Luxman E-250 MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

Get More From Your Vinyl Collection

The Luxman E-250 Phono Preamplifier is a dedicated MM/MC phono stage designed to properly amplify, equalize, and preserve the extremely small signal generated by a phono cartridge.

Building on Luxman's long history in analog playback, the E-250 combines an NF-type phono equalizer circuit, Super Permalloy moving-coil step-up transformer, adjustable MM cartridge loading, dual phono inputs, mono playback, low-cut filtering, and Luxman's unique Articulator function in a compact component.

Where the reference-level Luxman E-07 is designed for the most elaborate analog systems, the E-250 provides many of the cartridge-matching and analog playback features that matter most in a considerably more approachable package.

For anyone using a quality turntable with a separate preamplifier or integrated amplifier—or looking to significantly improve upon a basic built-in phono stage—the E-250 gives the cartridge the dedicated electronics it deserves.

MM and MC Cartridge Support

The E-250 supports both moving-magnet (MM) and moving-coil (MC) phono cartridges.

For MM cartridges, gain is rated at 38dB.

Moving-coil cartridges receive two dedicated gain settings:

MC HIGH — 57dB
MC LOW — 66dB

This allows the E-250 to accommodate a much wider variety of cartridge output levels than a basic one-setting MC phono input.

Luxman takes the MC section even further with a dedicated Super Permalloy-core step-up transformer. Independent left- and right-channel transformer sections are used, with two-stage gain selection to accommodate both higher- and lower-impedance MC cartridges.

It's a serious approach to moving-coil amplification in a relatively compact phono stage.

Adjustable MM Cartridge Loading

Cartridge matching doesn't stop with choosing MM or MC.

Different moving-magnet cartridges can respond differently depending on the electrical load presented by the phono preamplifier. Luxman therefore gives the E-250 adjustable MM resistance and capacitance rather than locking the owner into one universal setting.

Four impedance settings are available:

34kΩ / 47kΩ / 56kΩ / 100kΩ

Capacitance can independently be selected between:

0pF / 100pF / 220pF / 320pF

That gives you 16 possible resistance/capacitance combinations for optimizing compatible MM cartridges.

This is exactly the kind of adjustability we want to see in a dedicated phono stage. Instead of assuming every cartridge behaves the same way, the E-250 allows the electronics to be better matched to the cartridge you're actually using.

Two Phono Inputs for More Flexible Analog Systems

The E-250 provides two unbalanced phono inputs, selectable directly from the front panel.

That can be particularly useful if you own two turntables, use a turntable equipped with two tonearms, or want to keep two different cartridges available for different types of records.

You could, for example, configure one input for an MM cartridge and the other for MC operation.

Instead of swapping cables and changing settings every time you want to use a different analog source, the E-250 becomes the control center for both.

NF-Type Phono Equalizer Circuit

Once the cartridge generates its signal, the phono stage has two difficult jobs: amplify that extremely low-level signal and accurately apply the required RIAA equalization curve.

Luxman uses an NF-type equalizer amplifier with parallel FETs in the first stage to reduce noise and improve signal-to-noise performance.

RIAA accuracy is rated at:

MM: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.3dB
MC HIGH/LOW: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB

Total harmonic distortion is rated at just 0.003%.

Luxman also uses its rounded PCB trace design and custom-selected components throughout the circuit, maintaining the same attention to signal integrity found throughout its larger electronics.

Large-Capacity Dedicated Power Supply

A phono signal is tiny enough that noise introduced by the power supply can become a significant problem after amplification.

The E-250 uses a large-capacity power-supply circuit with a low-profile block capacitor and discrete regulator circuitry designed specifically to create a stable, low-noise electrical environment for the phono stage.

This is one of the fundamental advantages of moving to a dedicated phono preamplifier rather than relying on a small phono circuit incorporated as one feature among many inside another component.

Luxman Articulator Function

One of the E-250's more unusual features is Luxman's Articulator.

Over time, magnetization within a cartridge and MC transformer can potentially affect performance. The Articulator function uses the signal current generated during record playback to help demagnetize the cartridge and MC transformer.

It's a distinctly Luxman solution to maintaining the performance of the analog signal path without requiring a separate demagnetizing accessory.

Mono and Low-Cut Functions

Vinyl collections aren't limited to pristine modern stereo pressings, and Luxman recognizes that.

A dedicated Mono switch is provided for proper playback of monaural records.

The E-250 also includes a Low-Cut filter designed to reduce unwanted low-frequency energy that can be generated by warped or damaged records. Those frequencies may be largely inaudible but can cause excessive woofer movement and consume amplifier power.

For someone with a large or varied record collection, both features have genuine practical value.

Compact Luxman Design

At approximately 14.3 inches wide, the E-250 is considerably more compact than Luxman's full-width components.

Its aluminum front panel is finished in Luxman's characteristic blaster-white treatment, with tactile lever switches and straightforward controls providing quick access to the functions that matter during actual listening.

At 4.3kg, or approximately 9.5 pounds, it remains substantial enough to feel like a serious component without demanding the rack space of a full-size preamplifier.

The Grid's Take on the Luxman E-250

The E-250 makes sense for someone who has already invested in a good turntable and cartridge and realizes the phono stage shouldn't be the weak link between them and the rest of the system.

That's particularly true with moving-coil cartridges.

You're starting with signals as low as 0.12mV at the E-250's MC LOW input sensitivity. Amplifying something that small while maintaining low noise, accurate RIAA equalization, channel separation, and musical detail isn't a trivial job.

That's why we like that Luxman hasn't treated the E-250 as simply an MM input with extra gain added for MC cartridges. The Super Permalloy MC transformer, two MC gain ranges, adjustable MM loading, dedicated power supply, dual inputs, and low-noise equalizer circuitry make this a legitimate standalone analog component.

It also gives you room to grow. You can change cartridges, move between MM and MC, or operate two analog sources without immediately needing another phono stage.

Pair the E-250 with a Luxman PD-151 MARK II or PD-191A, select the appropriate cartridge, and you can build a complete high-performance Luxman analog front end without jumping immediately to the considerably more elaborate E-07.

At The Grid HiFi & Home Theater, we can help match the Luxman E-250 with your turntable and cartridge, determine the correct MM or MC configuration, and build the rest of the system around it.

Luxman E-250 Complete Specifications