Hey everyone,
Just a quick heads-up — there won’t be a post today because I’m waiting on a new piece of gear that should arrive tomorrow: the Ortofon Concorde Music Black stylus and cartridge.
This new cartridge is replacing my four-year-old Ortofon 2M Black Plug & Play MkII, which has been my go-to since April 2021. It’s served me faithfully for thousands of rips, but it’s time to give it a well-earned retirement. Rather than just replace the stylus, I decided to go with the full Concorde Music Black cartridge — and here’s why:
Even though it looks different, the Concorde Music Black is essentially identical to the 2M Black in terms of sound and performance:
-
Both use the Nude Shibata stylus for ultra-precise tracking and top-tier detail.
-
They share the same moving magnet generator system and specs, offering that signature rich, dynamic Ortofon sound.
-
Frequency response, channel balance, and output levels are all nearly identical.
The biggest difference is the design. The Concorde version features an integrated headshell that plugs directly into my Technics SL-1200MK7 — no screws, no cartridge alignment, no hassle. Just plug in, set the tracking force (1.8g), and drop the needle.
👉 Ortofon Concorde Music Black – Official Product Page
A Huge Thank You
I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has donated to Burning the Ground. This cartridge upgrade was made possible because of your support. Your donations directly fund the gear I use to preserve and share these amazing 12″ mixes — from cartridges and styli to software and equipment upkeep. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.
Once the new cartridge arrives and I’ve had a chance to break it in, I’ll be back with more music magic. Thanks again for sticking with me — and for being part of this music-loving community.
Stay tuned,
Paul
Hey back to Shep Pettibone. I love this album and wonder if you have any remixes from it? Shep produced the bulk of it!
https://www.discogs.com/release/160697-Shirley-Lewis-Passion
I’m a happy owner of an Ortofon 2M Black for 4 years now. It plays wonderfully! Great choice!!!
BTW, I’m still waiting a new rip of New Order “Fine Time” in FLAC 24 bit.
Long live, BTG!!!
Love that track! I have the UK CD single but Paul’s vinyl rip is different!
I was never lucky enough to have that 12″ vinyl in my hands…Hope Paul’s listening…
Well now I know. The Concorde Music series are 52mm out of the box.
Hey from the Prince related camp I’d like to request the 12” single of Morris Day’s Fishnet. I’d even send you mine for the transfer! It’s great in that it’s a Jam & Lewis production & features every member of the original 7 but one.
Congrats! Sweet looking cartridge! 🙂
Excellent news Paul and congrats on a great cartridge purchase!! (Just remember to level the tonearm against the platter, but I am sure you knew that already.)
Looking forward to the next rip with the new gear! (and if I may suggest a fresh rip of Wang Chung’s Living in LA 12″!) 🙂
New equipment deserves new rips. Suggestion: Rhythm Stick 1-7.
Jokes aside, congratulations on your purchase.
Love those Ortofon cartridges, and especially the 2M black. Hope the new Concorde delivers in your Technics tonearm!
I love this, Paul!! Your commitment to high-end audio is celebratory and praiseworthy and means the world to all of us who follow you. When I first discovered your website, I was blown away by what I heard after opening up a file. I am no audiophile by any means, but I do know what I like when it hits my ears! I know some people think that dance music is ephemeral and doesn’t really matter, but I do, and you do, and this community knows!!! I’m so happy with your fundraisers because they go into obtaining equipment that enhances… Read more »
Thanks for sharing the update Paul. I’m happy to know our contributions are going directly to a good cause! You always have our support for any upgrades you make, as we are the beneficiaries!
A phenominal purchase, Paul! This is perfect because tracking force is just 1.8 g and even with repeated play on the same disc it won’t wear it out like back-scratching hip-hop DJs who must run ~8 grams of force that ruins their records. Plus a quarter taped to the head shell for insurance 😉
Another plus is the record companies cannot brick wall a vinyl master the way they’ve done perpetuating the “loudness war” to ruin dynamic range on all these “rebastered” (sic) CDs over the past two decades. Otherwise the stylus would jump out of the groove!
With regards to Ortofon, the Concorde is the only way to go. Looks sleeker, overall better design and sounds even more magnificent. You will not regret going Concorde. Props to Jan Trägårdh (DK) for designing one of the most iconic DJ tools in 1979(!).
I find such shopping so daunting. For years I had an amazing sounding Grado cartridge. But when my setup changed it was picking up hum from the table itself and possibly the subwoofer. The current replacement sounds great but I always think it’s not the Grado. Thanks for this background information. Can’t wait to geekily compare your next project!
So how do you adjust the overhang? Technics uses 52mm from stylus tip to the back edge of the headshell. Does Ortofon make a cart with exactly that measurement?
You can‘t adjust the overhang. The Concord Series was designed especially for Technics 12xx with a 52mm overhang. You need only to adjust Tracking Force, Tonearm height and Anti skating.
Great news! You do such fantastic work, and having good gear is essential to that.
Hey Jeff!
Paul has definitely done a lot of research and made vast improvements since he began. I’m grateful he has shared his findings with us so we may make our own informed decisions as audio can be so subjective.
thanks for the update!
Hi Paul, we know you’re always particularly concerned with delivering the best sound, so we’ll be waiting attentively. As always, your quality stands out. Best regards.
You should probably give that cartridge a minimum of about 50hrs ‘burn-in’ (ie. play) before attempting a needle drop. You’ll get the best out of it from around 50hrs. Ripping with a fresh out of the box cart will likely sound less detailed and more brittle.
Absolutely, that makes sense. Most cartridges definitely benefit from some break-in time — around 50 hours is a good benchmark. The suspension needs time to loosen up a bit, which helps smooth out the sound and brings out more detail and warmth. Doing a needle drop too early can mean capturing a flatter, harsher version of what the cart is really capable of. Better to let it settle in first and then rip for the best fidelity.
Ortofon recommend a 20 hours break in period to get the best results.
I own the Ortofon 2M Blue PM and the Concord Music Blue. The Concord Music sounds definitely better. Good decision Paul. Congrats.