Ortofon 2M Bronze Verso MM Phono Cartridge

The 2M Bronze, Built for a Different Kind of Tonearm

The Ortofon 2M Bronze Verso is a moving magnet phono cartridge, built from the same engine as the standard 2M Bronze but designed specifically for bottom-mount headshells.

Most tonearms use a top-mount headshell. The cartridge screws in from above. Some tonearms flip that layout. They need the cartridge attached from underneath instead. The Verso exists for exactly that mounting scheme.

Inside, it uses the same Nude Fine Line diamond stylus as the standard 2M Bronze. It's mounted on an aluminum cantilever. The nude design places the diamond directly at the cantilever's tip. That skips the extra mass of a mounted stylus shank.

The body is molded from Lexan DMX Piano Black, a rigid polymer chosen to resist resonance. Ortofon builds it with a split pole pin engine and silver-plated OFC coil wire, the same generator design used throughout the 2M Bronze line.

What the Verso Changes, and What It Doesn't

Electrically, the Verso performs identically to the standard 2M Bronze. Output measures 5mV at 1kHz, with a recommended tracking force of 1.5 grams across a 1.4 to 1.7 gram range.

Frequency response spans 20Hz to 20kHz, within +2/-0dB. Channel separation reaches 26dB at 1kHz. Dynamic lateral compliance measures 22µm/mN, a middle-of-the-road figure that suits most modern tonearms.

Internal impedance is 1.2 kOhm with 630mH of inductance. Ortofon recommends a 47 kOhm load resistance and 150 to 300 pF of capacitance at the phono input.

The only real difference is physical. The mounting holes and screw direction are flipped so the cartridge body seats correctly in a bottom-mount headshell. Cartridge weight is unchanged at 7.2 grams.

Who Is This Cartridge Best For?

• Anyone whose tonearm uses a bottom-mount headshell. The standard 2M Bronze won't seat correctly on this style of arm; the Verso is built for it.
• Vinyl listeners upgrading from a 2M Blue or 2M Red. The Bronze's engine and nude stylus step up detail and tracking over Ortofon's lower tiers.
• Anyone who wants a proven, well-documented cartridge design. The 2M Bronze generator has been refined across Ortofon's 2M line for years.
• Shoppers who already know their tonearm's mounting style. Getting this detail right matters, since the Verso and standard 2M Bronze aren't interchangeable.
• Not the right fit for anyone unsure which mount their tonearm uses. Check your headshell's screw direction before ordering, since choosing the wrong version means it won't install correctly.

How Do You Set It Up?

Mount the Verso from underneath your headshell, using the included screws and a proper alignment tool to set overhang and offset angle correctly.

Set tracking force to Ortofon's recommended 1.5 grams using a stylus gauge, staying within the 1.4 to 1.7 gram range. Check that your phono stage or preamp is set for moving magnet input, not moving coil.

Confirm your phono input's load resistance and capacitance land close to Ortofon's recommended 47 kOhm and 150 to 300 pF for the most accurate frequency response.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the Ortofon 2M Bronze Verso:

• Phono preamplifiers to match its moving magnet output
• Cartridge alignment tools to set overhang and tracking force correctly
• Turntables with bottom-mount tonearms built for the Verso design
• Interconnect cables to connect your phono stage to the rest of your system

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Verso different from the standard 2M Bronze?

Only in how it mounts. The stylus, cantilever, generator, and every electrical spec are identical; the Verso's body and screw holes are built for headshells that attach from underneath.

How do I know if my tonearm needs the Verso version?

Check whether your current cartridge's mounting screws come up from below the headshell, not down from above. If you're not sure, check your tonearm's manual or ask before ordering.

Is this the same cartridge Ortofon makes for Rega turntables?

No. Ortofon builds a separate 2MR line sized specifically for Rega's low tonearm height. The Verso addresses mounting direction, not height, and is a different product from the 2MR series.

What's the replacement stylus?

The 2M Bronze replacement stylus fits the Verso as well, since the two cartridges share the same generator and stylus assembly.

What's the warranty?

Ortofon covers the 2M Bronze Verso for one year against manufacturing defects. Normal stylus wear isn't covered.

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