Made to measure 2M/1210MK2 cartridge shim/spacer.

[TobesEtc]

I've got a 1210MK2 that I've modded in the usual ways (external power, fluid damping, new wiring, etc). One of the things that always irked me is that with a 2M cartridge the VTA won't go low enough to get the headshell perfect level on my set-up. Rather than get a thicker mat, which stopped the clamp having enough spindle to grab, I decided I'd try specers/shims. Ordered a few online and was totally underwhelmed by the quality of the things. Too small for a stable base and they look...just...tatty. So I decided to try to make one exactly the size I needed. Ordered some perspex, drilled the holes, cut it to match the footprint of a 2M and finally gave it a polish. I'm really happy with the result. Sounds great, looks better than the spacers I bought (admittedly I've seen carbon-fibre ones from US that also look good). Here's a pic. Easy to do if you want to try yourself. I now have some neon orange perspex on order to match the stylus. Vaguely surprised it's so difficult to get 2M shaped spacers onlime.

 

[daytona600]

Several million SL1200 fitted with ortofons
no need for shims
2MR reducedd height 3mm or Plug in concorde music

2MR

Ortofon is a micro-mechanical powerhouse, which develops, manufactures and markets the world acclaimed Ortofon phono cartridges.

ortofon.com

Carbon Fibre shims

Headshell Spacer Carbon – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

These headshell spacers made out of carbon fibre allow you to precisely adjust the height of your cartridge. Especially usefull, as this might spare you from ne

www.project-audio.com

 

[Integralista]

Several million SL1200 fitted with ortofons
no need for shims
2MR reducedd height 3mm or Plug in concorde music

2MR

Ortofon is a micro-mechanical powerhouse, which develops, manufactures and markets the world acclaimed Ortofon phono cartridges.

ortofon.com

Carbon Fibre shims

Headshell Spacer Carbon – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

These headshell spacers made out of carbon fibre allow you to precisely adjust the height of your cartridge. Especially usefull, as this might spare you from ne

www.project-audio.com

View attachment 8797

Hi, just remark. Ortofon 2mr family of carts has reduced overal cartridge height to fit e.g. into Rega arms without need to put shims under armbase. And this is good, makes life easier.
Headshell in principle is a compromise (mainly from plastic) and put below another acryl-plastic shim is another compromise. I wonder, if such mainstream turntable like Technics needs this sort of modifications to fit a basic (but very good) Ortofon cartridge. Someone with more knowledge of Technics turntables, pls. give us more clarity to this topic. BR.

 

[Al ears]

I am surprised you needed a shim at all as the Ortofons are pretty much the same height as most other cartridges.
You sure the arm height cannot be lowered more to get good VTA without shim?
Sounds a tad odd.

 

[Al ears]

Hi, just remark. Ortofon 2mr family of carts has reduced overal cartridge height to fit e.g. into Rega arms without need to put shims under armbase. And this is good, makes life easier.
Headshell in principle is a compromise (mainly from plastic) and put below another acryl-plastic shim is another compromise. I wonder, if such mainstream turntable like Technics needs this sort of modifications to fit a basic (but very good) Ortofon cartridge. Someone with more knowledge of Technics turntables, pls. give us more clarity to this topic. BR.

Think you got it wrong.
He's having to put shim under the cartridge itself because it's not high enough, that's how I read it anyway.

 

[TobesEtc]

Firstly, I can't honestly say there was an issue with the sound before, nor that adding this in any way changed the sound (good or bad). It was more an experiment because audiophiles say the cartridge needs to be totally level. Obviously, changing the height by a matter of millimetres at the end of a +200mm tonearm moves the stylus about a degree, which I doubt has any audible impact for my hearing.

2MR would worsen the situation, not improve it because...

From an alignment point, the issue is that the tonearm is mounted too high (to make the tonearm totally level) and won't lower any further on the vta. The tonearm slopes down slightly. It's been apart and a specialist told me it's back in the correct place. To make the headshell/tonearm level you need to raise the headshell end of the arm or lower the pivot end. Can't lower the pivot end any more (vta limit) so then clearly you either need spacer or thicker mat. I can believe that sonically a thicker mat might be a better solution (to a problem that's more theoretical than audible in the first place).

But I wanted to see what effect spacers had. Didn't like what came in the post. Had time and figured I'd try it. Probably won't leave it like that permanently, but it's doing no harm.

I've got a Concorde head too. Also works fine. I'm intrigued by the "millions of SL" working fine comment, which I'm sure is true. Mine was/is working fine. But curious if many of them with a 2M head are actually level or if most normal people don't care as long as they work? That's the sane route!

Anyway, sounded great before. Sounds great now. I was only experimenting. (Also, that's bronze not red but that doesn't really matter).