Which Cartrudge For My Upcoming Technics 1200 GR 2 Turnable - Looking at Ortofon 2m Black

Yes, I would be using the Luxman and it's phono (it does both MM and MC). I asked AI and it said that it could handle the Hana ML.

@audphile1 When you mentioned that the 2M black may be a bit much... do you mean that it is to resolving and less energy and power? 

I just looked at the 595 specs. It has 100ohm impedance for MC which may potentially make SL or ML sound even more polite than you want. I would stick with MM cartridges with that luxman. 

Don’t rush - do some research. There are several MM Audio Technica models with line contact stylus that you can add to the comparison when researching. In example AT-VM760xSL

Ortofon 2M Black should still remain on the list but read more reviews to get a better idea for all these cartridges sound characteristics. 

I have the 2M Black on the same TT and love it. My phono pre is an older PS Audio GCPH. I have used this setup on a variety of music for 5 yrs and have no itch to change anything. 

Exciting to get back to vinyl, many promote your TT choice.

A quick and basic look at cartridge cost and technology,

not absolutes, my personal generalities:

I favor Audio Technica, both current and vintage

every one I have ever bought in my youth or now age 77 has sounded involving, natural, nothing bright or edgy about them to my ears. All voices, especially female, are true to my ears. They also cost less than many competitors for ’equal’ technology.

Stylus Shape:

advanced, larger contact/longer lasting stylus shapes started a long time ago with Shibata, and many versions, with miniscule variations were created to be separately patentable, they are essentially the same to my ears: MicroLine; Line Contact; SAS; Special Line Contact; Fritz Geyer; Van Den Hull....

I have found that debris clings to the back edge of Fritz Geyer for some reason, I don’t know why, my experience with only 2 of them.

IOW, Shibata is very good, but I consider the others ’equally very good’

Cantilevers:

aluminum is most common, and if a good price, fitting a budget is fine

Stiffer/Lighter is better, Gems like Sapphire, Tubes (no longer made). Currently most makers are using Boron Rod Cantilevers for their premium and more costly models. Diamond is used for ultimate models.

As cost goes up, cantilever performance tightens, you will see wider channel separation (very high twenties, low thirties) and sometimes tighter channel balance, (0.5db).which affects more precise Imaging more than sound characteristics.

Cost:

2M Black E599 is USD $688.

Shibata on Aluminum Cantilever, channel separation 26db, channel balance 1.0db, one of it’s unique characteristics is it’s strong signal output of 5mv.

AT745xML is only $329. and has an upgraded Boron Cantilever (and body threads so no bottom nut is needed for mounting). Similar separation and balance,

The signal strength is lower: 3.7mv. That is average, normal for MM, however IF you want more volume, from a weaker amount of gain, 5.0mv is the better choice.

So, essentially, you can get the same or better for less cost, but pay attention to the subtle details.

See what you can buy for $688 USD, check the technology and if needed, pay attention to signal strength.

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Ortofon 2m Black LVB (it’s boron upgrade) is E999 = $1,147 USD, that’s a lot, especially since it does not have superior Imaging specs. Still 5.0mV output 

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Tracking Force.

A lot of current cartridges track at 2.0 or 2.5 grams, nothing wrong with that.

I have ventured into Vintage cartridges, with tubes or beryllium cantilevers, no longer made, (with higher separation and tighter channel balance) that track at 1.25 grams. It’s less wear on both the vinyl grooves, AND less wear on the stylus,

AND, it requires less anti-skate force, which is hard to get right.

If you are off by 50%, it’s 50% of 1.25 grams, i.e. .60 grams too much or too little; whereas, if tracking at 2.5 grams, the same 50% error is 1.25 grams too much or too little.

 

I spent quite a bit of time with the 2M Black on a Pro-Ject Classic, running into the MM port of a McIntosh MA352 — a nice, simple setup without needing an external phono preamp.

What stood out immediately was the detail. The highs were clean and extended, and the bass had real weight and definition. It’s an impressive cartridge when everything is right.

But that was also its weakness. The 2M Black is unforgiving — even minor surface noise, a faint scratch, or a bit of debris gets pushed forward. I found myself reaching only for pristine records to really enjoy it.

I eventually moved to a Hana SH. Still running into the MA352’s MM input, but with a different character: just as detailed — possibly more dimensional — yet far more tolerant of real-world vinyl. It lets you relax and enjoy the record, not just analyze it.