Ortofon 2M Series PnP and Concordes for Technics SL-1200GR

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by DoF, Aug 11, 2019.

  1. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    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!
     
  2. GyroSE

    GyroSE Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sweden
    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.
     
    woodpigeon and DoF like this.
  3. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    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?
     
  4. RPM

    RPM Forum Resident

    Location:
    Easter Island
    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?
     
    DoF likes this.
  5. Livewire91

    Livewire91 Mammagamma Member

    Location:
    Finland
    You could always buy the Ortofon Bronze cartridge and later just upgrade the stylus to Black.
     
    raye_penber and DoF like this.
  6. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    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
     
  7. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    This? There's no upgrade option from Red to Black, I guess :uhhuh:?

    @Livewire91 have you listened to Bronze or Black on new Technics?


    [​IMG]
     
    Livewire91 likes this.
  8. punkmusick

    punkmusick Amateur drummer

    Location:
    Brazil
    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.
     
    bever70, avanti1960 and snorker like this.
  9. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    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.
     
  10. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    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!
     
  11. Robert C

    Robert C Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    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.
     
  12. Livewire91

    Livewire91 Mammagamma Member

    Location:
    Finland
    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 :D Red works with Blue. Bronze with Black.
     
    DoF likes this.
  13. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    Do they specialise in used gear?
     
  14. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
    Among other things Kevin specializes in all things SL1200. He is very reputable and will answer any/all questions usually at length.
     
    DoF likes this.
  15. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    So Concorde Pro S option with some OM's upgrade like 20, 30 or 40?
     
  16. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    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.
     
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  17. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    Funny, I assumed the 2M Series is going to be an absolute winner :)
     
  18. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    I’m sure Ortofon would too....;)
     
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  19. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    Yes. KAB packages them together. The price for the stylus alone is the same, so you essentially get the body free.
     
    DoF likes this.
  20. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    Yeah, that's true :D
     
  21. Slick Willie

    Slick Willie Decisively Indecisive

    Location:
    sweet VA.

    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.
     
  22. Slick Willie

    Slick Willie Decisively Indecisive

    Location:
    sweet VA.

    The OM series is more versatile (?), but better sounding is subjective.
     
    DoF likes this.
  23. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    Better tracking is objective though, as evidenced by the specs listed on Ortofon’s own website!
     
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  24. DoF

    DoF Less is more... Thread Starter

    Location:
    Poland
    So is this the best option?

    This:

    [​IMG]

    plus this:

    [​IMG]
    or this:

    [​IMG]
     
  25. Slick Willie

    Slick Willie Decisively Indecisive

    Location:
    sweet VA.
    True, the OM has higher numbers on the 30/40. Not sure how much that translates into what you hear vs the 2M line.
     

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