Pladespilleren.dk
Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 - top MM cartridge
Manufactoring and distribution: Ortofon Denmark - price DKR 7.495,- (1000 Euro)
Latest update 14 March 2021 (follo up Apris 2021 at the bottum)
MM cartrdige that pays homat to Beethoven - Ortofons 2M Black LVB 250
Early
2008 I reviewed the then brand new 2M cartridges. It was the Red and
the Blue who received a good evalutation and a big welcome. They
delivered good sound in the affordable price range.
Red and
Blue are now sitting on countless turntables around the world. I
have experienced several times. how they have thrilled audiences
who did not know it was the cheap ones in the 2M series they were
listening to. Since then, the Ortofon 2M series has expanded and
triumphed worldwide, as budget MM pickups in the affordable price
range, up to the top range model 2M Black. On the occasion that good
old Ludwig Van Beethoven would have turned 250 years old in 2020, there
is now an upgraded version of 2M Black. This is of course called the 2M
Black LVB 250 and has a nice little picture of the master himself on
the cartridge body.
2M Black LVB 250
The
black body is the same as the 2M Black. Made of a newly developed Lexan
DMX Piano Black, a material that ensures high stability and at the same
time eliminating unwanted internal resonances. The coil system is with
silver-plated copper wire. Where Ortofon has invested in the improved
Black LVB is in the diamond tip, as well as the cantilever and the
suspension. In fact, the tip and the cantilever are taken from one of
their good MC cartridges - namely the Cadenza Black.
Needle
shape is thus a naked Shibata. A slightly older, proven profile
that is gradually being used in several places - also by other
manufacturers of cartridges. But why this choice? Well, it was
originally designed to handle the 45 kHz associated with CD4
quadrophony. But at the same time it is easier to track the very small
grooves at the end of the record and thus ensure a better quality.
One may wonder why Ortofon did not choose their own Replicant type, but
either it does not fit this cartridge or it is too expensive and
therefore reserved for Ortofons top MC models.
The
cantilever is boron and very thin. If you compare it to the "old"
2M Black, you can clearly see the difference. See the pictures below.
There is clearly a lower moving mass in the new version. The suspension
is made of a newly developed MWCNT rubber compound. The term refers to
the fact that it is based on Multi Wall Carbon Nano Tubes. This
nanotube construction ensures optimal resonance attenuation. At the
same time, it involves a less polluting and an energy-saving
production, which is probably significant in these times. Compliance is
set at 22, so we are still in an area where the slightly heavier arms
can be used. This pickup can easily be used in a Jelco arm, or arms
from Rega, Project and Technics.
The LVB 250 replacement stylus unit
also fits the "old" 2M Black or 2M Bronze. It is thus possible to buy
an LVB replacement stylus and have your cartridge upgraded.
The
first two pictures above are downloaded from the web. They clearly show
differences on the stylus itself - it is 2M Black at the left and the
new Black LVB in the middle. At the right a nice picture of the shiny
boron cantilever with the Shibata stylus.
Setting up
Usually
I can (almost) mount a cartridge in my sleep. But not a 2M Black LVB!
Firstly, the 4 small terminals are very close and secondly, they have
changed the connections a bit. Like the other pickups in the 2M series,
they are turned 90 degrees. Red and White sit on top of each other
and the associated Green and Blue sits diagonally opposite them. Very
strange, but the connections must be crossed internally, because when
you follow the instructions it works (see picture). If you connect them
like ordinary pickups (also Ortofon's own MC types), you get a very
strange phase-reversed signal.
Next problem was my carbon fiber
headshell. It has been used many times before, but here it did not
work. A clear buzz and hum. Then switched to a solid Jelco aluminum
headshell and the problem was solved. Actually, I probably should have
used an Ortofon headshell, but the ones I have are for mounting pickups
without internal threading.
After that, it all went much
smoother. The pickup is light and there were no problems with the
mounting in my Dynavector DV-507 mk II arm. Also tried it in my Glanz
MH124 arm but ended up using my Jelco TK-850L. The VTF was
adjusted to the recommended 1.6 grams and there came music! I
used my Accuphase C27 RIAA as well as a smaller RIAA from Holton
Precision Audio.
Down memory lane
After
a few months playing around with high-end MC
cartridges, I just had to refresh what good MM pickups could
do. Found some older cartridges. My Orthofon Concorde Century,
Shure V15 IV with Jico SAS stylus and of course my little Audio
Technica VM95SH, now wrapped in a cocobolo wooden house. None of these
are in the same price range as the 2M Black LVB, yet there are some
similarities.
It was not only old cartridges that were taken out
of their hiding. Old music was dusted off as well. The LVB 250 sounded
a bit squeezed right out of the box. There was a lack of air and
somewhat restrained sound. Therefore, it was allowed to play many
records. Good old known records with Electric Light Orchestra, Deep
Purple, Supertramp, Eric Clapton and many other old favorites. Slowly
the cartridge woke up and delivered a more vivid and open sound.
Not quite as open as my much more expensive MC cartridges, but I had
not expected that now either. However, it clearly showed that a god MM
in this class can play music!
Technical data:
Output voltage - 5 mV
Channel difference v. 1 kHz <1 dB
Channel separation
v. 1 kHz> 27 dB /
v. 15 kHz 15 dB
Frequency range 20 - 20,000 + 2 / -1 dB
Recommended needle pressure 1.6 grams (16 mN)
Tracking ability v. 315 Hz and recommended needle pressure 80 um
Needle type Naked Shibata - radius r / R 5/50 um
Cantilever - boron
Internal impedance 1.2 kohm
Recommended load 47 kohm / 150 - 300 pF
Weight 7.5 g
The Sound of LVB - Rock, pop and Beethoven
After
a few weeks of playing the many old records, I had to sit down and
listen properly. What was that? This sounds very smooth and the upper
range is nice with fine details. Definitely not like a typical MM. The
top is airy and very easy on the ears. It is somewhat atypical compared
to many other MM pickups, which in comparison may appear somewhat
closed in the top octave. Here we find details that are allowed to
emerge, but still placed correctly in the sound image behind the
speakers .Is it a combination of the cantilever and the Shibata stylus?
I have experienced before how pickups with thicker aluminum
cantilevers (eg after repair) change the sound to a somewhat more
"bold" and full-bodied top that is not so distinct. That was certainly
not the case here.
The midrange is well defined and neutral,
however, with a slight tendency to fill a bit more more – be a litte
wider in the image. There is a slight warmth and "coziness" over the
voices - in fact the whole rendition. LVB is a "cozy pickup" that has a
hard time getting raw and aggressive in its way of playing. The bottom
is in place - a bit full-bodied but again with the slightly relaxed and
generally smooth playing style.
I
have previously noticed that typical MM pickups have a certain
nostalgic feel. They often sound like "back then" when I started with
hifi in the 70's. Slightly robust and with a forgiving sound. This is
how they should sound when playing the Beatles, ELO and Supertramp.
Back here in 2021 I put the Eagles on. Their double album "Long Road
out of Eden". Now - this is something else. The massive and slightly
compact top range is gone and replaced by an easy-flowing and
very comfortable way of reproducing the details. The beautiful choirs
on the record are albeit a little smaller in the soundscape, so with
lots of details and sharply defined. The image also defined well in the
back with a good depth and perspective. I have recently heard a number
of absolutely excellent MM pickups that in no way hold back. Ortofon 2M
Black LVB is definitely one of the better.
Heard a little of
Kari Bremnes / Over a City. A record with her voice in the foreground
and with a single guitar or piano. On several tracks a
violent bottom. No doubt Black LVB manages to penetrate deep
into the music. Both technically, where the piano is nice clean
and transparent and with a fine rendition of the female voice.
Precisely and with a little extra body. The best thing, however, is the
top which is smooth, soft and incredibly comfortable. Gone are all the
typical MM tendencies to show a slightly physically compact rendering
that skips where the fence is lowest. Here you get both details and
lightness that very few MM pickups will deliver. Or for that matter
also show something that the cheaper MC cartridges lack. I have never
heard such a top from e.g. a Denon DL-103.
Of course, Beethoven
was also something i had to play. My 5 double album with
Beethoven's piano concerts was the choise. Now I'm probably more into
his colleague Mozart (who the pickup also plays well), but here was a
big sound image and a good smooth reproduction of the piano as well
asthe strings. A rendering that never became massive or harsh. The LVB
250 handled the big soundimage and the entire space behind the
speakers stood out nicely with details far back. If otherwise it is in
the recording, then it will emerge. I also tried a couple of
other LPs with classical music and yes - it definitely does play
classical music as well as pop, jazz or rock.
Conclusion
With
2M Black LVB, Ortofon has focused on getting the best out of an MM
pickup. They must be said to have succeeded. It has an excellent airy
and detailed top and delivers a smooth and homogeneous reproduction.
You could say that it plays warm and somewhat intimate with a slightly
smaller soundstage. A real "cozy pickup" that fits all music genres,
but which does not just deliver the last big and open sound, like the
better MC cartridges.
Absolutely approved. If you are in
possession of a 2M Black or Bronze, the LVB replacement stylus fits
them and you get an easy and quick upgrade.
However, it is
impossible to ignore the fact that there are a number of competitors in
the same price range. Both Ortofon and others have excellent MCs or
high output MC types, which in many areas will make it a little
difficult for the 2M Black LVB 250. Yes, most require a good MC input,
which makes it all somewhat more expensive. But even the high output
versions will in many cases have something extra, while the Black LVB
250 is holding back in its own laid-back way.
Thus, it is a choice
one makes. Are you happy with the sound that the 2M series stands for
and if you prefer the MM, then there is no doubt - the 2M Black LVB
will be an obvious choice and the quality is definitely at the top
among MM cartridges.
 |  |
Follow up - April 2021
Everyhting
comes to the one that waits. Almost! But there certainly has
happened something with the Black LVB, aftar having played several
hours. I guess that the specal suspension needs some time to reach
the optimal softness. The sound is still very much controlled, so there
still is not a lot of space for letting go and be up front. But at the
other side you sit and llisten with a feeling, that everything is easy
and unhindered. No matter what record you try with this cartridge,
it responds without any stress and agressive sounds. Dynamic drumms and
firm bass - YES! Attacj and decay of the piano - YES! An airy top
with details and substance - YES. There is a sence of wholeness in the
reproduction, which will catch you with time. Still a bit different
from a good MC in the same priceclass, but why should all cartridges
sound the same? I have now been listening to records for several hours
played with the Black LVB. I don¨t think it will be my favorite
cartridge to show of my system, but i will use it when i just want
to listen to good music withous beeing distracted. Yes it is possible
to read a good book and listen to music at the samle time. I find it
very much possible with thiis Ortofon cartridge. I can enjoy both music
and the book, especially combined with a good glass of wine.
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