This product is no longer available to order and will not be coming back into stock.
In Stock products are those that are currently held in stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse. This stock status is updated regularly but is subject to change at very short notice.
Products that are Awaiting Stock are items that we would normally carry on stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse, but are currently unavailable. Chances are there is already more on the way, but if you would like a more accurate availability status please feel free to Contact Us.
Urgent order items are products that we do not normally carry on stock, but they are typically held on stock by our European suppliers. Depending on availability, we will seek to order these products quickly, when we have an enquiry. They can therefore be subject to quicker availability times than "Special Order" products.
Special Order items are those that are most often built to order. For these items, we tend to experience longer lead times as we negotiate them into the production line with our suppliers.
The 2M Red has a diamond which is polished to the highest standards of the industry. This tipped elliptical diamond, despite being on the more affordable end of the spectrum, conforms to Ortofon's strict quality guidelines, both in terms of material quality and sound reproduction capabilities.
Other than these differences the 2M Red shares a body with the 2M Blue, meaning a stylus upgrade can yield the full benefit of a 2M Blue cartridge.
The 2M Red is the ultimate introductory hi-fi cartridge. Combining affordability and superior sound, it is a must-try for any audiophile on a budget. Supplied as standard on a range of turntables in the UK, the 2M Red is the perfect jumping-in point for Hi-Fi systems, offering a quality performance as well as easy upgrade options for the future.
The 2M range consists of four core colour models along with Mono and 78 RPM versions, making the 2M range incredibly versatile and capable of fulfilling your need whatever your system. Click here to view more about the shared 2M elements across the range.
The 2M Red is available in different versions to suit different applications. The 2M Verso is for bottom-mounted headshells, the 2M Pre-Mounted includes a regular 2M cartridge fitted to an Ortofon SH-4 Headshell, and the 2MR offers a reduced cartridge height for mounting onto tonearms that require a lower ride height. To learn more about whether the 2MR might be useful for your system, visit our handy technical page - 2MR - The technical argument.
If you're looking for a great upgrade or first stage cartridge, then Ortofon's 2M Red fits the bill nicely with its great performance
"Like closely priced rivals, the 2M Red tracks at 1.8g, and we found it simple to fit and align, with its combination of a large, solidly built casing and captive nuts easy to manage."
2M Red Recommended
""...design is striking..." "Ortofon cartridges are very informative...well extended at both frequency extremes...this one seems to fit the pattern." "...the treble is notably clean and tidy, full of life without ever becoming strident or harsh." "Bass is assured..." "...tracking very confident...""
Group Test of £60-£100 MM Cartridges
""...had a pleasing ambience...intimate, trembling quality." "Bass was in proportion...good detail..." "...realistic without going into hardness." "...sense of space was still there even in the climaxes.""
Henley Says...
The 2M range is a true staple of Ortofon, coming fitted as standard (for good reason) on a host of turntables around the world; they offer vastly different sound profiles., from the reliable Red to the current pinnacle of the series, the 2M Black LVB 250. it's always a treat to 'hear the difference' in our demoroom!
Each 2M cartridge model is also available as a 2MR variant. Here, the "R" stands for “Reduced” and relates to the lower cartridge body height. This is suited to certain types of tonearms from manufacturers such as Pro-Ject, Linn and Rega, in order to achieve the correct VTA. To learn more about whether the 2MR might be useful for your system, visit our handy technical page Ortofon 2MR - The Technical Argument