- "Very detailed, impressive transparency, insightful" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★☆ (March 2011)
Ortofon 2M Black Replacement Stylus
- Nude Shibata diamond tip
- Interchangeable across the 2M range
- Upgrade path from Red, Blue, or Bronze
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Description
The Stylus 2M Black is the flagship replacement stylus in Ortofon's acclaimed 2M moving magnet series. Fitted with a nude Shibata diamond, it delivers an exceptionally wide contact area with the groove walls, extracting detail and micro-dynamics that lesser profiles cannot reach. The Shibata profile was originally developed for quadraphonic playback in the 1970s and remains one of the highest-performing tip shapes available for analogue reproduction.
Upgrade Path
All 2M series styli are physically interchangeable across the range, making it possible to upgrade from a 2M Red, Blue, or Bronze to the 2M Black without replacing the cartridge body. However, Ortofon note that the 2M Bronze and 2M Black share a superior cartridge body with improved resonance characteristics compared to the Red and Blue models. For the best results, fitting this stylus to a 2M Black or 2M Bronze body is recommended.
Stylus Care
With proper care, the nude Shibata diamond is rated for approximately 1,000 hours of playback before performance begins to degrade. Regular cleaning of the stylus tip and keeping records free from dust and debris will help maximise its working life.
Specification
| Stylus Tip | Nude Shibata |
|---|---|
| Tip Radius | r/R 6/50 µm |
| Tracking Force (Recommended) | 1.5 g (15 mN) |
| Tracking Force Range | 1.4–1.7 g (14–17 mN) |
| Tracking Ability at 315 Hz | 80 µm |
| Frequency Response | 20–20,000 Hz ±2/−0 dB |
| Output Voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec) | 5 mV |
| Channel Balance at 1 kHz | 1 dB |
| Channel Separation at 1 kHz | 26 dB |
| Channel Separation at 15 kHz | 15 dB |
| Compliance (Dynamic, Lateral) | 22 µm/mN |
| Tracking Angle | 20° |
| Internal Impedance | 1.2 kΩ |
| Internal Inductance | 630 mH |
| Recommended Load Resistance | 47 kΩ |
| Recommended Load Capacitance | 150–300 pF |