Ortofon Hifi 2M 78

An Ortofon Reference Designed for "Vintage" Playback in the 2M Family

The 2M 78 is part of the Ortofon 2M range, a family of phono cartridges known for its consistency, ease of adjustment, and compatibility with a wide variety of turntables. This model emphasizes playback of 78 rpm records, featuring stylus geometry and tracking parameters designed to prioritize stability, reduce skipping, and provide enjoyable listening even on older pressings.

Who Is It For? DJs, Collectors, Archivists, and Vinyl Enthusiasts

This cartridge is aimed at users who want to utilize a turntable beyond "classic" vinyl: 78 rpm collectors, jazz and historical recording enthusiasts, or profiles focused on digitization/archiving. In DJ contexts, it suits specialized setups and thematic listening where playback reliability and ease of use are paramount.

It will naturally find its place in hi-fi installations as well as on dedicated studio turntables, provided that adjustments (tracking force, angle, and recommended load on the phono preamp side) are carefully made to get the best from your records and preserve the diamond.

Features and Innovations

The 2M 78 is a MM cartridge (moving magnet) rated with an output voltage of 4 mV at 1000 Hz (5 cm/sec), a practical level to achieve good dynamics without excessively boosting the phono preamp gain. Its frequency response from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (+3 / -1 dB) ensures coherent reproduction, while its tracking ability at 315 Hz reaches 70 µm (with recommended tracking force), indicating serious tracking on demanding passages.

The spherical diamond (radius R 65 µm) favors robustness and tolerance to imperfections. The recommended tracking force is 1.8 g (18 mN), with an operating range of 1.6 to 2.0 g (16 to 20 mN), to optimize the balance between groove holding, precision, and wear. On the electrical side, the cartridge is designed for a recommended load of 47 kOhm and a load capacitance of 150 to 300 pF, common values that facilitate integration with many phono stages.

Finally, the 2M ecosystem simplifies maintenance: the 2M 78 replacement stylus is announced as interchangeable with the 2M Mono, a tangible advantage for upkeep and evolving your setup.

Technical specifications

DJing type	Monitoring	Diamond tip	spherical
Category	cell	Color	Black
Type	Moving magnet	Quantity	1
Destination	hifi

Diamond	Spherical	Recommended tracking force	1.8 g (18 mN)
Stylus tip radius	R 65 µm	Tracking angle	20 degrees
Cartridge and stylus color	Black/Grey	Internal impedance	700 Ohm
Replacement stylus	2M 78 (interchangeable with 2M Mono)	Internal inductance	350 mH
Diamond lifespan	with proper care, up to 1000 hours without performance degradation	Recommended load resistance	47 kOhm
Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5 cm/sec.	4 mV	Recommended load capacitance	150-300 pF
Frequency response	20-20,000 Hz (+3 / -1 dB)	2MR cartridge weight	6 g
Tracking ability (315 Hz with recommended tracking force)	70 µm	2M and 2M Verso cartridge weight	7.2 g
Compliance, dynamic, lateral	18 µm/mN	Pre-mounted 2M cartridge weight	16.7 g
Tracking force range	1.6-2.0 g (16-20 mN)