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Ortofon A90 broken stylus

So the long and short. I purchased one of the 1st A90 carts to come up for sale on Agon. This was about 10 months ago, was in great condition, all factory packing, box etc. Then in Feb. I put on a disk and let down the the arm - the cart just slid across the record - OS batman - as looked at the A 90 - no stylus, it had broken off at the body. Nothing was left. Called for help and got a hold of Louis - Ortofon in Ossining NY. He said to send it in and he would send this to Denmark for review and probably would have to pay 50% to rebuild. So I have been waiting for the past months and a box comes from Ortofon. I opened and here was my A 90 - all rebuilt and a packing slip - Warranty, fully rebuilt. Thank you Ortofon!!!!
brucedan
steelhead
318 posts
 
Besides being a fantastic company in over 40 years of vinyl ownership and spinning ANY ort at ANY price always played at or above it's price class in my opinion.

I am partial to Fidelity Research cartridges but I always have used Ortofons also. Currently have a soundsmith rebuilt Ort Kontra B.

Fantastic company.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,084 posts
 
Dear Brucedan: IMHO Ortofon is a first rate manufacturer second to none.

I own or owned any single top Ortofon cartridge model ( LOMC/MM ). Well, several years ago I bought their MC 3000 ( LOMC ) cartridge that came with a full ceramic body. I received the cartridge and mounted in the tonearm, the ceramic body was really fragile and I put a screw headshell mount torque to high and the top plate on the cartridge was broke but for many months I was unaware of that till I changed of tonearm.
This was easily 7-8 months latter, I contact Ortofon and sended the cartridge as they asked and 10 days after a NEW MC3000 appear at my " door " with no before Ortofon questions about.

As I said: first rate customer service!!!!!!

Btw, great performer your A-90.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
how well shielded is the A90?

I ask because I have a VPI Classic, and it hums with cartridges that are not well shielded. I love my current Soundsmith VPI Zephyr, but I would love to hunt for and drop an A90 on, but not if it will hum, like my Grado's did.
thesoundhouse
250 posts
 
I am very impressed and I will consider an Ortofon Cartridge next time I am due a new cartridge
brucedan OP
16 posts
 
Raul - so true. So like everybody else, I have screwed up a stylus or two. But in this case - it seems as if the stylus was just sheered of. I had treated this like a baby due to the long stylus and also the cost - this is my 1st "real" MC cart. The rebuilt A90 is the same serial number. They must of actually taken apart the motor and installed the stylus - I was impressed. As a side bar - been following your "who needs a MM" thread - as I have been using The Maestro Wood for the past 3 yrs - really a great cart, but this A90 takes my system to a more refined level.

Regards
Bruce
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