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Would you use an Ortofon A90 on a Jelco tonearm?

Friends,
i sold my ART9 cartridge and now looking for an upgrade. I like Ortofon carts. I have been able to locate a low mileage A90 and a Per  windfeld cartridge that I could afford. I don't have a top quality tonearm though. Would you put an A90 on a tonearm like Jelco 750d ? Or would you spend additional $1000 on a better tonearm and get a less exotic cart like the windfeld ?
pani
analogluvr
859 posts
 
Pani I would think you can get it retipped with a different style of tip no problem.  The replicant 100 may probably just be Ortofon's name for one of the existing shapes.  Marketing!!  I got a Lyra Delos retipped by an aftermarket service and it worked great. And I mean an actual tip put on the existing cantilever.  I would never go with a different cantilever unless I had to ie it was broken off.
I'm not sure if its aloud or not but I figured I would mention that I just listed the Per Windfeld.  Check it out if you like, its a great price.  If its not aloud, moderators just remove this last statement. 
pryso
1,967 posts
 
pani, I've not checked recently but I believe Soundsmith offers both stylus and stylus/cantilever replacements.  The latter are less expensive for reasons nandric explained.
rauliruegas
13,123 posts
 
Dear @pani : Ask you somenthing like this: would I send my " Ferrari " to fix it at Ford or GM?

In the case of top LOMC cartridges it's just a mistake to send the cartridge to and after market re-tippers.

When we send the cartridge to the original manufacturer we have several advantages: first is that it signature quality sound level does not changes, second is that the cartridge manufacturer not only fix the cartridge but if exist any additional " problem " , that re-tippers can't detect, they will fixed, if at the time we send the cartridge to the manufacturer exist any kind of up-date ( unknow for us. ) they will do it free of charge ( this happens with any manufacturer not only Ortofon but Lyra or van  den Hul. )

No re-tipper can knows all the why's that the cartridge designers took in count for the whole cartridge design. It was the  designer whom made the cartridge voicing till he was satisfied with.
When the cartridge is sended to the manufacturer they check the overall design and that the cartridge meets the specific specifications for that model. Re-tippers can't do it and not because theirs knowledge levels that allmost all have but because they do not know critical information only the designers have.

When we send a top cartridge to re-tippers what we recieve is a different cartridge.

So it's up to each one of us.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.


analogluvr
859 posts
 
I don't think that Soundsmith does but I believe Andy does.  Could be wrong about Soundsmith though.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,503 posts
 
I have a Winfield and like it a lot.  The cartridge is very flat...just tells the truth.  The caution is that it is VERY sensitive to setup.  I've had many cartridges...none even approached the sensitivity of the Winfield...especially as to the azimuth adjustment.  I have it on a VPI 3D with the 2nd pivot...just by changing the azimuth the most minute adjustment on the screw, the soundstage width and depth open up dramatically.  If your arm doesn't have all adjustments that can easily be manipulated, I would probably look at a Benz LP or similar.
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