Ortofon 2M 78 Cartridge Premounted

The Ortofon 2M 78 Premounted pairs the 2M 78 cartridge with the Ortofon SH-4 headshell as a single ready-to-fit assembly, designed to drop straight into S-shaped tonearms with a standard SME-type bayonet connector. The cartridge itself is the same specialist 2M 78 used to play 78 RPM shellac records, factory-aligned in the headshell with the leadwires already terminated, removing the need for separate mounting and alignment work.

78 RPM Specialist Cartridge

Where the standard 2M models (Red, Blue, Bronze, Black) are designed for modern 33¹⁄₃ and 45 RPM microgroove vinyl, the 2M 78 addresses the wider groove geometry of shellac pressings with a dedicated spherical diamond stylus tip measuring 65 μm in radius, substantially larger than the elliptical or fine-line profiles used elsewhere in the range. An improved True Mono engine delivers the same signal from both sets of pole pins, allowing accurate mono reproduction on any standard stereo playback system without the need for dedicated mono-specific equipment.

SH-4 Headshell

The supplied SH-4 is Ortofon's universal headshell, machined for cartridges with a half-inch standard mount and finished to match the 2M cartridge body. It uses a four-pin bayonet connector for direct attachment to compatible S-shaped tonearms, with the cartridge already wired and torqued to Ortofon's recommended specification. Total weight of the cartridge and headshell assembly is 16.7 g, suitable for medium-mass tonearms commonly fitted to DJ-style and mid-priced hi-fi turntables.

Construction

The cartridge body is constructed from polymer and aluminium, the same engineering approach used across the wider 2M series. The cantilever is an aluminium tube, providing a balance of rigidity and low mass suited to the tracking demands of 78 RPM grooves. The stylus assembly is user-replaceable.

Tracking and Compatibility

Ortofon recommend a tracking force of 1.8 g, within a permissible range of 1.6 to 2.0 g. Dynamic lateral compliance is rated at 18 μm/mN, making the 2M 78 compatible with the majority of medium-mass tonearms. Output voltage of 4 mV at 1 kHz is typical for the 2M moving magnet family and matches the input requirements of any standard MM phono stage.