Ortofon MC A90 cartridge

let me throw another log on the fire, so to speak.

i do have a second A90 coming (hopefully) next week for the Dobbins Technics SP-10 Mk3 with the Reed arm. i did have my A90 on the Reed briefly 3 weeks ago and it did sound marvelous. we did not spend the time to really dial it in like on the 301 but none-the-less it was 'special' sounding and i want to hear what i heard again.

the A90 is a bit of a chameleon in terms of playing to the strength of the arm and tt it is on. it's neutrality is not coldness or reticence; more an honesty and clear window to the music in the context of the other gear. like Shane, i've not heard the A90 lose it's cool; it's tracked everything without stress and landed on the musical side of the equation when things get exciting.

i now have about 100--110 hours on my A90.

what more can i say....i bought another one. any other cartridge i seriously might consider for the Technics would be more dollars, likely up to twice as expensive.

Is it superior to the Ortofon M20FL Super? (KIdding, guys.) I own an MC7500 that I am very fond of as well and which has qualities similar to those you guys are describing. I never owned an Ortofon cartridge until I recently acquired these two, and I am developing great respect for the company and its products. So maybe I need to get an A90 too. But for $179, you cannot beat the M20FL Super, maybe not for anything less than $2000.

Lewm,
you are so right, in fact I would up the stakes to $3000 easily IMO.
I'm back with the M20FL super and it just seems to bring out details in "right" way no MC so far could do in my system.
Again let me mention Jubilee, Windfeld, Axia, Orpheus, Dynavector XX2 MkII, and Dorian, just to mention what comes to mind. (All pretty well regarded MCs in their own right)
And as always YMMV
Axel

Axel, I do agree with you, but I did not wish to start an argument. So I kept the number well below the cost of top-flight LOMC cartridges so as not to irritate anyone. Mike Lavigne, you really should try an M20FL Super, especially on your Garrard. I would love to hear your opinion, as I know you have sampled most of the best and most expensive cartridges in the context of your superb system.

Lew,

tomorrow i will have a used Ortofon Jubilee to play with for a little while. i'll install it on the Technics and see how it plays with the big (and bigger) boys.

Lew, i agree we don't want to start an arguement. one gets into the cost of diminishing returns of performance and who cares enough to justify it. it applies to just about anything one might want to talk about....and that process is an unwinnable endeaveor.