Ortofon Concorde MK2 Scratch Single Cartridge Review (2026)

Who the Concorde MK2 Scratch is built for

This cartridge targets a scratch DJ or turntablist who needs a single replacement or spare unit rather than a matched pair for two decks at once, since Ortofon also sells this exact cartridge as a twin pack for dual-deck setups. Its Concorde body design integrates the cartridge and headshell into one piece, which Ortofon built specifically for scratch and back-cueing disciplines where a conventional cartridge and separate headshell can be more prone to skipping under aggressive handling. It suits someone already invested in Ortofon's Concorde ecosystem who needs to replace a damaged unit or add a spare, rather than someone building a hi-fi listening system. It is not the right choice for anyone prioritizing tonal accuracy or subtlety over resistance to skipping.

What is under the hood

The Concorde MK2 Scratch uses a spherical diamond stylus with an 18 micron tip radius on an aluminum cantilever, weighing about 18.5 grams as a complete integrated Concorde unit. Output voltage is a high 10 mV at 1 kHz, well above typical hi-fi cartridges, which helps it handle deep bass frequencies and the physical stress of scratching without distortion. Tracking force range runs from 3 to 5 grams, with 4 grams recommended, considerably higher than a hi-fi cartridge, which is part of what gives it strong skip resistance during aggressive handling. Channel separation is rated at 22 dB and channel balance at 1 dB, both at 1 kHz, with a recommended load of 47 kilohms and 200 to 400 picofarads.

Setup and living with it

Because the stylus and headshell are combined into one Concorde-style unit, mounting is simpler than aligning a separate cartridge and headshell, since the geometry is fixed by the body's design rather than requiring a protractor for overhang and offset angle. Setting tracking force within the 3 to 5 gram range, with 4 grams as the starting point, is the main adjustment needed before use, and that higher force compared with hi-fi cartridges is deliberate, helping the stylus stay in the groove through scratches, backspins, and quick cuts. As a single unit, it works well as a direct swap for a worn or damaged cartridge on one deck, or as a spare kept on hand rather than committing to a matched twin set. The high output level means it pairs easily with most DJ mixer phono inputs without extra gain.

How it compares with rival DJ cartridges

In the dj-cartridges ranking here, the Concorde MK2 Scratch single places fourth of eight, behind Ortofon's own Concorde MK2 Scratch Twin and Concorde Scratch Kit, both of which include either a second cartridge or an extra stylus for a lower effective per-unit cost. It also trails the Concorde MK2 Mix Twin, which is tuned more for mixing than scratching, but it outranks the Ortofon OM Scratch White models, which use a separate headshell rather than the integrated Concorde body. The clear pattern across this guide is that buying two units together, whether as a twin cartridge pack or a kit with a spare stylus, scores better on value than this single unit alone.

Bottom line

Choose the Concorde MK2 Scratch single if you need exactly one replacement or spare cartridge for a scratch setup and do not need a matched pair right now. It scores 8.9 out of 10 here, with a perfect fit for the job reflecting how precisely it serves scratch DJs, though its value score trails the twin and kit versions in the same lineup. If you are setting up two decks from scratch, the Concorde MK2 Scratch Twin or the Concorde Scratch Kit with its extra stylus both offer better cost per cartridge. If your priority is mixing rather than scratching, the Concorde MK2 Mix Twin in this same guide is tuned for that instead.

Frequently asked questions