Ortofon 2M Blue Pre-Mounted on SH-4 Headshell

The 2M Blue, Ready to Play

This is the Ortofon 2M Blue pre-mounted and aligned on a quality Ortofon SH-4 headshell, so it's ready to play the moment it arrives. If your tonearm takes a detachable headshell, you skip the fiddly job of mounting and aligning a cartridge yourself, just clip it on, set the tracking force, and enjoy the 2M Blue's open, detailed sound.

Why You'll Love It

• Ready to fit, no alignment: The 2M Blue comes professionally mounted and aligned on the SH-4 headshell, so you avoid the tricky, time-consuming job of positioning a bare cartridge. Clip it onto your tonearm and you're playing.

• A quality headshell included: The Ortofon SH-4 is a solid, well-made universal headshell, so you're not just getting a cartridge, you're getting a complete, balanced front end ready for a detachable-headshell tonearm.

• The 2M Blue's sound: A nude elliptical stylus and Ortofon's split pole pins deliver open, detailed, dynamic sound, a real step up from entry-level cartridges and the sweet spot of the 2M range.

Under the Hood

• Nude elliptical diamond: The low-mass nude elliptical stylus traces the groove more accurately than a tipped or conical stylus, pulling out fine detail with less distortion.

• Ortofon SH-4 headshell: A rigid, precision universal headshell (bayonet mount) that suits the vast majority of tonearms with a detachable headshell.

• Pre-aligned and balanced: Mounted at the correct overhang and angle, with a total pre-mounted weight of 16.7g, so setup is limited to tracking force and anti-skate.

CHT Insider Verdict

This is the easiest way to put a 2M Blue on a turntable with a detachable headshell. You pay a little more than the bare cartridge, but you get a quality SH-4 headshell and skip the alignment, and it makes swapping cartridges quick if you keep a second headshell. If your tonearm has a fixed headshell, or you're happy to mount and align it yourself, buy the standard 2M Blue instead.

Pro Tip: Before you buy, check your tonearm has a removable (bayonet-type) headshell, the kind you unclip and twist off. If it's fixed, like on a Rega, you'll want the standard 2M Blue.