Schroeder Model 2 for Technics + Ortofon 2M Black

@DSA

is this actual how the Model 2 looks like?

Mine looks like the DPS with the counterweight like shown on the No.2 on your page. I got mine from a friend. I was talking with Mr. Schröder on the phone after I got it and he knew the specific arm and also said its a No. 2...but as I said it's unlike the Model 2 on your page.

maybe there are different versions?

Hi Xronx, Thom_mackris said exactly that. The new (er) Model 2s have the mount from the DPS, but the rest is the same as the Model 2 on Thom_mackris's web page. Well, at least that's how I see it.

Dsa,

I can't guess how well your cart will mate up with a Model 2, and frankly neither can anyone who hasn't actually heard them paired together. The numbers do not tell that story, they can only warn of a gross mismatch, which this probably wouldn't be.

OTOH, I'll echo the words of the owners above. The Model 2 is a very fine tonearm, the best I've heard (with several carts) anywhere near its price point. Schroeders are something of an art to set up and optimize, but when it's done well they tend to bring real musicality from a wide variety of cartridges while often helping ameliorate a cartridge's weaknesses. In particular, if a cartridge has any tendency to be edgy or rough sounding, a Schroeder's excellent resonance damping will often help "tame" it. The Reference is a champion in this regard, but it's little brother has more than a little of that capability.

Hi Folks,

Doug says it best - that compliance numbers and effective mass can tell you of a gross mismatch, but other than that, it becomes a plug it in and try it out sort of thing.

I'd guess that your cartridge would be a mismatch for even a Rega (est. 10.5 gm. eff. mass), and a slightly worse match for a 12 gm. tonearm. It won't hurt the cartridge to listen however, as long as you respect its tracking force range.

As far as what a current Model-2 looks like, I haven't seen one in about a year. Being the craftsman that he his, Frank will make minor cosmetic changes from time to time. An example of this is the knurling pattern on the anti-skate and tracking force fine adjustment knobs on the Reference.

Over time, minor improvements will creep into his designs - like the single bolt mountng collar used on both the DPS and more recently the Model-2. From memory,the mounting collar is about 1.75" in diameter. I could be off by quite a bit however, as I last handled one about a year ago.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Thanks Dougdeacon and Thom for the insights. Ortofon are using a Rega RB1000 in their advertising campaign, so I'd imagine that it would be happy in that.

I know the word EFFECTIVE is important in the tonearm mass equation, but I have a feeling the actual size of the tonearm tube would be another parameter that must be addressed.

The Hadcock and the Schroeder have very slim tubes. The Music Maker cartridge is a medium to high compliance cartridge that really sings in the Hadcock. Yet I read recently that the Hadcock has an effective mass approaching 14gms

Something is at play here and I'm guessing it's combination of the unipivot design and the slim arm tube that enables medium to high mass cartridges to swing, not (just?) the effective mass of the tonearm. Any takers on that line of thought?