Ortofon 2M mono Cartridge for Mono LPs

The Ortofon 2M Mono is a Moving Magnet cartridge with a true mono generator, built specifically for playing mono records. Unlike a stereo cartridge, it tracks the groove purely horizontally and blanks out vertical noise – exactly what mono pressings require.

Anyone playing their mono classics with a stereo cartridge struggles with noise and a diffuse centre image. The 2M Mono clears that up and gives the recording back the cohesion it was made with – not an effect, simply the right tool for the job.

Why the 2M Mono?

A mono groove carries information only laterally. A true mono cartridge is wired precisely for that: it ignores the vertical movement, which in mono contains nothing but noise anyway. The result is a quieter background, more substance and a stability in the centre that a stereo cartridge can't achieve on mono records. The nude spherical stylus (R18) ensures clean tracking in the groove, and the Strapped Output puts the same signal on both pole pairs – mono without a workaround.

What you hear

Mono recordings – jazz classics, early rock pressings, historical classical music – with body, calm and directness. Voices and instruments stand compact and tangible in the centre, instead of floating blurred across a stereo panorama. Once you've heard how cohesive a good mono pressing sounds through a true mono cartridge, you won't willingly play it on a stereo cartridge again.

Who is the 2M Mono for – and who isn't it for?

For anyone with a serious collection of mono LPs (33/45 rpm) who wants to get the utmost out of these pressings. Bottom line: The 2M Mono isn't meant for stereo records – it will play them, but without channel separation. Anyone who mainly listens to stereo is better served with a 2M Blue or Bronze. And for 78 rpm shellac you need the 2M 78 – the wrong stylus on the wrong record doesn't please either one.

Our verdict

The 2M Mono is the honest answer to a mono collection: quiet background, stable centre, a real gain over a stereo cartridge. Not an all-rounder, but a specialist – and as such it does its job exceptionally well.

Technical specifications

• Type: MM cartridge (Moving Magnet), true mono generator
• Series: 2M Mono (for mono LPs, 33/45 rpm)
• Stylus tip: nude spherical stylus (Nude Spherical, R18 µm)
• Output voltage: 4.0 mV
• Frequency response: 20–22,000 Hz
• Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g (1.6–2.0 g)
• Load resistance: 47 kOhm
• Load capacitance: 150–300 pF
• Body material: Hopelex
• Output: Strapped Output (same signal on both pole pairs)
• Mounting: half-inch (1/2"), two screws (from above)
• Weight: 7.2 g
• Replacement stylus: Stylus 2M Mono
• Included: cartridge, stylus brush, screwdriver, mounting screws, alignment gauge (the 2M packaging serves as an alignment gauge)

Frequently asked questions

Can I also play stereo records with the 2M Mono?

Technically yes, sensibly no – you'll hear both channels summed, with no spatial image. The 2M Mono only shows its strength on true mono pressings. For a mixed collection, a second stereo cartridge is often worthwhile; we'll tell you which combination pays off and works well together.

Which phono input does the 2M Mono need?

An MM input (Moving Magnet) with 47 kOhm and 150–300 pF capacitance. Practically every phono preamp offers this, as do many integrated amps with a phono stage – an MC input or step-up transformer isn't necessary. The true mono advantage lies in the cartridge itself, not in the phono stage, keeping things pleasantly uncomplicated.

Why buy the Ortofon 2M Mono at HD Zürisee?

Because mono playback is its own chapter, one we know from years of practice. We advise you on the right combination of mono cartridge, preamp and turntable, and set everything up properly. As an authorised Ortofon dealer in Wädenswil, we also handle the warranty correctly – at HD Zürisee you get the knowledge included, not just the product.

Goes well with

Goes well with: a matching phono preamp, the right turntable, or a stereo cartridge from our cartridges for the rest of your collection.