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Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge — close-up product view
Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge — right three-quarter view
Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge — front view
Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge — side view

Ortofon

Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge

$110

Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge

The 2M Red is Ortofon's accessible entry to the 2M moving-magnet family, combining a tipped elliptical diamond, an aluminum cantilever, and a healthy 5.5 mV output in a body designed for straightforward alignment.

Pearl Audio’s Take

For a system that needs a dependable, serviceable cartridge without making phono-stage matching complicated, the 2M Red is an unusually sensible starting point. Its replaceable stylus also creates a direct upgrade path to the Nude Elliptical 2M Blue stylus without replacing the cartridge body.

Elliptical tracing

The tipped elliptical diamond reaches more deeply into the groove than a basic spherical profile while remaining forgiving enough for everyday record collections. Ortofon specifies 70 µm tracking ability and a recommended tracking force of 1.8 grams.

Easy phono-stage matching

A 5.5 mV output and standard 47 kΩ load make the 2M Red a natural match for the moving-magnet input found on many integrated amplifiers and phono preamplifiers. Recommended capacitive loading is 150–300 pF.

A practical upgrade path

The Red and Blue models share the same generator family. When the time comes for a new stylus, moving to a 2M Blue stylus adds a Nude Elliptical diamond while retaining the installed cartridge body.

System Matching and Setup

This is the standard half-inch-mount 2M body. Confirm tonearm clearance and mounting style before ordering; Ortofon's 2MR, Verso, and Premounted versions solve different installation requirements and are separate products.

Key Specifications

Cartridge principle
Moving magnet
Stylus
Tipped Elliptical
Cantilever
Aluminum
Output at 1 kHz
5.5 mV
Channel separation at 1 kHz
22 dB
Compliance
20 µm/mN
Tracking ability at 315 Hz
70 µm
Recommended tracking force
1.8 g
Tracking-force range
1.6–2.0 g
Recommended load
47 kΩ / 150–300 pF
Cartridge weight
7.2 g

Talk with Pearl Audio

Contact Pearl Audio for cartridge matching, installation guidance, or help confirming the correct replacement stylus for your turntable. We can review your tonearm and phono-stage details before you make a decision.

Need help choosing?

Pearl Audio can help with cartridge matching, installation, and alignment.

Call (503) 222-2599 to start a conversation.

Request cartridge guidance

Cartridge matching request

Product: Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge

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Product overview

Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge

The 2M Red is Ortofon's accessible entry to the 2M moving-magnet family, combining a tipped elliptical diamond, an aluminum cantilever, and a healthy 5.5 mV output in a body designed for straightforward alignment.

Pearl Audio’s Take

For a system that needs a dependable, serviceable cartridge without making phono-stage matching complicated, the 2M Red is an unusually sensible starting point. Its replaceable stylus also creates a direct upgrade path to the Nude Elliptical 2M Blue stylus without replacing the cartridge body.

Elliptical tracing

The tipped elliptical diamond reaches more deeply into the groove than a basic spherical profile while remaining forgiving enough for everyday record collections. Ortofon specifies 70 µm tracking ability and a recommended tracking force of 1.8 grams.

Easy phono-stage matching

A 5.5 mV output and standard 47 kΩ load make the 2M Red a natural match for the moving-magnet input found on many integrated amplifiers and phono preamplifiers. Recommended capacitive loading is 150–300 pF.

A practical upgrade path

The Red and Blue models share the same generator family. When the time comes for a new stylus, moving to a 2M Blue stylus adds a Nude Elliptical diamond while retaining the installed cartridge body.

System Matching and Setup

This is the standard half-inch-mount 2M body. Confirm tonearm clearance and mounting style before ordering; Ortofon's 2MR, Verso, and Premounted versions solve different installation requirements and are separate products.

Key Specifications

Cartridge principle
Moving magnet
Stylus
Tipped Elliptical
Cantilever
Aluminum
Output at 1 kHz
5.5 mV
Channel separation at 1 kHz
22 dB
Compliance
20 µm/mN
Tracking ability at 315 Hz
70 µm
Recommended tracking force
1.8 g
Tracking-force range
1.6–2.0 g
Recommended load
47 kΩ / 150–300 pF
Cartridge weight
7.2 g

Talk with Pearl Audio

Contact Pearl Audio for cartridge matching, installation guidance, or help confirming the correct replacement stylus for your turntable. We can review your tonearm and phono-stage details before you make a decision.

Pearl Audio’s Cartridge Method

A cartridge is part of a system

The right cartridge is the one that works as a complete mechanical and electrical match with your tonearm and phono stage. Pearl Audio evaluates the generator, output, compliance, stylus profile, and setup requirements together—so the cartridge can perform as its designer intended.

  • Generator & output

    Moving-magnet and moving-coil designs ask different things of phono-stage gain, noise performance, capacitance, and loading.

  • Tonearm match

    Cartridge mass and compliance work with the tonearm’s effective mass. A good match supports stable tracking and controlled resonance.

  • Stylus & cantilever

    Stylus geometry and cantilever construction influence groove contact, setup sensitivity, tracking behavior, and long-term care.

  • Setup & service

    Alignment, tracking force, azimuth, vertical geometry, anti-skate, and the maker’s replacement or rebuild path all matter after purchase.

Selection, setup & ownership

Build the match, not just the spec sheet

A specification is useful when it answers a system question. Use the product details above together with the guidance below, then let Pearl Audio confirm the final match for your turntable, tonearm, records, and phono stage.

Output, gain & loading

Output voltage and internal impedance help determine required phono gain and loading. MM designs may also specify capacitive loading. Low-output MC designs demand especially quiet gain.

Mass, compliance & arm

Cartridge weight and dynamic compliance should be considered with tonearm effective mass, headshell hardware, counterweight range, and mounting geometry.

Groove contact

Stylus profile, cantilever material, tracking ability, and recommended tracking force describe how the cartridge traces a record—and how carefully it must be aligned.

Installation precision

Overhang, offset angle, tracking force, azimuth, vertical geometry, and anti-skate should be established with suitable tools and checked as a connected system.

Record format

Stereo, true-mono microgroove, and historical record formats are different use cases. The cartridge and stylus must be selected for the records it will actually play.

Ownership & service

Confirm stylus replacement, exchange, rebuild, and inspection options before purchase. Policies differ between replaceable-stylus and fixed-stylus designs.

Specifications worth confirming

Look for the manufacturer’s current values for:

  • Generator type, output voltage, and internal impedance
  • Recommended load resistance, capacitance, and phono gain
  • Cartridge mass, dynamic compliance, and mounting standard
  • Stylus profile, cantilever material, and tracking ability
  • Recommended tracking force and permitted range
  • Channel balance, separation, and frequency response
  • Replacement-stylus, exchange, or factory rebuild eligibility
How to read the key numbers
Output voltage
Helps establish whether the phono stage can provide enough clean gain.
Internal impedance
Informs MC loading and step-up-transformer matching; it is not itself the final load setting.
Compliance
Describes suspension flexibility and must be considered with tonearm effective mass and the maker’s measurement frequency.
Tracking force
Use the maker’s recommended value as the starting point; alignment and arm calibration must also be correct.
Stylus profile
Describes groove contact geometry and influences alignment sensitivity, tracing behavior, and care.
Choosing within a cartridge family

Do not assume that the highest-priced model is automatically the best fit. Compare adjacent models for:

  • Output level and compatibility with your phono stage
  • Compliance and cartridge mass relative to your tonearm
  • Stylus and cantilever differences—and the setup precision they require
  • Stereo, mono, high-output, low-output, and mounting variants
  • Replacement, exchange, rebuild, and upgrade paths
Stereo, mono & historical records

A true-mono cartridge can be valuable for mono microgroove records, while older coarse-groove records require a purpose-appropriate stylus and setup. Confirm the record format, groove type, stylus profile, and electrical configuration; “mono” alone is not enough information.

Pearl Audio can help determine whether a dedicated mono cartridge, a stereo cartridge, or a second arm/headshell is the most practical approach.

Replacement, exchange & rebuild paths

Service is part of cartridge value. Depending on the model, the maker may offer a user-replaceable stylus, dealer exchange, factory rebuild, or no field-serviceable stylus at all.

  • Confirm the exact current program for the exact model
  • Keep the stylus guard, packaging, serial information, and proof of purchase
  • Do not assume a family member’s stylus or service policy applies to another body
  • Have damage, wear, and channel problems evaluated before ordering a replacement
Information for a Cartridge Consultation

For a useful recommendation, tell us:

  • Your turntable and exact tonearm model
  • Your current cartridge and what you would like to improve
  • Your phono stage, available gain settings, and loading options
  • The types of records you play, including any mono or historical formats
  • Whether Pearl Audio will perform the installation and alignment
  • The listening priorities that matter most to you
Installation & ongoing care

Use the manufacturer’s current instructions for mounting hardware, tracking force, alignment, cleaning, inspection, and service. Protect the cantilever during installation, keep the stylus clean with an approved method, and recheck setup after any change to the cartridge, headshell, arm height, or mat.

Pearl Audio can install and align compatible cartridges and verify the initial phono-stage settings.

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