Classic Ortofon Cartridges: The MC2000 MK II or the MC3000 MK II?

I can only say than between MC2000 and next mkII version you have to choose MC2000 first version (not mkII).

The MC2000 is very rare model, dedicated headshell included in the box. This is my NOS sample. And this is a booklet.

MC 2000 incorporates Ortofon’s patented Wide Range Damping System, and a new Symmetrical Contact Line diamond. Low-output moving coil with 0.05mV output! Frequency response; 5Hz–50kHz. It was released in 1985 and official price was $1000. I just tried to convert 1k (80’s dollars) to today’s dollars and it’s about $2300. The MC-2000 sure looks as if it’s worth the money. It comes packed in a black-finished wooden box with rabbeted joints, no less, and brushed aluminum latches. The inside is lined with a dark-blue velvet-like material, and has a lift-up hinged panel on top of which nest the cartridge, an Ortofon headsheil, and a "certificate" listing quality-control measurements on the enclosed cartridge. Made in Denmark.


P.S. The mkII is cheap and very easy to find model, you can recognize it my white plastic (ceramic) body, this model is veery often available for sale for $500.

The first version (the original MC2000) is much more expensive cartridge, extremely rare in mint condition or NOS, and you can recognize is by aluminum body and tapered aluminum pipe cantilever. Make sure the cantilever is original, this type of cantilever is not available today from any retipper and not even from Ortofon. You may need a dedicated SUT designed by Ortofon for this particular cartridge. This cart is very difficult to run with conventional phono stage, you need a high gain and super low noise. The sound quality is absolutely amazing if you can find the right phono stage, sut or headamp for this super low output model.

It's true that buying any vintage cartridge a buyer must have trained eye :)) 

The question is who is your supplier, you can buy NOS MC2000 only from serious collectors of vintage high-end, and they can honestly describe the condition. My NOS sample is absolutely perfect and fully original, I am so happy to have it in my collection of the best LOMC. Never seen a NOS sample for sale, only hardly used or damaged samples. This is very rare model.

Expert Stylus is nice little company and their Paratrace is nice profile, but the genuine Ortofon MC2000 stylus profile is NOT a Replicant 100.

The stylus profile is "Symmetrical Contact Line Diamond".

The problem why no one can equally retip the stylus tip is its Press-Fit method. Once the diamond is press-fit you can't press-fit another. They can only glue a new tip, but it’s another method.


You should ask our @edgewear about model 7500 and related stuff. 

I also discovered a recent MC 2000 sale Ad’ where a Beryllium Cantilever is in use.

1) This is total BS on yahoo, the cantilever transplanted from Audio-Technica cartridge if you can’t see it !

Gold-Plated Beryllium cantilever is Audio-Technica exclussive.

The stylus tip also replaced with glue. This Ortofon MC2000 has been rebuild, stay away from this one! Please do not start this nonsense discussion about rebuild vs. original. The original cantilever on MC2000 is very special aluminum, not just a cheap aluminum junk people can buy today. It’s completely different cantilever and to see it please find a booklet for Ortofon MC2000 and look at the pictures.

Ortofon ST-2000 SUT normally goes for $1500
But for the minty fresh condition Ortofon MC-2000 prepare to pay more (it’s impossible to find NOS).

2) Another sample on Yahoo has BENT CANTILEVER. It’s clearly visible that cantilever bent to one side too much. This is used sample in bad condition. Seller explained that you can’s use headshell, treated holes for screws are damaged. And you have no idea about suspension.

I also discovered a recent MC 2000 sale Ad’ where a Beryllium Cantilever is in use. I am using Beryllium Cantilevers on my Ortofon MC Rebuilds and am totally satisfied. I have another Ortofon MC rebuild lined up to use the Beryllium with a Ogura Vital.

Another Ortofon is another original cartridge and not a Frankenstein made by someone in Japan using cantilever from cheap Audio-Technica cartridge and glued it to the Ortofon MC2000.

I bought mine long time ago, then I tried it with Gold Note PH-10 phono stage, then I put it back into the box. Too many cartridges here, at the moment my current mode phono stage working in my system with FR-7fz. What surprising me the most after a long long break is zyx headamp with my FR-7f. 

However, If there will be another NOS MC2000 somewhere in the future I will place a bid. 

Ortofon is Danish company, generally Japan is the wrong place to look for cartridges made in Europe. 

Japan is the right place to look for cartridges made in Japan. 

The packaging style of those classic Ortofon is amazing. I remember huge clear display case cut like a Replicant-100 diamond.

German Audio Markt is a great market place if you are in Europe, sometimes you must be in Germany, it’s better if you speak German too :) There are local market place in Denmark where I bought some amazing cartridges even though the site is not designed for international buyers at all (but sellers are nice). Superb stuff available not only from Europe, but from Russia as well where the audiophile scene is pretty strong (however, the problem sometimes is language barrier). You can find almost everything high-end in Russia nowadays, especially in Moscow or St.Petersburg (two biggest cities).

As I said earlier the most important is who’s the seller. You can’t personally communicate with Japanese auction sellers at all if they are not on ebay. In my opinion personal communication with the seller direct is HUGE benefit for the buyer! If you can communicate with the seller you can ask to declare lower value for custom control, because in most countries in this world, except USA, the import tax is huge and it’s not good to declare full value for an old rare and expensive cartridge to pay additional 30% import tax.

For security reason paypal is a must (best buyer’s protection from scam).

Do you like it? 

After 7500 series there was Erik Rohmann model, read about it HERE 

@nandric re-cantilevered by Axel, isn’t it ?
Or it was Lewm’s sample re-cantilevered by Axel ?
I forgot.

Glad you dig vintage cartridges (even if yours is re-tipped) for everyday use. I hope you can find a NOS samples of what you’re looking for. People who are into sound are well aware how good those high-end carts from the ’80s and ’90s really are (straight from the box).

My ZYX headamp is back and I like this flavor a lot with low impedance FR-7f cartridge. Check in my virtual system page on audiogon.