Ortofon A90 with Graham Phantom

05-20-10: Downunder
Paul, that explains the difference.

Smoffat and yourself have Phantom II's. I have mark1 and the left side of the headshell is symetrical with the right, hence their being a gap on both back ridges with mine.

Yes Shane, I thought that would be the case.
I too have the SME base - so could adjust the base and cartridge position so the ridges contacted. I can't really be bothered going through the realignment process for what I suspect will be zero change sonically. At the moment 2 ridges are contacting and the third contact is with the cartridge top rather than the other ridge - no big deal IMO (as long as azimuth is compensated).
However, if you decide to experiment and find some dramatic improvement - do report it here!

05-20-10: Stanwal
I was trying to be factious with the grinding off, if your tabs offend you, cast them away etc. I myself would not obsess about all three touching at the same time but then I don't spend hours aligning cartridges. I have been setting up tables since 1962 and somehow seem to get them to work. I was serious about the Blutak,

No worries Stan.
Regarding the blutak - that's not something I'd employ with a high performance cartridge like the A90. That would seem to be the exact opposite of what is being sought with the ridges, ie a coherent rigid coupling for extraneous vibrations. Then again, things like the Cartridge Man Isolator works for some people, so who knows.

05-20-10: Stanwal
.......Naive of me to expect a $4K cartridge and a $5K arm to work together.

BTW Stan, just to be clear, the A90 and the Phantom work beautifully together. I didn't think twice about the positioning of the 3rd ridge when hooking up - but then I'd seen this before with the Ortofon Jubilee.
Those that are bothered by this detail can adjust the base and cartridge position - no big deal IMO.

Thanks for all the responses and tips. I have installed 2 little brass washers between the A90 and the headshell and tighten it down. I will give it a listen.

The cartridge is now perfectly level as none of the 3 tabs are touching now.
I do not have the SME base unfortunately. I do have a cartridge man isolator actually but i may not have enough VTA play at the back to bring the arm parrallel with the record surface. I will try this approach as well.
I am not about to take a dremmel to a $4K cartridge.

Thanks again guys......

05-21-10: Smoffatt
Thanks for all the responses and tips. I have installed 2 little brass washers between the A90 and the headshell and tighten it down. I will give it a listen.

The cartridge is now perfectly level as none of the 3 tabs are touching now.

I think that's a good solution - though exact levelness with the head-shell is hardly an issue with the Phantoms azimuth adjustment.
I'm sure it will sound great.

The solution is easy.
use a 2.5 mm square spacer which supports the three tabs at the A90. ofcourse the VTA needs to compensate for the 2.5 mm thickness.
you may use aluminum, brass, or ebony.
the downside is one of those materials will sound best in your situation so you have yet another parameter to tune.
the three tabs on the A90 just fit fine with the Airline, but not much space left here either.

very tempting to comment on the dremel tool 'advise'..