Ortofon 2M Blue vs Audio Technica VM740ML

Turntable: Fluance RT-85
Preamp: Fluance PA10 High Fidelity Phono Preamp
Recorded using: Zoom H6
Video: Fuji X-T4

[mhc]

I've tried whole 2M series and for me Bronze is the best one. Biggest step up is from Red to Blue and if you look at the prices Bronze against this AT would be better comparison. Changes are so small that most of us can't probably hear it. But maybe i will give a shot and buy this AT.

[CatDJM]

The VM740ML and VM540ML are basically the same but MASSIVE improvements to the 2m blue. An underrated feature about them but they also seem to reduce surface noise a ton!

[andywray]

As someone who used to be a big Ortofon Blue fan, I can say that the AT ML range is a big improvement. I currently have a VM540ML and it has a much better soundstage and detail extraction than the Ortofon 2M Blue. For those that say that the highs are sharp on the AT cartridge, it's probably due to not having matched the capacitance load on your phono amp. Get a set of really low capacitance cables and that high-end stuff will go away.

[mcnuggetassassin]

The 2m blue sounds improperly set up. Noticeably louder in the left channel.

[leonsam]

My focal aria speakers have a neutral warm flat smooth sound, so the 2mBlue really puts some life in them for being clearer/brighter

[josephfuller]

The Ortofon is more coherent and believable. All AT cartridges I’ve owned separate and emphasize the treble. A lot of people give them points for this but to me it doesn’t sound like a real presentation. To me the Ortofon is the more natural realistic cartridge because it doesn’t emphasize any area of reproduction.

[gossmann]

The AT had much better sound separation. At first I thought the AT had less volume but closer listening it sounded like something was wrong with the Ortofon. The majority of the sound was on the left making the volume sound higher with just a little sound coming from the right. The AT had equal volume both left and right and thus sounded more balanced and a little lower volume.

[VoiceofFox]

The VM740ML is superb for the money. The VM760SLC is better still but it costs more than double.

[nathanadler]

It seems like the Ortofon has an audible midrange emphasis and thus loses the clarity of the treble presentation. Here the AT system with its fineline cut has a clear advantage. It sits deeper in the groove due to its design and also brings out more information. The entire frequency curve is therefore flatter, i.e. without emphasis on individual areas. Which is better, everyone must decide for themselves. You could say that the Ortofon plays a little more engaging, but if you want more information, go for the AT.

[mus]

Thank you for this comparison.
Sonic reproduction by each cart is definitely different.
I'd say, let the user/owner decide what they prefer, I don't think one is necessarily "better" than the other.

[darrenmitcham]

Great useful comparison. I don't think the 2M cartridge has a fault as in other comments, it's just the effect of slightly off azimuth. The Ortofon has much better slam and kick and so is more realistic and much as you get if you ever listen to live music. The AT gives a slightly raised treble, which on first listen makes you think it is clearer, but at the expense of musicality.

[Tanis-H-Elf]

Listening through headphones and the changes are so subtle that it’s not worth obsessing over.

[nattyco]

I prefer the Blue. Greater presense and more engaging.

[labnine]

They both sounded pretty excellent. I did notice that the Audio Technica was able to smooth over the clips much more effectively though.

[nonsuch]

The channel balance is off on your 2M Blue. A good place to hear it is in the vocal. In your test, the vocals are heard more in the "left" speaker/side on the 2M Blue as opposed to the vocals are more centered on the VM740ML. I have a 2M Blue but, mine doesn't seem to exhibit this issue. I tested it against a few other cartridges I have pre-mounted on headshells for different purposes. While they all have their own characteristics, the channel balances are centered. If you still have your 2M Blue, you should contact Ortofon about it. The 2M Blue's are supposed to be handpicked and shouldn't be that off. That's the reason you pay extra for the Blue.

[LanciaD]

Thank you for the beautiful Julia Dream, on of the best Floyd's songs

[StasIvanov]

Thanks! The Оrthophone is more meaty, the AT is softer, clearer, but the bottom is smaller, alas. But both sound good.

[edguyrocks]

Soundstage on the AT was much nicer. Yeah, the 2M blue has a little more warmth, but it also has more pushed in sound and a little more noise compared to the microline needle. The 740 is $100 more....I think it's worth it here. The 2m Blue just sounds a bit squashed/congested. Good comparison.

[YaxkinRetrodisko]

740 all the way, thank you for the vid,

[waterbuddy]

now THIS is how you do a comparison!!! I closed my eyes and just listened, even if just thru my laptop, for subtle differnces. Musically they were about identical but i heard just a slight difference in vocal placement. Or am I on crack? Perhaps, but thx for this review.