I have been experimenting with headshell designs for my tonearms and recently decided to create one using resin 3D printing. My goal was to have an EMT headshell that could accommodate the Ortofon 2M Black cartridge, by following its design, giving the impression of OEM.
The design was modeled specifically for the EMT, for a short headshell, leaving enough space inside for wiring, ensuring precise geometry and secure fitment. I opted for resin printing because it offers very high dimensional accuracy and a smooth surface finish, which is essential for proper alignment of the cartridge.
The initial printed headshell weighed about 5–6 grams. While this ultra-lightweight build has its benefits, it was actually too light for the optimal tonearm/cartridge compliance match with the Ortofon 2M Black thus I added a small brass weight on top of the headshell structure. This modification increased the total headshell weight to about 13–14 grams, which brought the system into a much better resonance range.
The brass weight was positioned so it does not interfere with cartridge mounting or the signal wiring. The added mass not only improved the mechanical match between cartridge and tonearm, but also gave the setup a more balanced feel when cueing records. And it looks good, too!
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