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Ortofon 2M Red Premounted on SH-4

5.0 out of 5 stars from 4 customer ratings

Turntable Cartridge

  • Moving magnet cartridge with mounted SH-4 black headshell
  • For S-shaped tonearms
  • Ready to play without further adjustment
  • Elliptical stylus
  • Output voltage: 5.5 mV
  • Frequency range: 20 Hz - 22,000 Hz
  • Tracking ability at 315 Hz: 70 µm
  • Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g (18mN)
  • Recommended load capacitance: 150 - 300 pF
  • Dimensions: (L x W x H): 65 x 48 x 33 mm
  • Weight: 17 g
  • Colour: Red

Note: Only suitable for S-shaped tonearms, not for straight tonearms

  • Available since April 2023
  • Item number 563424
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Stylus Shaping elliptical
  • Require Headshell No
  • Colour Black/Red
  • Twin/Single Single
  • Application Home/Hifi/Rec
  • Output Voltage in mV 5.5
  • Including Case No
  • Replacement Stylus No
1.990 kr
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

A top-quality entry-level cartridge

The Ortofon 2M Red is a universally compatible turntable cartridge that delivers an open, dynamic, and warm sound, with clearly defined spatial imaging even in dense musical passages. Its bonded diamond stylus, featuring a classic elliptical cut, traces a broad contact area of the groove wall, enabling a wide frequency response of 20Hz to 22kHz, good phase behaviour, and low distortion. Despite its relatively modest price, the 2M Red consistently performs at a level associated with far more expensive cartridges. As sold here, namely already mounted on Ortofon's proprietary SH-4 headshell, the 2M Red is ready to play without any further setup or adjustments.

Ortofon 2M Red Premounted on SH-4

A small price to pay...

The Ortofon 2M Red is the most affordable cartridge in Ortofon's widely respected 2M series. Fitted with a bonded diamond stylus, it delivers a balanced and engaging sound character, with articulate bass, well-resolved midrange, clear highs, and precise spatial imaging. Despite its accessible price point, the 2M Red incorporates several innovations found in Ortofon's higher-end moving magnet cartridges. Among them is Split Pole Pin technology, in which the pole pins are machined with an extremely fine slot to improve signal transfer and high-frequency response. The cartridge body itself is made from Hopelex, a rigid polycarbonate resin designed to minimise unwanted resonances and preserve signal integrity.

Ortofon 2M Red Premounted on SH-4

...for an industry classic

The Ortofon 2M series has established itself as a widely recognised reference point among moving magnet cartridges, and the 2M Red represents an especially attractive option for cost-conscious hi-fi enthusiasts. The Ortofon SH-4 headshell is simply twisted onto any tonearm with a bayonet mount, so the cartridge performs reliably on virtually any modern turntable; thanks to its healthy output voltage of 5.5mV, it also pairs well with older hi-fi equipment. The 2M Red shares its housing, motor, coils, and magnet configuration with the higher-priced 2M Blue, allowing it to benefit from the same proven platform. This consistency has led many turntable manufacturers to include the 2M Red as standard, effectively making it an industry benchmark:.

Ortofon 2M Red Premounted on SH-4

About Ortofon

Founded in Denmark in 1918 by engineers Axel Petersen and Arnold Poulsen, Ortofon has been at the forefront of phono technology for more than a century. The company introduced its first magnetic pickup system, the M-15, in 1969, marking a major milestone in cartridge design. In 1982, Ortofon launched the now-iconic Concorde series, whose futuristic design went on to become a regular fixture in clubs and broadcast environments worldwide. Today, Ortofon designs and manufactures a comprehensive range of moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, covering everything from accessible hi-fi solutions to uncompromising high-end systems for the most demanding listeners.

A really reliable all-rounder

The Ortofon 2M Red is a solid choice for vinyl enthusiasts seeking a dependable and musically engaging cartridge. Its elliptical stylus profile is gentle on records and, under normal conditions, supports a service life of up to 1,000 hours without noticeable degradation in sound quality. The cartridge's balanced tonal character and good level of detail make it equally suitable for everyday listening or for reviving an older turntable with a fresh, more modern sound. While it is not designed for DJ use or heavy cueing, the 2M Red is a versatile and reliable option for enjoying records at home, and it is also well suited to careful digitisation of a vinyl collection.

In the spotlight: Bonded diamonds

Bonded diamonds offer a cost-effective way of equipping a phono cartridge with a high-quality diamond stylus. In this design, a small diamond tip is bonded to a metal shank, which is then attached to the cantilever. While this construction is more economical than a fully integrated nude diamond, it still allows for accurate groove tracking and consistent performance. With the 2M Red, Ortofon demonstrates that a well-executed bonded diamond stylus can deliver impressive sound quality, making it an excellent choice for accessible, high-fidelity vinyl playback.

4 Customer ratings

5 / 5

quality

sound

3 Reviews

K
Flawless
Kamaj11 25.01.2026
Bought this to rip vinyl. Quality's amazing, properly calibrated, excellent sound quality in my setup.
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R
Gute Investition
Ramsessun 23.02.2024
für alle die ihren Turn Table klanglich aufwerten wollen. Das gilt für alle die ein relativ günstiges Gerät haben! Ich habe dieses System an meinen Audio Technica 120 LP USB verbaut. Der Klangunterschied ist deutlich zu hören und das in allen Bereichen, Bässe, Mitten und Höhen. Sie hat auch deutlich mehr Power, Lautstärke und Dynamik. Die Qualität der ganzen Mimik ist super, ansprechend und gefällt mir besser als das damalige Systhem. Die Vorherige Nadel kann hier keinesfalls mithalten. Habe die Systheme mehrmals umgebaut und den Sound so vergleichen können. Das ist hier nicht nur eine klare Kaufempfehlung, sondern meines Erachtens ein Muss die Nadel zu tauschen. Das bezieht sich natürlich auf meinen Dreher! Aber Vorsicht, wer ein teureres Gerät besitzt muss um den Klang eventuell verbessern zu wollen tiefer in die Tasche greifen! Für mein Gerät konnte ich das beste hier herausholen. Wer für sein Gerät mehr als 500 Taler ausgegeben hat, kann \ muss hier locker statt 160 schon ein paar Euro mehr ausgeben. Das ganze muss eben kompatibel sein. Für mich hätte sich eine teurere Nadel nicht gelohnt, da mein Gerät laut Thomann das Spektrum nicht wiedergeben kann. Vielen Dank nochmal an Thomann für die wie immer tolle Beratung.
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