Of the Red model, Stereophile says, “If you've been enjoying your music through an OM cartridge but feel it's time to upgrade, the 2M Red is an excellent choice. I wouldn't think twice about it. You'll hear quieter backgrounds, a cleaner midrange, and more detail, treble, and bass. And if you're looking for a high-value cartridge to match a high-value 'table like the VPI Traveler, the 2M Red is an excellent place to start. It's exactly where I would start, delighted at the thought of eventually climbing all the way up the 2M ladder.” (Check out the TechRadar review, too.) About the high-end Black model, Hi-Fi News says, “When set up, the Ortofon 2M Black was immediately engaging, sounding powerful and vivid … It was natural recordings of full orchestra that confirmed that the 2M Black is a stellar moving-magnet cartridge.”