Ortofon 2M Mono Verso MM Cartridge (Bottom-Mount)

The Ortofon 2M Mono Verso is an MM cartridge with a genuine mono generator that's screwed in from below – using interchangeable threaded pins instead of the usual screws from above. Built for tonearms like Thorens, Revox and similar models that specifically require this bottom-mount fitting, and for anyone who wants to hear their mono pressings the way they were meant to sound.

Why the 2M Mono Verso?

A mono groove carries information only laterally. A genuine mono cartridge is wired exactly for that: it ignores the vertical movement, which in mono only carries noise. The result is a quieter background, more substance, and a stable centre image that a stereo cartridge can't achieve on mono records. The nude spherical stylus (R18) tracks cleanly in the groove – and the Verso shape brings this cartridge to tonearms that mount from below.

What you get

Mono recordings – jazz classics, early rock pressings, historical classical – with body, calm and directness. Voices and instruments sit compact and tangible in the centre instead of smeared across a stereo image. The "strapped output" delivers the same signal on both pole pairs, so you don't need any mono-specific extra gear.

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

Ideal if your tonearm requires bottom mounting and you have a serious collection of mono LPs (33/45 rpm). Straight talk: it's not meant for stereo records – it will play them, but without channel separation. If you mostly listen to stereo, a 2M Blue or Bronze is the better fit. If your tonearm is normally screwed in from above, you don't need the Verso version – the standard 2M Mono is enough. For 78 rpm shellac, the 2M 78 is the right choice.

Our verdict

The 2M Mono Verso is the honest answer to two requirements at once: genuine mono reproduction and bottom mounting. If your Thorens or Revox demands it, it's exactly right – a specialist that does its job very well.

Technical specifications

• Type: MM cartridge (moving magnet), genuine mono generator
• Series: 2M Mono Verso (for mono LPs, 33/45 rpm)
• Mounting: from below / bottom-mount, interchangeable threaded pins (2 / 2.5 mm) – e.g. Thorens, Revox
• Stylus profile: 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 kΩ
• Load capacitance: 150–300 pF
• Housing material: Hopelex
• Output: strapped output (same signal on both pole pairs)
• Weight: 7.2 g
• Replacement stylus: Stylus 2M Mono
• What's included: cartridge, stylus brush, screwdriver, mounting screws (2× M2.5×5, 2× M2.5×7)

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Verso and the standard 2M Mono?

Only in the mounting: from below with interchangeable threaded pins instead of from above with screws. The mono generator, stylus and sound are identical. The choice depends purely on what your tonearm or headshell mechanically requires – which is the case with many Thorens and Revox arms.

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

Technically yes, sensibly no – you'll hear both channels summed with no spatial image. It only shows its strength on genuine mono pressings. For a mixed collection, a second cartridge is often worthwhile; we'll tell you which combination pays off.

Why buy the 2M Mono Verso at HD Zürisee?

Because mono reproduction and bottom mounting are each their own chapter, and we know them from decades of practice. We'll check with you whether your tonearm needs the Verso shape, advise on the right combination of preamp and turntable, and set everything up properly.

Goes well with

Goes well with: a matching phono preamp, the right turntable and more cartridges to compare.