Just bought Technics SL-1200GR. Now I am looking for the best HI-FI cart from Ortofon 2M PnP and Concordes Series. Please advise. The idea: Trouble-free, plug-and-play cartridge with best possible sound quality for Technics SL-1200GR. Bottom line: The cart fits geometrics of Technics SL-1200GR. It gives me the best possible sound quality. It tracks like a champ Options available: Ortofon 2M Series PnP 2M Red PnP MkII 2M Blue PnP MkII 2M Bronze PnP MkII 2M Black PnP MkII Concordes: Concorde 40 Anniversary The Concorde Century Concorde Pro S (historical, but still available second hand) as a base for OM styli upgrade Others??? Worries: Do I need to adjust arm-height with those? Do I need to use auxiliary weight with those? Any other problems you experienced? Thanks!
I would go for the best possible in this case as the 1200GR is compatible with a lot of alternatives. I guess the 2m Bronze or Black are the most interesting ones among the carts you look at. But why not look a little a further- maybe a matching MC cart like the Ortofon Quintet Blue or even the Bronze? Hana EL or EH are also interesting choices that would match your 1200GR very well.
Thank you! Wanna get one of those plug-and-play cartridges this time, exclusively. Are there Ortofon Quintet Blue, Hana EL/EH p'n'p versions too?
What change has the PnP mk2 compared to mk1? Is it lighter, so now it is suitable for the Technics, or it's something else?
Yes, I guess (wanna confirm on this thread). Ortofon info: - Universal mount fitting a wide range of S-shaped tonearms. - Weight with a 2M cartridge pre-mounted 20 g. - Length 52mm. Headshell with a 2M cartridge pre-mounted provides correct Baerwald alignment with the Ortofon TA-110/ TA-210 tonearms, likewise with the major part of tonearms with universal mount
This? There's no upgrade option from Red to Black, I guess ? @Livewire91 have you listened to Bronze or Black on new Technics?
In my experience, aligning a cartridge to the 1200 or the PLX-1000 for that matter is not a big problem. The removable headshell makes things very easy. There's no need to be restricted to PnP and Concordes. That being said, I have zero experience with PnP or Concordes, but I have a 2M Black that is now retired. Be careful with the 2M Black. It can sound amazing without a doubt, but it needs perfect set up, perfectly clean records, and a perfectly matching phono stage. The best 2M I ever had was a 2M Blue stylus, much less demanding, mounted on a 2M Black body, mind you. Clean records and phono stage have nothing to do with the PnP system of course, but I'm afraid even alignment won't be guaranteed. I never trusted the PnP concept (no experience as I said, just thinking about it). It will only give you perfect overhang, but this on itself means nothing. For a perfect overhang to give you perfect set up, the stylus must be perfectly mounted in the cantilever, and that the cantilever must be perfectly mounted in the cartridge, otherwise a perfect overhang will not give you good alignment or good azimuth and unlike a regular cartridge, you won't be able to twist the cartridge in the headshell to compensate a misaligned cantilever for example. I wouldn't trust Ortofon on this perfection. I have seen many cases of misaligned 2M cantilevers and stylii in this forum and elsewhere. Do your research to be sure, but I doubt a 2M PnP would be trouble free guarantee. Could be, but also could be a problem. Considering what other people say, and trusting their experience, since you are restricted to 2M or Concorde, if I lived in the US I would try the KAB Concordes, 30 or 40: KAB Electro Acoustics http://www.kabusa.com . You don't live there, so it's up to you to decide if you want to risk the chance of a bad unit. It can happen with any manufacturer. I'm not sure how the returning policy would be with KAB from Poland to US, I suppose you can just e-mail him and ask.
I hate to sound like a broken record (pun intended)....I’ve written many posts on this subject, like this one. I’ve had the 2M series, and I don’t like them. The older OM are technically and sonically superior, and cheaper. They track better, hands down, and the 40 has the best stylus Ortofon offers on a moving magnet design. For plug and play on an SL-1200, the best one can get (particularly for the price) is the Concorde Pro S 40 (same as an OM40), which you can buy from KAB. Incidentally, those 2M integrated designs also look too heavy. With the Concorde you don’t need an auxiliary weight. EDIT: Kevin is a really nice guy, and deals with a lot of international customers. I wouldn’t be concerned about buying from overseas. No affiliation.
The whole point of my operation is to get a trouble free option. Now I think it might does not work in practice. Lot's of good observations in your post, that give me food for thought. Thank you!
Of those, I'd go with the 2m black pnp. You will need the aux weight. Personally, I think it's overpriced for what you get. The stylus shape is not as sophisticated as a cheaper MicroLine from Audio Technica, and the finish is cheap looking for the ~£550 price tag.
No, but i will compare the Bronze vs Nagaoka MP200 at one of my local hifi shops at some point. Then i will decide which one i will get. And no you can't use black stylus on Red cartridge Red works with Blue. Bronze with Black.
Among other things Kevin specializes in all things SL1200. He is very reputable and will answer any/all questions usually at length.
Seconded on that thought. The OM range is superior overall to 2M range, better tracking, better sounding, versatile for any LP, 45, mono, Stereo and even shellac playback need. I do use a headshell mount OM, in the Technics headshell, with a 3 gram extra weight in my OM.
Yes. KAB packages them together. The price for the stylus alone is the same, so you essentially get the body free.
I would shy away from a Black in the PnP option as there is no azimuth adjustment with those. Of course you could get a perfect unit I suppose.
True, the OM has higher numbers on the 30/40. Not sure how much that translates into what you hear vs the 2M line.