Ortofon 2M Black Ordered...

I agree with with Tonys' comments

The digital scales you linked to are almost identical to what I use, much more accurate than a manual balance in my opinion. It's good that it includes the calibrated weight as you can check for accuracy each time before use. The small balance scale that came with my 2M Black turned out to be pretty inaccurate when I checked against the digital version

For alignment, I started off many years ago using a simple 2 point printed or plastic alignment protractor, progressed to a printed arc protractor (the vinyl engine website has many useful versions to accommodate most arms and alignments) and this year jumped to the Mint protractor which is the most accurate (and 'sounds' the best but requires a lot of time). A strong magnifying glass/loupe (..say x20 or x30) and good lighting will help get the best results whatever you decide

Revisiting this topic and raising it from the dead, I think I've now completed my assessment of the Ortofon Black.

I have been getting reaccustomed to the Jazz Club phono stage - the switchable EQ version of the Era Gold V.

Up till that my favourite was the AT150ANV, but on listening via the Solo ULDE (and Jazz Club) I found it a tad too showy - emphasizing the highs and mids in a form of artificial way. But what was my reference for this opinion?

We all know how unreliable musical memory is, but I thought I would use it anyway! The test tracks were studio tracks of live versions I heard long ago - long, long ago. The musical memory may be a bit distant but life has a good way of embedding emotions in us at particular times and days - and we can link back to musical experiences using them!

If those emotions are reignited then there's a good chance that at least some bits may be being reproduced in the way they were heard live. Well that's my opinion and anybody who disagrees will be ignored

I'd tagged along to a couple of concerts in particular around 42 years ago. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Impossible Dream tour being the first - I'd only heard them on records. Although the songs and atmosphere were great, the really touching one was Anthem - complete with Scottish Guards (type) drummer and piper. Learning of Alex's fate one will understand the lyrics "Although it's true I'm worried now, I won't be worried long".

The other concert was from the Uriah Heap Demons and Wizards tour. Now they're a heavy rock band, but incredibly musical... well, sometimes not, but here they excelled themselves.

I had been so taken by these particular live performances that I bought the records. I still have them in my collection, and they're not in bad nick.

I found the Ortofon Black recaptured the emotions even though these are studio versions of the real thing, and it did so far better than the AT150ANV - which I'd previously prefered. This could be due to my listening using headphones - the Solo ULDE - the Sennheiser HD250II's - or a combination. It could also be that this listening session was personal and more immersed than it would have been on speakers - and more revealing being "in the music". Perhaps it shows my speaker set-up is missing something?

I found the Black was being more honest about the music, it wasn't embellishing any of its elements - it was delivering what to my ears is the correct tonal balance of everything - the correct instrumental or vocal inflection that makes music so involving - something the industry is preventing a younger audience experiencing - so the poor buggers will never know! Shame.

You had to be there to witness how the Uriah Heap music was being made, especially Hensley's use of the keyboards - using his left foot to sway the Hammond (I think that's what it was) back and forth - this coming across in the Ortofon Black's rendition. The upright piano is made to sound almost grand. The dark keyboard harmonics of the introduction to Rainbow Demon, rasps musically rather than grating the eardrums.

As the Looney Tunes cartoons sign off: that's all folks!

Ortofon 2M Black and Demons and Wizards, now that is a most splendid combination!
Nice to hear your verdict on the Black, I'd personally swear by it even though I'm not particularly well versed in the world of cartridges. I just know it makes the music come alive in an almost uncanny manner, far from any other reference I have.