. You therefore get true summed mono on any stereo phono input, without any special equipment.
It is a conventional moving magnet (MM) cartridge in terms of connection. Its 4 mV output voltage connects to any MM phono input loaded at 47 kOhm, with a capacitance of 150 to 300 pF. No specific preamplifier is required.
The spherical stylus and in-house generator
The diamond is a nude spherical stylus with an R18 µm radius, mounted on an aluminium cantilever. This rounded geometry fits the mono microgroove well and is forgiving with older pressings: it rests on an area of the groove wall less affected by previous playback, limiting tracking issues on worn records.
The generator uses the split pole pins that are the electrical signature of the 2M series. This device flattens the frequency response of a moving magnet cartridge to bring it to the level of a moving coil cartridge. Measured result: 20 to 20,000 Hz at +3 / -1 dB, with a tracking angle of 20 degrees. The body is moulded from Hopelex, a rigid material that contains unwanted resonances from the structure. The housing design comes from Danish studio Møller Jensen Design, also responsible for the brand’s Jubilee and Kontrapunkt series.
Fitting it to the tonearm without upsetting its balance
The 2M Mono weighs 7.2 g and screws into the standard half-inch mounting centres on most headshells. Tracking force ranges from 1.6 to 2.0 g, with 1.8 g recommended. With a lateral dynamic compliance of 18 µm/mN, it is suited to medium-mass tonearms, the most common type.
Its practical advantage lies in the consistency of the 2M range: all cartridges in the series share the same weight and body geometry. Owners of 2M Red, Blue or Bronze cartridges can therefore switch from stereo to mono listening simply by changing cartridges, without rebalancing or readjusting tracking force. Ortofon also offers this cartridge in several versions: the Verso version for headshells with underside mounting, the version pre-mounted on an SH-4 headshell for direct fitting to S-shaped tonearms, and the 2MR Mono, lighter at 6 g, whose body aligns with the geometry of Rega monocoque tonearms.
Replacement stylus and 78 rpm playback
The stylus can be replaced without changing the cartridge body. The replacement model is the 2M Mono stylus, interchangeable with the 2M 78 stylus. This compatibility gives the body a second life: fitted with the 2M 78 stylus, whose wider diamond suits the groove of older recordings, it plays shellac 78 rpm records. The R18 µm stylus of the 2M Mono remains dedicated to 33 rpm mono microgroove records and is not suitable for 78 rpm records.
Documentation
Technical specifications
Type and design
- Type: MM (moving magnet)
- Stylus: spherical
- Stylus tip radius: R18 μm
- Tracking angle: 20°
- Cartridge and stylus colour: black / white
Audio performance
- Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5 cm / sec.: 4 mV
- Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz (+3 / -1 dB)
- Trackability at 315 Hz with recommended tracking force: 70 μm
- Dynamic lateral compliance: 18 μm / mN
Tracking force
- Tracking force range: 1.6-2.0 g (16-20 mN)
- Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g (18 mN)
Electrical characteristics
- Internal impedance: 700 Ohms
- Internal inductance: 350 mH
- Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm
- Recommended load capacitance: 150-300 pF
Weight
- 2MR cartridge: 6 g
- 2M and 2M Verso cartridges: 7.2 g
- 2M pre-mounted cartridge: 16.7 g
Maintenance and spare parts
- Replacement stylus: 2M Mono (interchangeable with 2M 78)
- Stylus lifespan: with proper care, up to 1000 hours can be achieved without performance degradation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the 2M Mono be used on a stereo record?
It retains vertical compliance, so it will not damage a stereo pressing if you place it on one by mistake. However, you will only hear a summed mono signal, without channel separation or the intended benefit on mono records. For stereo, keep a stereo cartridge on the tonearm.
Do you need a dedicated phono preamp?
No. The 2M Mono behaves like any moving-magnet cartridge: a 47 kOhm-loaded MM phono input is sufficient, and its 4 mV output provides the usual MM level. The preamplifier’s mono switch, if present, is not necessary since the output is already doubled.
Are there versions suitable for different arms?
Yes. In addition to the standard version, the 2M Mono is available in Verso mounting (underside mounting), pre-mounted on an SH-4 headshell, and as the 6 g 2MR Mono for Rega tonearms. The choice depends on the type of headshell and turntable.
Does the cartridge help with old, worn mono pressings?
That is one of its advantages. The spherical stylus sits in a less worn part of the groove wall, and strictly horizontal playback rejects surface noise concentrated in the vertical plane. An old mono record regains a quieter background and more stable playback than with a stereo cartridge.
How many hours can be expected from the diamond?
With careful maintenance, the stylus can last up to 1,000 hours of playback without any noticeable loss of performance. Regular cleaning of the stylus tip and keeping records clean will extend its lifespan accordingly.
Does the mono stylus fit a 2M stereo body?
The 2M Mono stylus is interchangeable only with the 2M 78 stylus, not with the stereo styli in the range (2M Red, Blue, etc.). However, swapping the entire cartridge between a stereo 2M and the 2M Mono can be done without recalibrating the tonearm, as the bodies have the same weight.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
- Manufacturer reference: 9030-2M-MON
- GTIN / EAN: 5705796080056
