Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250

Overview

The Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted is the flagship of the 2M moving magnet family delivered factory mounted and aligned on an Ortofon SH 4 headshell. It is the same cartridge as the 2M Black LVB 250, built around a nude Shibata stylus and the upgraded LVB suspension that debuted with Ortofon's 250th anniversary tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven. The nude diamond and refined engine give this cartridge exceptional detail retrieval and a wide, open presentation from standard stereo LPs.

The premounted format takes the guesswork out of setup. Because the cartridge arrives already fitted and aligned on the SH 4 headshell, owners of turntables that accept a detachable SME-type headshell can simply slide it into place and set tracking force. The electrical and sonic character is identical to the standalone LVB 250; only the mounting convenience differs. Output sits at roughly 5mV, so it works with any standard moving magnet (MM) phono input.

This model is aimed at the listener who wants the top of the 2M line with a straightforward mounting path. It suits well engineered belt and direct drive turntables with removable headshells and rewards a resolving system that can show off the extra insight of the nude Shibata profile and LVB suspension.

Key Features

• Flagship of the Ortofon 2M moving magnet series, factory premounted on an Ortofon SH 4 headshell
• Nude Shibata stylus for extended high frequency detail and precise groove contact
• Upgraded LVB suspension developed for the 250th anniversary Black LVB 250
• Roughly 5mV output that works with any standard moving magnet (MM) phono input
• Factory mounted and aligned to save setup time on turntables with detachable headshells
• Split pole pins and Ortofon's optimized MM engine for consistent frequency response
• Recommended tracking force of about 1.5g for stable, low distortion playback
• Same cartridge and identical sound to the standalone 2M Black LVB 250

How the 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted Compares

Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted vs Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250

This is the same cartridge as the standalone 2M Black LVB 250, sharing the nude Shibata stylus, LVB suspension and roughly 5mV output. The difference is purely mounting: the premounted version arrives fitted and aligned on the SH 4 headshell for turntables that accept a detachable headshell. Choose the standalone version if your tonearm has a fixed headshell that you mount the cartridge into directly. See the Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250.

Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted vs Ortofon 2M Black

The 2M Black is the model directly below in the ladder and also uses a nude Shibata stylus with the same 2M engine and roughly 5mV output. The LVB 250 adds the upgraded LVB suspension for a further refinement in tracking and clarity. Both suit any standard MM phono input, so the choice comes down to how much of the top tier resolution you want. See the Ortofon 2M Black.

Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted vs Ortofon 2M Bronze Premounted

The 2M Bronze Premounted uses a nude Fine Line stylus rather than the nude Shibata of the LVB 250, giving it a slightly smoother, more forgiving character. Both come factory aligned on the SH 4 headshell for easy fitment. The LVB 250 sits above it in the line with more insight and a more open top end for revealing systems. See the Ortofon 2M Bronze Premounted.

Recommended Turntable and Phono Stage

Ortofon builds only cartridges, so pair the 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted with a headshell friendly turntable and a moving magnet phono stage to match its resolution.

• TEAC TN-4D-SE Direct Drive Turntable A stable direct drive deck with a detachable headshell tonearm, which makes it a natural home for the premounted format and its aligned SH 4 headshell.
• Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP Turntable A professional direct drive turntable with an S shaped arm and removable headshell, letting you drop the premounted cartridge straight in and set tracking force.
• Luxman E-250 Phono Preamplifier A refined MM and MC phono stage whose quiet, detailed presentation lets the nude Shibata stylus and LVB suspension show their full clarity.
• Parasound XRM Phono Preamplifier A flexible phono stage with a proper moving magnet input and adjustable loading, a strong match for the roughly 5mV output of this cartridge.
• Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier An integrated amplifier with a built-in MM phono stage for a clean single box solution around this cartridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 Premounted?
It is the flagship 2M moving magnet cartridge, factory mounted and aligned on an Ortofon SH 4 headshell for easy fitting to turntables that accept a detachable headshell.

Is this the same cartridge as the standalone 2M Black LVB 250?
Yes. It is electrically and sonically identical; the only difference is that it comes premounted and aligned on the SH 4 headshell.

Is it a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?
It is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge, the top model of the 2M series.

What phono input do I need?
Any standard moving magnet (MM) phono input works, since output is roughly 5mV. No step-up transformer is required.

What stylus profile does it use?
It uses a nude Shibata stylus for extended detail and precise groove contact.

What is the LVB suspension?
It is an upgraded suspension developed for the Black LVB 250 that refines tracking and clarity compared with the standard 2M Black.

What tracking force should I use?
The recommended tracking force is about 1.5g, with a range of roughly 1.4 to 1.6g.

What is the output voltage?
Output is roughly 5mV at 1 kHz, typical of the 2M moving magnet series.

Do I still need to align the cartridge?
No. It arrives factory mounted and aligned on the SH 4 headshell, so you mainly need to fit the headshell and set tracking force.

Which turntables accept this premounted headshell?
Turntables with a tonearm that accepts a detachable SME-type headshell can slide it into place directly.

Can I use it on a turntable with a fixed headshell?
If your tonearm has a fixed headshell, choose the standalone 2M Black LVB 250 instead, since you mount that cartridge directly.

How does it compare to the 2M Bronze?
The 2M Bronze uses a nude Fine Line stylus for a smoother character, while the LVB 250 uses a nude Shibata with the LVB suspension for more insight and a more open top end.

Does it play mono records?
It is a stereo cartridge suited to standard stereo LPs. Ortofon offers dedicated mono cartridges for mono only records.

What load should the phono stage present?
Recommended load is 47 kOhm resistance with 150 to 300 pF capacitance.

What is the frequency range?
The frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

How much does the cartridge weigh?
The cartridge weighs about 7.2g on its own, before the SH 4 headshell.

Will it work with an integrated amplifier that has a phono input?
Yes, as long as that phono input is a moving magnet (MM) input, which is standard on most built-in phono stages.

Is the stylus replaceable?
Yes, the 2M series uses replaceable stylus assemblies, so the stylus can be renewed when worn.

Is Ortofon a reputable brand?
Ortofon is a Danish company founded in 1918 and is one of the world's leading phono cartridge makers.

Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Ortofon dealer offering genuine product, full manufacturer warranty and expert setup guidance for building the right turntable and phono stage around this cartridge.