Grado Black vs Ortofon 2M Red

Music by Kayleigh Skomorowski. Preorder her new album "Stay Wild" on vinyl here: kck.st/3qsv4sV
My Cartridge Comparison Playlist: • Turntable Cartridge Co...
In this cartridge shootout we will pit the Grado Black 2 vs the Ortofon 2m Red. Who will win!?

[@vinylcity1599]

The black has 30db stereo separation, and the red 22db! But the red sounds more open, dynamic! I guess channel separation isn't everything!

[@NeedleDropRules]

Hands down, 2M Red over the Grado Black. Highs were so much more crisp an lifelike.

[@karellen00]

The 2m is the clear winner, more detailed and open especially in the busy passage, but somehow I prefer the grado, and how it presents the midrange. I really like those comparisons, they are incredibly useful!

[@Audiorpheus_Vinyl]

Thanks! And I appreciate that everyone is looking for something different from their setup, glad that I can help

[@rollingtroll]

Brighter is not more detailed. The Grado is way more defined and way more transparent. It just has less highs. But you can change that by replacing other things in your chain, you can't polish a turd though. And the 2M Is a turd. As for the Grado though; I wouldn't recommend it since there's carts like the Nagaoka MP110 and the AudioTechnica AT-VM95E. But it's not a bad cart. And especially with the cheapo black, you could do much worse. If you like the Black's warmth but you want a bit more looseness and musicality, go Sumiko Pearl. Even warmer (over the top warm) but it's a super pleasant sounding cart. Ortofon 2M? Just say nay. doesn't matter which colour.

[@exchangedspider]

@@rollingtroll lmao, username checks out!

[@421CentralIowa]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video! I have the ortofon red and in this video it sounds better, however it can be more shrill or pick up more static on the record I'm guessing. The black may be more pleasing to listen to music on older/damaged records. My collection is a lot of lounge/exotica/tiki music and sometimes too much detail up high is a bad thing in that regard. Just an opinion.

[@7JANEWAY]

I did a blind listen, and it was Ortofon all the way. This is why I have an Ortofon 2m Blue on my TT--and I highly recommend it. But if your budget doesn't allow for the Blue, then the Red will still give you good sound at a decent price.

[@brucenapfel336]

Better bass and mid range with the Grado, cleaner more extended high end response with the Ortofon. Both sound pretty good.

[@armanddimeo6575]

I have used Grados and Ortofons for years. Each has its own virtues and deficits. The Ortofon is cleaner and technically more linear. It also tracks better than the Grado. However, the Grado has more body and has a better midrange. The Ortofon can sound thin on some recordings.

[@mikeformato8655]

I liked the Grado myself, the highs seemed smoother with less shrieking noise that was painful to my ears. I am not pro, but it just seemed more friendly to my ears.

[@impirecords4047]

yeah...ortofon suck...the highs end up distorting and choral voices etc sound shhhh il!

[@rustyjeep2469]

@@impirecords4047 That seems a tad hyperbolic

[@impirecords4047]

@@rustyjeep2469 i got hyperbolic ears...like bela lagosi

[@christopher2327]

@@rustyjeep2469 it's not I have the 2m red and hate it, so shrill and distorted highs and awful awful sibilance issues

[@eccentricworx]

I have a grado green and a grado silver, I really liked the sound of both! as I started digitizing I couldn't deal with the humming of the grado anymore, so I switched back to my original technics system and got a new Swiss made elliptical nude stylus for it. What a relief, much better tracking, much more detail, resolution and dynamics. Even the Mids which grados are known for sound better. Day and night! The only thing that is better on the grado is (technically) the channel separation... I think over time grado users simply get used to that what they call warmth, which is nothing more than a bit more Low-end down from 40Hz and the total lack of highs... The tracking even on the silver wasn't that good to justify its price. I don't think I will ever go back to grado.

[@guitarvaultstore8032]

Wow huge difference!

[@rustyjeep2469]

Well after hearing this I think the Ortofon sounds better, and I have the Grado Black (mine might be a v1?)... the Ortofon is a touch bright, but the clarity is soo much better than the Grado.

[@traceyray5509]

Both exhibit distinct characteristics. You simply cannot base which is better by themselves. YOu have to match with your sound system. If you have a clinical detail speaker and in a bright lively room , then the 2M will be an ear torture. In that regards the Grado Black2 is the better match. Else if you have a warm set-up, the 2M will bring out more details and the Black2 will enhance the muddiness. YMMV as usual.

[@stephendare942]

I have a 2M blue and a Grado 2 green and the sound changes depending on what turntable I fit them to, Its hard to compare.

[@stephendare942]

I have a 2m blue and a Grado green 2 fitted with a red stylus, they are both good.

[@thinkzinc100]

The Black is FM radio. The Red, a CD. The difference is in the detail. People complain about the Red being bright but is that worse than sounding like mud?

[@StardustRenegade]

What do you have VTA set at for the Grado?

[@petersammon8771]

The 2M read is the clear and I do mean clearer is champ here. Thanks great job on the video And hopefully The manufacturer keeps the price of the 2M red below $100.

[@Nightrelic]

I'd go with the 2M red. The Black was just missing too much of the high end. I guess it depends on whether you're prone to pumping up the bass or the treble which one you're going to like better. I can't even imagine being happy with the Grado and my tendency is pumping up the treble.

[@PurpleDreki]

The 2M Red sounds a tad louder and more forward than the Grado, but that may only be due to the higher output voltage of the Red. The Grado is more laid back, but has a great sound.

[@FinalBaton]

The red has a thin, ear-grating sound I really don't like that stylus (with blue stylus it's really good though) Grado has much better midrance and much more pleasing sound to me. stock it's not super extended in the frequency extremes (although adding the 8MZ stylus fixes that) but what's there is so solid.

[@gurdyman1]

I use 8MZ on my vintage XF1 (silver equivalent). I couldn't ask for a more musical sound. I load it down to 23kOhm and oh so sweet.

[@patrikfloding7985]

@@gurdyman1 23kOhm, presumably?

[@gurdyman1]

@@patrikfloding7985 I fixed it, Thanks. Mind was elsewhere, I guess.

[@frankmadrid1846]

Red sound more open and clear but the Black definitely had better low end response. Preference at this point. Both not bad just slightly different.

[@zapwatt]

I like the way the Ortofon highlights cymbals and snare drum but I definitely think the Grado sounds better overall, especially on vocals. The Grado doesn't have the harshness of treble like the Ortofon seems to and the midrange is very present.

[@MightyPriest]

for me same category both good

[@cubdukat]

Although I like the sound of the 2M Red more, I ended up putting the Black1 on my Music Hall because I didn't need a heavier counterweight. But now that it looks like the Music Hall is dead, I'm going to be getting a Pioneer PLX-500 and I'll be ordering a pre-mounted 2M Red before I do. I listen to a lot of classical music, and it seems like the Red would be perfect for that. Plus there's that entire "Grado Hum" thing...

[@Jellybeantiger]

Ortofon clearer but Grado hides the surface noise.

[@spittindatruthaboutrecords9421]

take the grado if you dont want to hear the womans voice if you want relaxed and smooth and to hide the singers voice and you want the shimmer and sparkle sucked out of your records than the grado is an excellent choice,,,, I usually keep a grado red around for records that are naturally headache inducing,,,, there is a place for both cartridges in my system....

[@chris-8092]

more detail of higher frequencies, higher Tone or midrange and tweeters, in the ortofon, i think. Ohh maybe I should spend the extra and buy ortofon cartridge

[@QoraxAudio]

Grado Black2 to get the bass out of my old Hardstyle vinyls. Ortofon 2M Red to get Miles Davis trumpet swinging. Conclusion: buy both. Btw, on what load capacitance are these tested? Both their own nominal? Bcos relatively high load capacitance gives more treble, relatively low gives more bass. It's a classic mistake to forget to set the appropriate load capacitance when comparing cartridges by leaving it as it is (or using a pre-amp with a load that can't be adjusted).

[@etabeta8480]

Every MM cartridge needs it's correct capacitance to sound in the right way. Grado cartridges are not MM but iron mobile and their sound should not be affected by the capacitance. Excuse me for my english.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@etabeta8480 Ah interesting! I didn't know the Grado are Moving Iron! I don't have any MI cartridges yet, so that makes these Grado even more appealing to me. Thanks.

[@etabeta8480]

@@QoraxAudio i have a Grado Silver, i find it has a correct sound but less dynamic than other cartridges. This is my opinion of course but for this the Grado is not my preferred.

[@vaughntonkin539]

higher capacitance gives less upper treble (above 10K)

[@QoraxAudio]

@@vaughntonkin539 Depends on where the resonance peak of the capacitance is. For the 2M Red (and Blue), the resonance peak is outside the human hearing when the capacitance is low to medium. By increasing the capacitance, the resonance peak shifts into the audible range, making treble more present. Until you keep adjusting above 300 or 350 pF, then the peak shifts towards the mid frequencies and treble starts to become lower...

[@gunjabeans]

The red may be brighter but the highs sound grainy to me.

[@mikeformato8655]

Robby Lapp that's what I thought. Thats why I picked the Grado.

[@commo1967]

Here I hear the difference :) 2M sounds brighter

[@MCVessels]

No, the Grado sounds muddier!

[@Socooomfy]

2M red hands down. The Grado sounds like you put mayonaise on the speaker.

[@chandlerlewis3309]

lmfao you guys are so melodramatic with your indictments on SLIGHTLY worse sounds.

[@edwyrd4227]

The 2M Red loses all the bass and sounds tinny.

[@jordancraighead]

the grado sounds like a neumann u87. the ortofon sounds like a akg c414

[@Jammerk40]

The 2M red has better highs the Grado black was just as I knew it would be because I have one and it didn't put out the highs very well!

[@leonardblush2557]

Can't take those Red highs. Black has more defined bass, probably deeper seeming. I have a Green in house that replaced a Red. Much easier to listen to, better foundation. Criticisms that some Grado Prestiges can be a bit thin in the midrange are probably valid. Had a Sumiko Rainer in the house for a few days and the Green seemed similar, but not as full, when I returned to it. Not complaining or changing, but when the Green is worn, the Rainier or Olympia will move in.

[@patrikfloding7985]

I'd say the Black2 is misaligned, or has too much pressure on it. Anyway, youtube isn't really up to showing quality LP playback. Doing lossy audio, I guess a brighter souurce might win out. In addition most consumer headphones are very bass heavy. How do I know the test is not meaningful? Both sound very bad here, but not so in real life.

[@Nym1a]

Black2 sounds muffled and more bassy. 2M Red is way more clear, bright sounding. Latter wins for me.

[@vinylcity1599]

Hampus Olsson and it's extremely obvious too!

[@TeresaGarcia-mq4ot]

Hampus Olsson m

[@VIDSTORAGE]

The Grado sounds as if the treble knob was turned back and muffled and the drum and cymbal tapping is far back ,, Otrofon sounds way better on the bright ends and up front .

[@manolo020177]

1:10 los armónicos suenan más claros

[@VIDEOMAKER-vx7oc]

Ortofon...yes

[@nightstand68]

I’m not crazy about the black but I’ll take it over the red.

[@robertperformance5260]

The Grado lacks the hyped top end of the Ortofon. Does live music have that extra edge? Nooo.

[@MCVessels]

But outside of classical, a lot of live music has bad acoustics/mixing. If my record collection sounded like a gig I'd be very disappointed.

[@robertperformance5260]

An LP record should be reproduced correctly. What does that have to with live gigs?

[@EddieJazzFan]

Sorry New Yorkers, but In this case Denmark stomps Brooklyn.

[@djbryanladd]

Ortofon

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

Grado all the way,i like that you can upgrade the stylus on the Grado without having to change the entire cartridge an re-align everything.

[@DanubioRodriguez]

Ortofon forever

[@isiahbethel5956]

The audio was altered

[@ememe1412]

For all the praise of the Red, how long did most keep their's before hankering for the Blue or something else? Anyone actually ever blunted a Red let alone replaced it with another Red? It might sound clearer with better treble extension but that wears off and it's actually unengaging to listen to in the long run. Not a bad word yet I don't know anyone that stuck with it too long past a year and a half. Nothing wrong with it (although it cant track hot recordings well) in general but it's like the boring girlfriend that didn't really do anything wrong but you had to let go... If I was still on single drivers, definitely the Black. The Red is not for dry speakers... I'm going to question the Black set up on this. The midrange tone was there but with muddy upper bass making it sound more congested for a cart with 30db separation?...

[@thinkzinc100]

I have a red and a blue (as well as many other varieties). To me, the red sounds like a CD (almost boring). It's very accurate, detailed, has great tracking and is as said, a bit bright. The blue is similar but much more sophisticated and open. I'm curious about the grado options. I'm sure they are more vibrant and interesting in real life. The truth is, for $99 The red is pretty outstanding. Yet mine is on the shelf. Side note: I'm starting to really dig the newer audio technica VM nude elyptical.

[@rollingtroll]

People who prefer the 2M have no concept of transparency. More highs is not better, folks. The 2M is just harsh and agressive. Low end is a mess, highs are harsh without adding any details, midrange is completely muddy. Bare in mind though; These carts should never be used in the same arm to begin with. Very different compliance.

[@ChristopherYork1978]

Not how I'm hearing it. Literally the Grado is just rolled off and wooly in comparison. Listening done on a vintage speaker vs listening directly to a monitor mix is how it sounds to me but neither are "wrong" really. I found the bass to be no more informational in the Grado's low end but it certainly was a warm bath of bass if that's what you value.

[@ToneNerdPickups]

Keep the orto and turn down the treble.

[@stewbuds65]

Ortofon has too much sibilance/sybilance . But more interestingly the spell checker does not like either spelling. If you have a bright sounding system the Ortofon will give you ear ache. If you have small speakers then the Grado will help with its deep bass.

[@bidenneedshisbuttwiped]

The black sounds flat compared to the red.

[@badbanano]

2m very hollow.

[@bru4003]

ortofon more definition.

[@dtv266]

Both sound like a Galaxy 4

[@Audiorpheus_Vinyl]

Weird response; is like saying that your cartridges always sound like the speakers you are using.

[@JacobFrey]

I've seen this comment somewhere else, another video. Very troll-like. Listening to music on a phone speaker is a bad idea, period.

[@tomc0240]

lol he's just making a joke

[@QoraxAudio]

r/wooosh k. so 2009.

[@megadeth440]

I feel that’s a terrible song to demo. Or he gots a shity setup, my grado black 3 doesn’t sound like that

[@Man_eee]

I'm siding towards the Grado black3 I like my bass But I do like nice high just not painfully. The Cartridge should sound better after like 30+ hours of use correct? I haven't played records in years & want to get back into it.

[@ememe1412]

Ortofon red on a 1.3 genie tracking at 1.8g was the first and only time I've seen a cart literally spat out of the groove by 3mm playing Modjo's Lady... just saying

[@user-dd5cl2gw6u]

ortofon /

[@ElectoneGuy]

Grado Prestige series cartridges sound like ass.

[@anderswaltereriksen5579]

The Grado sounds pluffy here. However, if you put the Grado on a proper record player, the Grado will outcompete the Ortofon anytime. Get a grip and do your homework, please.

[@DJWolves97]

Gross, the red is too harsh

[@ApatheticMeh]

They both sound bad.

[@govertkrul3720]

Teknogod17 😂😂😂

[@grimoire7851]

: )