A $400 DJ Cartridge! Ortofon Concorde MKII ELITE & VNL Review | Beatsource Tech 

Here’s the link to the sample recordings, I can’t guarantee they will be up forever: www.dropbox.com/sh/k2qtsju1bcah2pb/AADU_iQoNOVQDwA3kS8CPIWBa?dl=0 And here’s where you can buy the vinyl (Smoove’s Multitrack Reworks Vol. 4) www.juno.co.uk/products/smoove-multitrack-reworks-vol-4/900723-01/ Love, Mojaxx

Great review! The DJ world has changed dramatically since I was a kid back in the 80’s. I remember when Serato first came out, it blew my mind, the fact that DJ’s didn’t need to carry crates of records anymore. Now, we don’t even need needles if we choose that route. Technology! A beautiful, yet scary thing all at the same time. RESPECT! ✊🏾

Congrats mojax on the weight loss glad you are keeping yourself I’ve looked up to you since I started djing and looked to you before I bought any gear !!

Ortofon was always my go to Cartridge back in 2000. Glad they're still going.

Damn my G you are looking very well! Good looking out on dropping the weight man you look fantastic! Respect!

I use my 20 years old and trusted Ortofon DJ MK1 for regular vinyl and Phase for DVS.

I'm using the VNL with the number 2 stylus, 95% of my use is scratching and it's great. I tested the VNL against the M447, M44G, Mk2 Concorde Scratch and the 2M black (for sound quality only) - The VNL is surprisingly close to the 2M! A great all round cartridge

Love the messaging around Dj needles vs Hifi. Definitely getting sick of DJs on certain forums constantly extolling the virtues of hifi needles for djing, and crapping on everything else. What’s going to function easiest in the club always has to be the first consideration for sure.

I love the Ortofon VNL cartridges

You reviews are the best bro .... cheers from NZ

Ortofon electro user here. Good carts for both electronic music and a little bit of scratching! 🙂 Great review 👍

For me… as much as I loved the blue Dj ortofon first generation… I had no choice but to switch to the OM q-Bert’s, still in production and still visually beautiful to look at. I hate the day I’ll have to transfer over to VNL’s because that cart does not look as beautiful as the OM q-Bert’s but I’m sure it’s in my future.

Mojaxx - Ortofon DJ Blue. Still kicking it old school. Nice review. Well done. Thank you.

I've been using the Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ cartridges this year, they work great, and I am also going to look at the MWM Phase essential wireless DVS controllers soon.

I think this was a smart move for Ortofon. Phono carts make a huge difference to the sound of your music and what Ortofon did here was very smart. They didn't try to redesign the whole concept, they made sensible improvements. Higher parts quality, lower output and kept it at a reasonable price. The only thing I wouldn't do with this cart is use a built in phono preamp. While 6mv may be very low for DJ gear, its very high for other applications. Pair it with a modest phono preamp for $300-$400 and not only do you turn your vinyl into a line level source, you'll get another big increase in sound quality just as big as the upgraded cart. With gear like this, everyone else's vinyl setups will sound defective.

Elite concord on the LE MK7’s is such a flex.

Hi Mo, This was an excellent review. Bravo. Last year I went and bought a pair of DIGITAL MK2 in order to replace and preserve my OG pair of Stanton 680HP. But as soon as hooked them up to my 1200s and dropped the needle on a record I knew right away that I wasn’t going to be satisfied with them and needed to return them right away…I ended up taking them back the very next day and exchanging them for a pair of the the CLUB MK2… I’ve been using them ever since and quite happy with my decision as they sound very close if not better to the 680HPs…Cheers

Using the VNLs! Louis at ortofon was kind enough to ship me a pair early on. They’re my preferred carts these days when using time code for sure. I don’t do vinyl sets tho so not much opinion on sound quality but the tracking with serato is best I’ve ever had. I’ve let a handful of homies borrow them and every single one went on to buy their own. Think that speaks for itself.

After a long debate with myself I started using the Ortofon Concorde MKII Scratch to replace my M44-7's. I think they are great!. For ripping vinyl I opted for a Club stylus (as you suggested), this has not been disappointing either. The only thing was last year, I ordered a spare set of Concorde MKII Scratch styli which took more than 3 months to deliver. Every supplier I tried seemed to have the same trouble delivering, which made me scared I made the wrong decision going with the concordes. Now they seem to be readily available though.

So happy you done a review on this was very curious to know why it was so pricey. I’m using the Club mk2 absolutely the sound quality from it what really shines on a f1 system we use. But I must say the highs (vocals) can sound a little scratchy on some tracks and it does it on new brand new tracks as initially I thought it was my old well played garage records from wear and possibly burn but it’s definitely the cart that is doing this I asked Ortofon about this issue but I just got ignored. After watching this I am very tempted to bite the bullet and get a pair maybe it might be wise buying just one to start with 😂 Thanks for another great review Mojax what a boss !

"Oscillations in the groove"... that will be the name of my next mixtape!

Im using the trusty tried and tested shure m44-7. I bought up a lot of the remainder in my area. Managed to get enough to last me my dj days. I spin Techno/Minimal. And, I find for the deeper sets I often play. That extra oomph just sounds nice especially through a 96. Not just that. Everytime I want to have a cheeky scratch, well, need I say more. They really do track like a 200 tonne train. AND they really do save on record wear. So the extra price for me is just worth it. I spend a lot every year on vinyl. So its important for me to keep them in pristine condition. for the times I dont use those, the m44Gs have been awesome. Also the amount of tines these carts have prevented skips that would otherwise happen on other carts is crazy. The G and 7 are overall my preferred carts. But I also have tried about every cart out there. Including the elites. I cant justify the price for the elites when they just dont look as elegant on my classic technics compared to the older ortofon. Theyre a little chunky looking. I also havent tried then for long periods though, so cant really comment too much on them.

Still using Ortofon Mix MK2, $33 for a stylus replacement, works good enough, when broken in they stay damn well mounted to the groove

I've been using my Ortofon Cocoon's for nearly 10 years now and they still sound fantastic. Still on my first set needles.

Can't wait to try the VNL. Didn't know they stopped including all 3 sizes, oh well. I find this style much better for drumming and other tapping techniques

Mojaxx, fantastic review! I have a history of Numark decks and have been using the concorde club since 2019 on very affordable Numark NTX decks (sufficient tone arm and good motor - home use). The switch from the former Stanton 500 AL to Banana's was already an earlier step. I also used white labels for a while, which I demolished. I did notice that back que-ing with the concorde club on some records is less pleasant than with Bananas. But the sound is so much nicer!

Really like my new Ortofon VNL needles I been using Ortofon nightclub over 10yrs.

PS, I have that turntable! Just got it delivered on Wednesday, 50th birthday present from the wife, I got the same colour in the green

Great advice!!

Great review 👍 still using my original Stanton 500's but willupgrade them to digital soon and get an elite for my M7L

After your review, i use the ortofon Club MKII, almost 3 years now, and i'm still super happy, i use even at home, because is the best sound qualiti cartrige i have

For me i like the : Ortofon Concorde MKII Scratch System loud and for me good sounding needle ✌️

Good to at least see this category of DJ gear coming out again, like all the rotary mixers as of late. I myself have been using Tonar Bananas for years without issues. I really only used the Stanton 500 V3 before that, and the Tonars are an upgrade. And I just love the yellow colour....

Using the stock technics shell with an Ortofon Om cartridge, the red digital stylus, am curious about the the VNL cartridges but my next purchase will probably be the Concorde digital after you mentioning you've found them best for your 45's. If Mojax recommends we listen given the wealth of experience and opportunity to test the market! Love your vids and tune in all the time! Peace, love and vinyl...... oh yeah and some nasty funky breaks hahah!

VNLs are very nice. I've had them about 6 months. I live them

3 years ago I did an extensive A/B comparison of all the different carts I own. All of my carts included new stylus so that the results would be as fair as can be. My test included the Shure M44-7 with a new original Shure stylus, a Shure M44-G with a new Shure stylus, a new Nagaoka DJ03-HD dj cart, a new Ortofon Concord Digital mk2 and a new Ortofon Concord Club MK2. My testing equipment included recently tuned-up Technics SL1210 MK5s. Turntables were tuned up by the one and only DJ Henray Customs. The turntables were feed into brand new matching Schiit Mani V1 audiophile phono preamps which were then feed into a new Allen & Heath 43c dj mixer. Ok, now for the finals results of the testing. 1st place goes to the Ortofon Concord Club MK2. Very close 2nd place goes to the Shure M44-7. 3rd place goes to the Shure M44-G. Distant 4th place goes to the Nagaoka DJ03-HD. And a distant last place went to the Ortofon Concorde Digital MK2. So now I use exclusively the Club MK2s on all three of my SL1210 MK5s. I'm the type that always wants the best sounding equipment but after listening/comparing your two files of the Elites vs the Clubs, I don't see myself upgrading to the ELITEs at more then double the cost because as I do hear some bit of improvement in sound, there just isn't enough of a difference to spend the extra money to upgrade all 3 of my Clubs I use. I do really appreciate and trust your review on the new Elite as you now saved me $400 from purchasing it and testing it myself.

Aloha brotha Mo!!! I see the weight loss, but your looking a little PALE!!! Time to get some sun in HAWAII!!

Thank you for the practical comparison, sir. I've just ordered an Elite, to replace my existing DJ S. Opinions on the web would suggest a substantial difference, but I am going into this with zero expectations / preconceptions and will simply let my ears decide. If I should hear no or hardly any difference (on a good signal chain - amp, speakers ofc) and feel like I've wasted my money, I will certainly stand by that.

Nice video as always :) a review of the jico Shure m447 cartridge replacement would be much appreciated! There soo many different models right now Edit. I use the Shure m447 but recently one cartridge disappeared after a club gig and the eBay prices are really expensive for used one's... But the jico aren't cheap either so:(

I'm still using the the dj s blue and orange original concordes from when they came out years ago

*I just wished the VNL came in Concorde style.*

I’m still using Shure M44-7’s and White Labels. I like the look of the new Jico stuff and would like to see that review.

Still using Shure WHLBs for the rare occasions I mix on vinyl. I was able to hoard some replacement styli when Shure pulled the plug (and for way less than the Jico version) so they'll probably be the last I ever need to buy.

From your previous video bought MK2 Mix for home DJing and just this week purchased MK2 Club (and new moitors) to upgrade the sound. Thinking while MK2 Elite is a nice cart, a little bit expensive for me. I do have Hi-Fi setup with MC cartridge that sounds fantastic. I wished there were MC cartidges with microline/shibata stylus profile for DJing. That would be the ultimate.

Must admit I still use a set of Stanton 500 copies (Kyowa...i think is the brand name). I find them a good all round stylus (probably comes from my years in commercial radio). I only mix vinyl at home and play the odd crusty 45 and alsum track on my radio show which I broadcast from home.

In 2022 I'm using Shure Whitelabels for some gigs and M44-7 for others. I have a set of OM ortiphons for scenarios where I think people might take pictures of the decks close up and I want to maximize the beauty but its mostly Whitelabels for me until I run out of replacement stylii

Hi Mo! 2X Shure M-44g mounted to Ortofon Sh-4 with kyowa N-44 stylus. Love the content ✌️

Great review. Interesting that you didn't touch on the stereo separation. Although you displayed the specs that was one of the first things I noticed when I bought my Clubs. Interesting story when I went to record I first tried from the ART Phono PreAmp. I went from a 3.5 TRS to stereo RCA. I immediately noticed the separation gap closed. I returned the ART Phono PreAMP and went with the ART USB Plus and utilized the USB Audio Interface. That was the trick to faithfully maintain the Stereo separation as well as not adding any additional coloring to the sound. I trust they sound great I don't believe I want to test them though I've already recorded about 1500 tracks, that I could not find digital paid copies, with my Clubs. I don't want to re-record them, too much work.

As I'm and a dj and an audiophile (with 2 different setups) I was curious and I've mailed ortofon. As they said to me the elite sits right between the M2 blue and the M2 bronze as in sound quality. I own now as my "hifi" cart a Concorde Gold but I will upgrade it to the Concorde Century or the 2m black. Little edit: bought one 😂 just for having next to the Ortofon Concorde Gold I have

still have a pair of 44-7s and scratch mk2 carts with club mk2 needles combo

Great review, question is this was recording in mono?

I’ve just ordered. Plus the new alpha euphonia mixer. Plus klipsh heresy speakers. Let’s see how this all sounds when hooked up

I appreciate very much your videos very helpfully, i useing the concorde mk2 DJ and not really 100 percent happy with the sound quality and have a different between the balance is not the same, i listened your test on the soundcloud and i might choice the club one , mostly back queueing not really scratching the sound quality sounds not too bad , i was think about the old E or S needle just don’t wanna change only the needle

I use a pair of Ortofon DJs mkii for DVS and 12” vinyl. But for my 45s, I only use original shure 447s and white labels. I’m really careful with my styrene 45s, which makes up most of my collection. I haven’t tried using the new Jico nudes, but the Jico improved stylus left cue burns some of my styrene 45. Never had that problem with original 447s

is this one better than the ortofon gold? as i am pondering between the two. The gold i could find used though and would need to replace the head as opposed to the elite that is just new. too bad it isn't fully gold plated, would have been great on the m7l tonearm

I've got the ortofon digital carts. but I find somehow I've gotta allow more force to keep the tracking and stop it sounding like its loosing power with classic trance vinyl. They're fine with DVS playing though. This is with a pair of Technics 1200mk2, and following ortofon instructions I've removed the part of the weight that is extra.

Wow, great job, nice done. There will be time to come to me 🙂

Interesting. I just got the VNL and sticking with those for now. I might pick up something else from that Concorde range. The elite ain’t for me since I love scratching. Good vid

Hey Mojaxx, i know you like rotaries. Are you going to do a review on the Alpha Recording 9100 rotary mixer

When dj-ing I use still Shure SC-35c And hifi I switch to Technics 207C It was in Japan begin '80s standard on the high end Technics turntables

How about the record ware where does that range?

Hi MO dose phase needless system have any competitors that you know about wonder if Pioneer is going to have their magvel clamp from the plxcross 12s TT work on other turntables in the future hope you see this message and thanks

Can you use the VNL’s for standard mixing or are they strictly for scratching ?

Can I use the MK2 Elite as a hifi audiophile cart ? I like the look of it.

What do you guys make to the Ortofon DJ/Club needles? I really want the same sound quality as my old (now broken m44-7's) but I'm wary of getting the Clubs due to wear on my records from back cueing. I'm a disco DJ so don't do a huge amount of this, but thoughts are appreciated!

it was a no brainer purchasing the Phase DJ needleless kit. Screw these absurd needle prices.

My experience with the Ortofon concorde type cartridges is that the contacts corrode the Technics contacts within the bayonet, causing audio dropouts and much fussing with headshells to correct. This does not happen with the included 1200 headshells. Is this no longer an issue with the concordes?

I always loved the CLUB MK II I compared it to some expensive Needles and it sounded as good if not better in some instances. I couldn't agree more with your close statement... DJ should be a comfortable exercise. We all know with needles... accidents are inevitable... and at £600+ a pop... it's a no go for me

Great review. I switch between the Jico J44A-7 Nude, Ortofon VNL and Ortofon club. All great, but the club doesn’t track as good as the other 2

Overall never rated Otofon always preferred Shure. However I'd be interested if anyone has compared this cartridge to the DJ Grado 100 / 200?

Lol I just tried an old broken arm digitrak... and what the hell I prefer that old broken think to my club mk2 and 44-7 etc 🤦🏼‍♂️ I should have listen to you years ago!!! Il selling everything and will get myself a pair of digital mk2!

After owning lots of Ortofon carts for DJ's now i'm using the Nagaoka DJ 03HD and SHURE with Jico stylus, they easily sound better than the Concorde Club MK2, DJ E / Arkiv.

I use Numark groove tool {2x stylus £12} with dvs , playing 2 to 4 hrs on stream dance tunes at home several times a week . Would be good to hear the concorde in comparison .

they are taking ages to become available, were meant to be out in June!

Still on my Concorde Pro + Elektro stylus for vinyl/dvs after ten years - Arkiv stylus for ripping. Going by a number of reports, the old Pro seemed to be the most well balanced cart in the previous range, but issues with too many new Elektro styli made me consider the MK2 Mix (successor to the balanced pro : possibly an improved all-rounder ?) and the MK2 Nightclub ("by design" improvement over my franken-Pro-Arkiv) as I prefer tracking 3 grams. Got one of the new Nightclubs as an experiment and ended up very disappointed. Even after breaking in, some of my test records show some raspiness in the highs I just don't get with the older models, and found even the Pro/Elektro to have clearer highs + more air and possibly a little better stereo imaging. To me, that MK2 Nightclub sounds more like the comparatively muffled highs of my long-given away M44g/7 and shelved M97x - I did NOT expect that from an Ortofon. However, that specific Nightclub seems to have a lopsided stereo balance as well : maybe my strike of bad luck with Ortofon in the past 3-4 years just continues... shame, cause at low practice volumes, timecode whistles noticeably quieter through the MK2s... :(

I have been looking at reviews on stylus in a few Mojax’s videos he is mentioning scratch needles/stylus but then says not to be used with straight tone arms. I have 3 turntables and they all have straight tone arms but he never mentions a alternative for a straight tone arm? Does this channel ever reply to comments because I have never had a reply?

I have AT-XP7s. Those have near HiFi sound quality, much better than the Jicos for sure. Wonder how they compare to these.

Whatever is $125 and under I will buy

Mojaxx lost lots of weight..

Can someone please tell me why some Concorde DJ mk2s track high and some track low? Over the last year and a half I've been dealing with some of them riding a comfortable 1-2mm above the record surface and some so low the bottom of the cartridge almost touches the record surface? The ones that ride low seem like they are "collapsed" with no compliance while the high riding ones perform well. The funny thing is that I sent pictures of what I'm dealing with to ortofon and they claim the low riding ones are "correct" and the high one is defective! Ortofon says a gap between cartridge body and record surface of half a mm is normal!!! In my experience that results in the cartridge bottoming out when trying to scratch or back cue. I have weight, anti skate and vta all set correctly. Can anyone advise?

So is the body on the Elite exactly the same as the Club? If it is existing Club users can just get an upgrade in performance by changing the stylus?

Ortofon OM user here

Are there any cartridges that make playing DVS vynil quieter?

Great well thought out review. I also own an Elite, sounds great, but IMO, it's more an entry level HiFi cartridge than a DJ cartridge since it's mostly about sound quality and not suitable for heavy back cueing... And yes I agree: don't use HiFi cartridges for DJing, but some DJ cartridges are more like a HiFi cartridge - this one is an example of that. I've made a few recordings of it for people to preview its sound quality: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ek1sThN7098.html

Shure M44g are the best!

Looking good my friend nice review but it Shure M447 for me and always will started with them since 1974 and have purchase a case of these in 1976 still have plenty of originals but not for sale hahahaha!

Lets re-visit the Technics mk7.

4:48 a frequency response of 20 to 20,000 kiloHertz? I don't know why techno and house DJs would use this cart if it doesn't respond to lows and mids...

TT coming back…people tired of button mashing…and ransom to do so 😂 back to the future we go…

I spent $400 for two ortofon concordes way back around year 2000 and loved them until the arms broke off

I still use ortofon electro mk1’s with gold qbert stylus - they are Great!

Thank you for the video. However I don't agree with you regarding the sound quality of Club MK2 cartridges, I bought them and I find them very very (far too much) sibilant. My two cents Thank you for your videos

The only elite thing about that cartridge is the price.

I use the VNL these days but i have a problem with my decks. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZwhBKudxTFQ.html If anyone knows whats going on here i would be VERY appreciative

Mojaxx, what is your weight loss secret?

What you get is marketing. Making a more expensive product for people willing to pay more. A product that is called elite like sitting at n the Visp room of a club.

Hard pass!

so where is baby Yoda?

Today i try to mix the stylus from club mk2 to the scartch mk2 body and its better than scartch mk2 stylus BUT its worse than oryginal club mk2 system, i think the club mk2 body have better internal coils than scratch mk2. And whats more important, mixing different bodys and styluses doesnt bring nothing, becouse the internals are different (besides the color of the bodys). It will be a dealbreker to make a video about the differences inside a ortofon cardridge @DjcityTV

I use my 20 years old and trusted Ortofon DJ MK1 for regular vinyl and Phase for DVS.