The Pro-Ject Pick it 2M Silver is a moving magnet phono cartridge from Pro-Ject's Pick it range, built in Europe by Ortofon on the 2M cartridge platform. It was originally developed as the cartridge fitted to selected Pro-Ject turntables and is offered here on its own. Within the 2M family it sits between the entry-level 2M Red and the 2M Blue.
This listing is for the bulk-packed version: the cartridge is supplied without a retail box.
Design and Construction
The Pick it 2M Silver uses Ortofon's own 2M series technology, which Pro-Ject says allows a moving magnet design to reach the same flat frequency response as a moving coil cartridge. Where the 2M Red uses plain copper coils, the 2M Silver is wound with silver-plated copper wire and fitted with a special suspension, which Ortofon describes as an upgrade over the 2M Red. Pro-Ject notes that silver-plated coil windings are unusual at this price and are used to deliver higher quality, more dynamic playback than a conventional moving magnet cartridge.
The stylus is an elliptical diamond with a tip radius of r/R 8/18 µm, tracking at a recommended 1.8 g within a 1.6 to 2.0 g range. The stylus assembly is translucent rather than coloured.
Performance
Output is a healthy 5.5 mV at 1 kHz, so the cartridge works with the moving magnet input of almost any phono stage or amplifier. Pro-Ject quotes a frequency response of 20 Hz to 25,000 Hz, channel separation of 25 dB at 1 kHz and tracking ability of 70 µm at 315 Hz. Dynamic lateral compliance is 20 µm/mN, and Pro-Ject recommends it for low to medium mass tonearms.
Mounting and Stylus Replacement
The cartridge follows the universal half-inch mounting standard and has threaded holes in the body, so it can be fitted with just two bolts and no nuts. It weighs 7.2 g and measures 18 mm from stylus tip to the top mounting surface. It should be connected to a phono MM input with a recommended load resistance of 47 kΩ.
As with the rest of the 2M range, the stylus is user replaceable. The Ortofon 2M Silver replacement stylus is the direct match, and Ortofon confirms the 2M Red and 2M Blue styli are also interchangeable with the 2M Silver body, giving a straightforward upgrade path without removing the cartridge from the headshell.