Ortofon Stylus 2M Mono
Built to uncover the heart of a dedicated mono collection, the Ortofon Stylus 2M Mono combines a nude spherical diamond with deep groove detail and an accurate, focused presentation. THE AUDIO TAILOR finds it a meaningful performance upgrade, making this a compelling replacement for compatible 2M Mono setups.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
86/100
Build Quality
82/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Reveals deep, accurate detail from mono record grooves.
Delivers a notably elevated and precise mono playback experience.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 86/100
The available review finds this stylus a notably effective upgrade for mono playback, praising its ability to reveal more of what is in the groove. Spatial presentation is inherently a different consideration with mono records, while detail retrieval is the clearest strength discussed.
Overall Sound
89/100
The Audio Tailor says the Stylus 2M Mono elevates mono vinyl playback and presents it as an upgrade capable of improving a mono collection's playback. The review's language is strongly positive, although it offers little detail on tonal balance, dynamics, or bass weight.
Tracking Retrieval
86/100
The review says the stylus unlocks deep, accurate detail from mono records, indicating confident groove tracing and useful low-level information recovery. Its nude spherical profile is intended for mono playback, though the available coverage does not specifically address difficult passages, inner-groove behavior, or surface-noise rejection.
Soundstage Imaging
80/100
This is a mono stylus, so stereo width, channel separation, and conventional left-right imaging are not applicable. The review does not discuss the stability or scale of the centered mono image.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
Its moderate 18 µm/mN lateral compliance and 1.8 g recommended tracking force should make it a practical match for many conventional medium-mass tonearms. As a replacement stylus, it requires a compatible Ortofon 2M Mono setup, and users still need to align it carefully and set tracking force correctly.
Tonearm Compatibility
87/100
The specified compliance and tracking-force range suggest straightforward matching with a broad range of typical tonearms. Compatibility is less universal at the cartridge-body level, since this replacement stylus is intended for the relevant 2M Mono arrangement rather than as a standalone fit for every cartridge.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
82/100
The review refers to precise engineering, and the supplied specification identifies a nude spherical diamond stylus. Reviewers provide little further information on body construction, assembly consistency, or long-term durability.
Value for Money
85/100
At approximately $269 to $377, this is a specialist replacement stylus for listeners committed to mono records and a compatible 2M system. The available review calls it a worthwhile upgrade in performance terms, but does not directly compare its asking price with mono-stylus alternatives.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz 3 / - 1 dB
- Tracking ability at 315 Hz
- 70 µm
- Compliance, dynamic, lateral
- 18 µm/mN
- Stylus type
- Nude Spherical
- Stylus tip radius
- R 18 µm
- Tracking force range
- 1.6-2.0 g (16-20 mN)
- Tracking force, recommended
- 1.8 g (18 mN)
- Tracking angle
- 20°
- Stylus colour
- White
Manufacturer's Description — Ortofon
2M series styli are interchangeable within the following combinations:
2M Red, 2M Blue, and 2M Silver;
2M Bronze, 2M Black, and 2M Black LVB 250;
2M Mono and 2M 78
2M styli interchangeability
The 2M series styli are interchangeable within the following combinations:
1) 2M Red, 2M Blue, and 2M Silver,
2) 2M Bronze, 2M Black, and 2M Black LVB 250,
3) 2M Mono and 2M 78.
Special for 2M Red, 2M Blue, and 2M Silver phono cartridges: 2M Silver will be an upgrade compared to 2M Red due to a special suspension and silver-plated copper wire material. The 2M Blue is an upgrade compared to both 2M Red and 2M Silver thanks to the Nude Elliptical diamond which retrieves information from the groove with a higher accuracy.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Ortofon Stylus 2M Mono
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- 2C Stereo — in-store — Washington, District of Columbia, United States (website)
- à la carte productions — in-store — Palm Coast, Florida, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 371 more verified dealers