TIME'S CELEBRATION: ORTOFON FIRST CENTURY ANNIVERSARY ! ! ! ! !

I still would have thought that being such an important milestone and being in production for 100 years, the cartridge releases are for the rich and famous, nothing for the common man who still has to pay big coin for a halfway product.

Halfway? Are the top end cartridges 4x the performance of the low end performers? Considering the Cadenza Bronze (at AUD$30000) is a 1/4 the price of the century releases, do they perform 4x better?

Again, the poor guy gets ripped off. (AUD$3000) for a average cart?

I did talk to my local HiFi sales-pusher (he tries to grab my every dollar!) and he suggested the Rega Apheta 2 or up a bit to Aphelion 2. He said he gave away selling Ortofon due to the way THEY want HIM to sell them. He just walked away. Fair enough.

I am a complete novice on cartridges. I can only take peoples advice and read reviews (which are sometimes enlightening). My current understanding is that MC cartridges are very much influenced by the tonearm, pre-amp and so on. It's a steep learning curve.

As a lad in the 1960s the cartridge was welded to the phonograph and you watched it weave side to side as it followed the record groove. It's a whole new world an I am finding out, quickly!

Dear @rauliruegas,

i hope you are well, my friend.

yes, Ortofon cartridges have been a big part of my story. my close friend was a dealer who was very connected with what Ortofon was doing from 2008 or so, and he would allow me to get an early unit. i especially remember the A90 and first MC Anna. at that time they were very good and continued my cartridge journey which at that time we mostly vdH Colibri’s (owned 10 of those over the years). the Ortofon’s were more refined and settled than the Colibri’s, just not quite as crazy good as the peak of the Colibri’s. i owned a couple MC Anna’s, then an Anna Diamond, but never had the Century, or later Ortofons.

i added the Clearaudio GFS which was a bit more powerful and authoritative. then in the last 5-6 years moved to the Etsuro Gold of various versions (owned 4) which all around are now my favorites. and the DaVa Ref field coil, which is a force of nature unto itself. also have the Audio Technica MC-2022 with the unified stylus-cantilever linearity unmatched, as well as the Murasakino Sumile Mono which is lovely.

i view the best Ortofon’s as very, very fine cartridges, and could see myself getting another down the road. they play at a high level and are neutral and lively. for that range just below the tip top maybe as good a choice as any. never disappointed me.

Dear @mikelavigne  :  Very nice and a pleasure to meet you again in Agon.

I don't listen too the Ortofon latest MC Diamond.

I had the opportunity to listen the Etsuro Gold in my system and in the top cartridge owner system and yes is very good quality performer with a healthy output level.

I don't know which version I listened becausefrom the only gentlemant that mentiones about other version was you and now I learned that exist not one but four Gold versions, Etsuro does not explained that issue in its site.

If you own 4 versions  then: did you already decide which one is the better and if that version in on sale directly from Etsuro?

Btw, that Audio Technica  truly special LOMC design MC-2022maybe is your first AT cartridge, I can't know for sure but the issue is: what do you think of that AT model quality level performance? . Thank's in advance.

Btw and with out any doubt your presence in this analog Agon forum always is need it  and way appreciated for all Agoner's. You have so much to share with us always.

R.

R.