Originally Posted by
Jimbo
Well after swapping to the SPOTFIRE cable the 2M Black has changed character slightly. Gone is the slightly edgy top end and the tendency to harden up on some recordings. It now sounds much more refined but still with all the detail, dynamic live sound I have appreciated for the last 3-4 years.
The power and gravitas this cartridge has is stunning, and its 3D rendering of instruments is very noticeable. I have set this cartridge up more times than I care to remember and can now install it absolutely spot on. I am aware I have now been writing about this cartridge for a long time but as with all aspects of equipment you don't always appreciate all its qualities straight away and over the years I have been drawn to more of the 2M blacks capabilities.
I know for some the 2M cartridge can be too much or they just don't get on with it but when it works with your system in a balanced way it is simply a fabulous cartridge. I think bright speakers and solid state electronics can over egg the pudding so I would suggest valve amplification and soft fabric dome tweeters are your friend.
I have been down a long and interesting path with cartridges over the last few years and indeed have been selling many of them off as I have now found what really works with my system. They have all had their own strengths and weaknesses but the 2M has almost none in my system especially now the new cable has given the cartridge a more favourable capacitance. All this just goes to show system synergy is everything and you have to trust your own judgement on this. The road to audio Nirvana can be a tortuous one but when you reach it you know it!
I have decided now that I will end my search for the perfect cartridge and focus on other areas of my system in future that can be tweaked.
As your joint number1 2MB fan I love reading your musings and write ups about your experiences with it.
It is a superb cart worthy of pride of place in any system.
Some felt £460 for an mm was too much money but having gone through it's pricier siblings / same dna Quintet Black mc and my current Cadenza Black, the truth is the 2MB is a class act at a bargain price, all things considered
My System:
Amplification - Sansui AU-alpha 707 DR
Turntable - Technics SP10 MK2-Technics EPA-250 Tonearm-Yannis Tome 423.5Plus tonearm cable-Eichmann KLEI Absolute Harmony plugs.
Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge-Fritz Gyger S re-tip. Panzerholz plinth.
CDP - Pioneer PD-91
Speakers - Spendor D7 on Soundcare SuperSpikes
QED Silver Spiral speaker cable-airloc banana plugs
Mains - Ultra Pure silver plated un-switched socket-Missing link EPS 500 silver plated plugs-Hi-Fi Tuning gold plated silver ceramic 13 amp fuses