Summary of "Ortofon 2M Bronze VS 2m Blue - Should You Upgrade?"

Product Reviewed

Ortofon 2M Bronze phono cartridge (compared primarily to Ortofon 2M Blue)

Additional Gear Mentioned: Ortofon SH4 Black headshell (pre-mounted with 2M Bronze), Fluance RT85 turntable, Zen phono stage

Main Features of Ortofon 2M Bronze

Part of Ortofon’s 2M series, positioned above the 2M Blue and Red but below the 2M Black.
Uses a nude fine line stylus, a significant upgrade over the 2M Blue’s nude elliptical stylus.
Recommended tracking force: 1.5 grams (compared to 1.8 grams for the Blue).
Cartridge weight: 7.2 grams; pre-mounted on SH4 Black headshell weighs 16.7 grams.
Tracking angle: 20 degrees (same as 2M Blue and Black).
Stylus interchangeability:
- Bronze, Black, and LVB 250 Black styluses are interchangeable within their group.
- Blue and Red styluses interchangeable with each other.
Pre-mounted option available, offering convenience with minimal setup adjustments.

Pros

Sound Quality: Noticeably better mid-range and bass separation compared to 2M Blue.
Deeper, crisper bass and more present mid-range.
Able to play louder without distortion and reveal more detail at lower volumes.
Cleaner, more neutral sound stage preferred by the reviewer.
Works exceptionally well with the Fluance RT85 turntable and Zen phono stage.
Reference-level sound quality for the price and setup.
Excellent customer service from Ortofon, recommending the Bronze over the Black for RT85 compatibility.

Cons / Considerations

The 2M Black cartridge, while technically higher-end, may not perform well on the Fluance RT85 due to the tonearm’s inability to adjust tracking angle precisely.
Tracking angle sensitivity means not all cartridges are suitable for all turntables without adjustment capability.
Some users may prefer a warmer sound (e.g., Nagaoka MP110 mentioned as a warmer alternative), but that requires a different turntable model (Fluance RT85N) due to tracking angle differences.
The cartridge upgrade is only one part of the system; phono stage and overall setup matter significantly.

User Experience & Setup Notes

The reviewer tested the cartridge for about 1.5 months on a Fluance RT85 with Zen phono stage.
Pre-mounted cartridge on the SH4 headshell made installation easier.
The upgrade was motivated by a growing vinyl collection and desire for better sound from audiophile pressings.
Personal taste and system synergy are key—what sounds best is subjective.
Initial concerns about compatibility with the Zen phono stage were resolved; the combination worked excellently.
The upgrade from 2M Blue to 2M Bronze was surprisingly noticeable, especially on well-known audiophile records like Beck’s Morning Phase, Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill, and Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue (all 45 RPM).

Comparisons Made

2M Blue vs. 2M Bronze: Bronze offers a significant step up in stylus design and sound quality, especially in bass and midrange clarity and separation.
2M Bronze vs. 2M Black: Black requires more precise tracking angle adjustment, making it less suitable for the Fluance RT85 tonearm which cannot be adjusted; Bronze is the better fit for this turntable.
Ortofon 2M Bronze vs. Nagaoka MP110: MP110 is warmer and requires a different turntable model (RT85N) for proper tracking angle; Bronze is more neutral and better matched to RT85.
The reviewer places the Bronze in a higher class than the MP110.

Additional Insights

The reviewer is not a hardcore audiophile but appreciates quality upgrades as their vinyl collection grows.
Plans to possibly upgrade speakers, turntable, or move to a moving coil cartridge in the future.
Encourages community interaction about setups and gear.
Praises Ortofon’s honesty in recommending the Bronze over the more expensive Black for the reviewer’s setup.

Verdict / Overall Recommendation

The Ortofon 2M Bronze is a highly recommended upgrade over the 2M Blue for users with a Fluance RT85 turntable or similar setups that cannot adjust tracking angle. It delivers cleaner, more detailed, and better-separated sound, particularly improving midrange and bass performance without distortion at higher volumes.

While the 2M Black is technically superior, it is not suitable for the RT85 without tonearm adjustment, making the Bronze the ideal choice in this context. The reviewer is enthusiastic about the Bronze and plans to purchase one personally, signaling strong confidence in its value and performance.

Different Speaker Perspectives

The main speaker provides a detailed, personal experience and technical explanation.
Community input (from a live stream and direct emails) helped clarify compatibility issues, especially regarding tracking angle and cartridge choice.
Ortofon representatives advised on the best cartridge fit for the Fluance RT85, showing good customer support.

Summary: If you own a Fluance RT85 or a similar turntable with a fixed tracking angle, upgrading from the Ortofon 2M Blue to the 2M Bronze is a worthwhile investment. It offers a significant sonic improvement with better stylus technology and sound clarity, while maintaining compatibility and ease of setup. Avoid the 2M Black unless your tonearm can be adjusted precisely.