The new Ortofon Exclusive 2M Black LVB 250 model coming soon

[Guest]

https://www.ortofon.com/2m-black-lvb-250-p-957?fbclid=IwAR0azMx5kwSW1HRPBVZ0mt7SgSGETDtgA2pqv034hEor5U5bBE9qe99-FJk

 

 

[metal beat]

Man, poor ole Ludwig van Beethoven gets a $1000 cartridge named after him 

 

and

 

Anna Netrebko gets a $15,000 cartridge named after her.    Who says sex does not sell 

 

[mloutfie]

It says boron cantilever but the pictures looks like the same tapered aluminium like the original 2m black

[Tasebass]

9 hours ago, metal beat said:

Man, poor ole Ludwig van Beethoven gets a $1000 cartridge named after him 

 

 

Well He was deaf....

think it might be a bit more than a grand Shane....have to wait and see...

 

Tase.

[artaudio]

19 hours ago, metal beat said:

Man, poor ole Ludwig van Beethoven gets a $1000 cartridge named after him 

 

and

 

Anna Netrebko gets a $15,000 cartridge named after her.    Who says sex does not sell 

 

where is the cantilever mounting point on her large moving coils?, lots of quality diamond in those earnings to make styli. 

Edited December 13, 2020 by artaudio

[cafe67]

Be interesting to see the pricing and what the audio improvements are?

[Guest]

Australian pricing: https://www.stereo.net.au/news/ortofon-2m-black-lvb-250-moving-magnet-cartridge-announced

[cafe67]

Interesting as it’s pricing puts in competition with “cheaper” m/c catridges

[Tobes]

I was actually thinking of getting a second 2M black so I'd have one for each of my turntables, but this boron cantilever upgrade is mighty tempting. The price seems pretty steep though - a lot more competition.

Edited December 16, 2020 by Tobes

[t_mike]

On 13/12/2020 at 6:13 AM, Tasebass said:

 

Well He was deaf....

 

 

...and we're not blind.

[Tobes]

Has anyone bought the 250 LVB stylus for the 2M black? Impressions?

The SNA review is very positive.

I have two 2m blacks and still mulling over whether to get the LVB stylus - I think the stock 2M Black is an excellent cartridge..

The LVB stylus seems to be selling for $1350, which seems very over priced when I consider that I payed US$195 for a Jico SAS stylus (boron cant with microridge stylus) for my Garrott P77.  I suspect Ortofon have boutique priced the LVB due to its performance against their lower MC lines. 

For the same price I could get a Quintet black MC with the sapphire cant and same Shibata stylus. Just not keen on going that route since I've been there with the higher priced Ortofon MCs (Jubilee, Cadenza Black, A90) and seeking something different.

 

[metal beat]

Paul

 

I think you answered your own question 

[rantan]

For $1350, the last thing I would be considering would be any type of Ortofon.

 

There are so many great alternatives at that price point, but then again, WTF do I know about anything?  It's your money and your life and I hope it works out well for you.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Tobes said:

The LVB stylus seems to be selling for $1350, which seems very over priced when I consider that I payed US$195 for a Jico SAS stylus (boron cant with microridge stylus) for my Garrott P77.  I suspect Ortofon have boutique priced the LVB due to its performance against their lower MC lines. 

 

 

Not really comparing apples and apples there - I would hope the LVB stylus is that much better than the standard 2M Black stylus considering the $600 premium. If somebody is in the market for a new 2M Black stylus its probably an easier conversation, but for someone starting anew there are some better carts available for similar money.

Edited January 8, 2022 by Hydrology

[Tobes]

50 minutes ago, Hydrology said:

Not really comparing apples and apples there - I would hope the LVB stylus is that much better than the standard 2M Black stylus considering the $600 premium

What I'm saying is that the actual stylus (ortofon shibata) and plastic carrier is the same. The stock 2M Black stylus replacement was already very expensive with the Al cantilever. Does it really cost $600 more for a boron cantilever? Others have shown it does not.

I would say Ortofon are extremely canny at creating pricing tiers based on performance ie they withhold features to create a niche for every wallet (and are not about giving you more for less - which of course make business sense).

For instance I doubt a Cadenza Black (which I've owned) costs much more to make than a Cadenza red.

FWIW, having owned many MCs over the years I'm not convinced MC is better. Different yes, but more accurate to the recording that's debatable.

50 minutes ago, Hydrology said:

but for someone starting anew there are some better carts available for similar money.

Have you heard the 250 LVB to make this determination? (Just asking, no agenda).

 

In any case, despite my misgivings on price, I may still fork out for the LVB stylus.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Tobes said:

What I'm saying is that the actual stylus (ortofon shibata) and plastic carrier is the same. The stock 2M Black stylus replacement was already very expensive with the Al cantilever. Does it really cost $600 more for a boron cantilever? Others have shown it does not.

I would say Ortofon are extremely canny at creating pricing tiers based on performance ie they withhold features to create a niche for every wallet (and are not about giving you more for less - which of course make business sense).

For instance I doubt a Cadenza Black (which I've owned) costs much more to make than a Cadenza red.

FWIW, having owned many MCs over the years I'm not convinced MC is better. Different yes, but more accurate to the recording that's debatable.

Have you heard the 250 LVB to make this determination? (Just asking, no agenda).

 

In any case, despite my misgivings on price, I may still fork out for the LVB stylus.

 

I sell Ortofon but Im not defending them (if it seems that way) because of this - find me another company been around over 100 years doing this - I think whether we feel it is justified is irrelevant, they have pushed the envelope and invested heavily in their research and development over a long period of time, methinks they deserve some credit.

Have I heard the 250 LVB? No, no interest personally as I do think I would have a hard time justifying this over the stock standard Black stylus, which was great to begin with. I would almost guess (despite your aversion to MC performance) that the Quintet Black would be the better buy for similar money.

As to the cost of Boron, well, it did become more scarce when the Russians dumped tonnes of it into Chernobyl...

 

[Tobes]

1 hour ago, Hydrology said:

I would almost guess (despite your aversion to MC performance) that the Quintet Black would be the better buy for similar money.

No aversion to MC's, I've used them for decades and still have some on hand. 

Yes the Quintet Black does look better value than the LVB stylus - but then I've already trodden that road with the higher end Ortofons. 

Edited January 8, 2022 by Tobes

[Tobes]

5 hours ago, metal beat said:

Paul

 

I think you answered your own question 

Which answer though Shane?

1. That the LVB Stylus is overpriced - so don't get it?

2. Don't go down the MC route again with Ortofon?

3. Just stick with the stock 2M Black or buy something else entirely

 

I think the 2M black is a fine cartridge as is - but not without flaws of course. 

I'm super curious about the LVB - I'll probably cave eventually and buy the stylus.  

[Tobes]

Ok, I caved and bought the LVB 250 stylus.

Nearly went the other way - I actually bought the Quintet Black (same price as the LVB stylus) - but then, after listening again to the stock 2M and with the meme above flashing in my head, I rang and changed my order.

 

Should have it next week and I'll post some comparisons to the stock 2M Black.

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

8 minutes ago, Tobes said:

Ok, I caved and bought the LVB 250 stylus.

Nearly went the other way - I actually bought the Quintet Black (same price as the LVB stylus) - but then, after listening again to the stock 2M and with the meme above flashing in my head, I rang and changed my order.

 

Should have it next week and I'll post some comparisons to the stock 2M Black.

Thanks for the heads up 

Really looking forward to your impressions 

 

Have heard it said that probably better to jump to Cadenza range rather than Quintet if coming from 2M Black and wanting to upgrade.

[Tobes]

On 19/01/2022 at 2:34 PM, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

Really looking forward to your impressions 

 

AusPost is so frustrating.

My stylus was posted by the dealer on 20/01 and the tracking is now saying to expect delivery between 31/01 and 02/02!!!!!

That's going from Melbourne to Central VIC!

At the same time as I ordered the stylus I also ordered a headshell from Japan - that arrived last Friday.

WTF Auspost?

 

[rantan]

1 minute ago, Tobes said:

WTF Auspost?

 

A national disgrace........................... which was once a great service, but those days are gone and will not return.

[Tobes]

Get this: it took 4 days to move from Camberwell to the Melbourne processing facility, then they incorrectly sent it to an Abbotsford facility and currently in the process of being resorted to where it should have gone. 

 

So wish I'd payed the extra $10 or whatever for courier delivery.

[rantan]

3 minutes ago, Tobes said:

Get this: it took 4 days to move from Camberwell to the Melbourne processing facility, then they incorrectly sent it to an Abbotsford facility and currently in the process of being resorted to where it should have gone. 

 

So wish I'd payed the extra $10 or whatever for courier delivery.

 

Yes indeed.

 

Wherever possible I always try to get courier delivery instead of Oz Post and I specifically ask the question about alternatives. I only use Oz Post when I absolutely have no other option.

[Tobes]

The LVB stylus finally arrived - 11 days to move a small package 150Km. Literally a horse and cart would have been quicker than Auspost - including pub stops and watering the horses.

 

Packaged in a standard tiny box, so nothing flash there.

 

Have yet to install it, but definitely a different looking beast. 

Stock 2m Black:

 

LVB: