Ortofon OM5E vs 2M Red

Music by: www.kskomorows...
A sound comparison between two Ortofon Cartridges under 100$: The Om5e and the 2m Red. Which one do you prefer?

[@ArtofComics]

man that's hard, I heard an ever so slight difference, but I would be hard pressed to say which is "better"

[@socksumi]

Best to compare the 2M Red withe OM-10 which are closer in price. Note: the Ortofon OM cartridges cost of stylus replacement is notably cheaper than the 2M line. Something to consider if you can't choose between the two. The 2M line is aan OM with a fancy jacket wrapped around it. Ortofon jacks up the price for this reason alone. In my opinion the 2M Red sounds marginally better than the OM5 but the OM 10 sounds better than the 2M Red and it's stylus is cheaper to replace.

[@bdsattern]

I recently picked up a Pro-Ject hybrid turntable, basically a T1 BT with speed controls, that came stock with an OM10 - I was very impressed by the sound quality of this cartridge - very balanced and detailed. OM is definitely Ortofon’s sleeper line.

[@hanscleung4633]

Thanks for your info. I will go ahead and order the om5 - then upgrade to the 10stylus later down the track.

[@paulrolfe4599]

Thanks guys , you've just helped me make my decision I'm going OM10 into my Super OM cart as apposed to buying a 2M Red. Just plugs in , no need to mess about with those delicate wires either

[@musicmurf]

I can't tell I'm drunk.

[@wojciechrosciszewski]

I can only relate.

[@Audiorevue]

I've always liked the om series, I've heard a few of the 2M series but in my opinion it doesn't get good until you go to the blue and it doesn't truly get exceptional until you get it to the orange and of course the black. At this price level, under $100, I would almost always choose the om series because of it's more easy going nature and more peaceable demeanor. Plus as others have noted replacement stylus are cheaper and easier to do as well. The only real advantage at this level of going with red in my opinion is the fact that it would be slightly easier to install and align properly because of its square edges.

[@casbox9156]

For me it sounds like the om5e is a bit warmer and has deeper base... But the 2m red is clearer

[@NeedleDropRules]

Definitely the 2M Red. Just listen to the drum stick hitting the ride cymbal. Much crisper and lifelike!

[@tgxperience]

The red sounds brighter but tends to be hissy on the high notes for me. I did notice muddier bass on the red.

[@blarfneggs3728]

People just like the way the Red looks. Barely a difference in sound.

[@jean-micheldeleaz7248]

J'ai 2 platines équipées d'une OM5E, je trouve le son tout à fait correct pour le prix de la cellule 😊

[@Rancherinaz]

That’s a $70 cartridge vs a $100 cartridge . A more fair comparison would be the OM10 vs the 2M Red . That’s still an $80 cartridge vs a $100 cartridge and I’d bet the OM10 beats out the 2M Red for $20 less .

[@iroau]

There is no difference to me:(

[@ColocasiaCorm]

OM5e definitely flatter. 2M Red has suppressed highs???

[@davidvaillancourt9182]

Hi, Have you had any experience with the Ortofon Super OM cartridge? I am considering the 2M Red or the Super OM10, can you offer any advice between the two? Thanks

[@thorbampougias311]

Go for ortofone super om, more natural sound

[@guitarslf132]

red always sounds distorted at the top to me

[@DanubioRodriguez]

La 0M5E es la misma que la pro S ?

[@luismusic80]

Son difrentes la pro s esta diseñado para scrash tiene un lapiz esferica , pero igual puedes oir musica, por que tiene una buena calidad.

[@Comicdominicano]

RED!

[@pacoaragon520]

2red mejores agudos. Sonido más dinámico.

[@obatron1]

1:06 - whoops lol

[@slats66]

Slightly more detail on the RED.

[@сергейбурцев-т4ж]

10 басов больше...

[@alfonsod6557]

Can’t afford the 2m red so I just turn the treble up a bit on my receiver so the Om5e gets a little more high end detail.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

I couldn't hear any difference

[@vinylcity1599]

The red sounds more dynamic, (open)!

[@rogerjones9174]

I could not hear any difference.

[@el34glo59]

I love how everyone always associates brighter with better lol

[@needley]

The red is a tad more open but nothing that significant to warrant the price hop.

[@disityp]

It is beyond me how anyone could even think that comparing sound of HiFi components over youtube video is possible.

[@epochphilosophy]

.... You can. Of course it's better to have a direct download to an audio source, but KZbin compression has came a LONG way. It's silly to pretend you can't discern certain tonal and sound differences on a KZbin video.

[@peterjosvai9804]

exactly :)

[@wernercedillo8797]

@@epochphilosophy KZbin encodes the audio of a video up to 1080p at 128 Kbps AAC. This codec is terrible, and very lossy. It clips audio at a maximum frequency of 16,000 KHz (@16 bit-depth), which is noticeable under my ears. This codec has been in use since KZbin launched in 2005 and ran on Adobe Flash. KZbin over time has had to re-encode old videos uploaded before 2015 multiple time leading to even lossier audio and video. KZbin now encodes videos at 4k resolution or above with the open-source Ogg Vorbis (WEBA) codec at 160 Kbps. This codec is better, but still lossy. It clips audio at 20,000 Khz (@16 bit-depth) and sounds much better, but is unacceptable due to how lossy it is. Vimeo (pro) seems to have better compression algorithms for audio and video, but there's no good content here, hence why it's not used by many people. Furthermore, many systems have old hardware and/or software with latency issues, horrible decoding to analog, and audio clipping, but this is far more complicated.

[@epochphilosophy]

@@wernercedillo8797 Everything you said here is not up for contention by anyone here, including me. You're 100% correct. But, my point still stands. Regardless of there being better audio codecs, you can STILL easily discern tonal differences on KZbin.

[@paianis]

@@wernercedillo8797 Either one is enough to represent vinyl playback tbh.

[@kaosmonger73]

The OM is warmer while the Red is brighter. I enjoy a warmer sound, so I like the OM better.

[@rael2099]

Hmmm Tough choice. At first I went for the OM, but at a second listen, I chose the Red. Then neither or both. The percussions sound better with the Red, although the voice sound warmer, and the bass is more present with the OM. The Red have better channel separation, and clearer but sounds kind of... hissy? A bit distorted on the treble and highs. OM sounds a bit muddy to compensate. Sentence : both are not balanced. Lol

[@TheBurg229]

Is my hearing just too damaged to hear the difference?

[@SidBonkers51]

Big difference but isnt the 2m Red more akin to the OM10?

[@thorbampougias311]

Red bright makes not want to listen after 5min, om5s natural easy sound

[@Jimmy5934-e1y]

It sounds like the L and R channels got flipped between the two examples and it’s throwing me off.

[@five5x]

Om5e has a lot of deep bass. The red is a little clearer sounding and bit more open, but at the end when the midrange bass kicked in it got really muddy.

[@petrovichpp]

Открыто,это как?

[@TheFreakonhell]

2m red definitely clearer and more dynamic! Thanks for the test!

[@yorkemar]

I have the om10...its a bit duller than my red...but sure is easier on surface noise....good for older slightly crackly records.

[@brutuscadaver4061]

ом5!

[@stefanhertweck]

2M Red: more open, cleaner treble, more detailed sound stage.

[@fabiocostaarismendi]

The red one are more bright than the om

[@dofist]

Both sounds the same :)

[@HD-J.R.]

Beat both with the OM 20.

[@espresso8925]

Om5e is better 😂

[@Tony-pk6ql]

Just upgraded from the OM5E to the 2M Red, and YES the sound is definitely richer, with more bass and indeed more volume. There really is an improvement!

[@eltucamote3903]

Om5 more natural

[@PurpleDreki]

Very close! But I like how the 2M stylus looks compared to the OM5E. :)

[@sbornot2b]

Just ordered an Orbit U-Turn with Ortofon 2M Red.

[@Gamer420life]

Great machine! Ended up with a carbon debut but im trying to get my buddy into vinyl so im pushing him towards the orbit

[@AlexanderTheGreat91]

I'm gonna get a u-turn. First real record player. Came here cause I'm debating between the two stylus. Anything you've noticed with the red?

[@sbornot2b]

@@AlexanderTheGreat91 It is bright, but very clear. I'm in my 50's and have some high frequency hearing loss, so bright suits me better than warm, which usually just sounds muddy to me.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

OMFG. I want something that will actually fit my Garrard Zero 100. The 5 looks like it should Pretty sure the Red and similar won't due to screws

[@leon9021]

By the way, do you have an anti stat gun?

[@gabrielprof2010]

I would like to know where I could buy this Record album.

[@kasperchristensen8416]

Both have pros/cons. I personally think the red MM has a more "cozy" sound (in lack of a more technical term) that appeals to me.

[@fabriziovigni4076]

The red is brighter but in the long run its sound can get fatiguing.

[@markslonina5736]

Excellent comparison

[@hwrk777]

red is slightly brighter. 5e is warmer.

[@BronsonOsborne]

Ortofon OM5E

[@essasolex]

Aww I wish I was one of those people that thinks they’re hard to tell apart but those sound like two different snare drums man lmaoo damn I needed that price break.

[@essasolex]

But thanks for the video!

[@foa370]

=

[@svatopluksroubek7928]

OM5E has a better sound resolution. By using of 2M Red the sound is too mixed for me, I don't hear some of instruments clearly enough there.

[@leon9021]

Agreed here, the red opens up the sound stage, sort of like in the AT95E comparison.

[@mikehirsh1896]

Is this stylus better then a OM40

[@izzyrod9751]

OM 40 compares to the M2 Black

[@VinylComeback]

No way, the OM40 is a line contact and both the OM5E and the Red are simple ellipticals

[@mikehirsh1896]

I actually have two OM40 I bought one in 2019 and the other around 2021 and somehow I got them for 275.00... Now they're hard to find online it seems and they're like 550.00 for one stylus ... I use a Technics SL-B300 because I simply can't handle tone arm knobs and balancing the tone arm with protractors .... The P mounts are also another issue ... I can't tell if they're a crappy turntable or somewhat decent ... And I think why can they make new p mount turntables I bought my first one in 1983 and they were just being released... The relief i felt the way that the tone arm was automated and etc.... just the screw the cart on the cheapo tone arm ... And then the slipping of the pitch wheel ... I'm thinking just how good or bad are these old turntables ...

[@thomasbass3544]

It's strange, I've searched high and low for Hayleigh Smith vinyl and it doesn't seem to exist. How are you comparing carts?

[@Audiorpheus_Vinyl]

I had the vinyl made. I married her.

[@thomasbass3544]

I downloaded the album via Bandcamp, she's fantastic and I never would've heard of her if it wasn't for you. Thanks for sharing.

[@Audiorpheus_Vinyl]

That was you! Every time there is a sale (there have been 4) there are shrieks and jumps for joy! Thank you.

[@antonelosheytanov1528]

Could you please point to the Bandcamp page because I can't seem to find it

[@gabrielleite2313]

I Just knew her because of this vídeo, and I looked for this vynil in Camp Band site, but that was offsale, unffortunately. So I intend to buy the digital album. I do note like to listen to music in Spotify ir Deezer. I am oldstyle.

[@keithparkhill8546]

Neither. Elliptical stylus don't get groovy unless they are nude because they distort easily. Without a nude I use spherical.

[@neandrewthal]

I used the OM5E for 10 years on my P1 and I recognized it's muddy bass heavy sound right away. It kind of instantly jolted me back in time and reminded me I'm glad I finally left it behind.

[@thorbampougias311]

Nope that's not true, the sound of om5se is natural, easy going, the red is bright that's it so bright that after 5 min you don't want to listen any more. My system: pioneer av amp from 90s, Mitchell turntable micro, speakers B&w p4

[@rigondamono5309]

Jezus omg

[@narkspud691]

This comparison would be a heck of a lot easier if the stereo channels weren't reversed on one of the carts. (I don't know which one - I'm not familiar with the mix.)

[@Trance88]

I thought the 2m Red sounded off.