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Ortofon Windfeld - anyone heard one?

Wondering if anyone owns or has heard the Windfeld.

I own the SPU Royal and it sounds gloriously musical.

Used to own Jubilee and never really got into it.
downunder
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi Tobes,
oh yes, but as with all things audio, take that 'review/rave" with a pinch of salt...

It's a good cart, but you're not 'talking to angels' as yet with it :-)

I listen to a number of jolly good MMs (oldies) and they make that review a bit overenthusiastic in my view. It's sort of on the same level as the hype about the PW emanating from Ortofon's sales brochure...

Axel
tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
Axelwahl, given the recent hype regarding MM carts, I'm going to retrieve my 20yo Garrott P77 from my folks house (when I get around to it) - to see what the cartridge sounds like in my current setup.
To be honest I'm not overly optimistic that I'll be bowled over. I recall the cartridge sounded quite musical, exciting and full bodied - but somewhat big (and loose) on the bottom and lacking the refinement, nuance and imaging precision of a good MC.
I guess it won't cost me anything to experiment though.
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi Tobes,
yes, I think it'd be just good to get some other perspectives on thatsubject.
There is one thing that struck me (always trying to find some explanation) when a lot of these MM where in use NOBODY, but for a few audio enthusiasts, knew much about VTA, never mind the other alignment subjects. Might this just have contributed to some 'lesser' regards for those oldies?
A guy that spend big $$$$ (at the time) on an MC and SUT (A MUST AT THAT STAGE) might just have been more 'into it' all...
Of course phono-stages have improved a lot also. If it was not for all of that, including really crappy TTs, the CD would NEVER have had much of a chance and gone the way e.g. SACD is going. How else to explain it.

Back to your P77, according to the 'Brothers' (straight from the horses mouth!) that P77 needs positive VTA a-plenty!
That's why it can sound the way you describe it, if run on e.g. a level arm. Your exact sound description of to small an SRA!

Greetings,
Axel
tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
Axelwahl, I would have to agree that back then I didn't have a tool even remotely as accurate as the MintLp tractor I now use. Ditto for the phono stage. Tools I used back then would have been a paper tractor or the MFSL Geodisc - not exactly super accurate - and I admit to not spending inordinate amounts of time with cartridge setup.
Though to be fair, the MC's I used at the time were set up with the same tools and used with the same phono stage.

As far as the VTA goes, I was definitely aware of the +ve VTA. Garrott emphasised this requirement in the setup sheet that accompanied the cartridge. However alignment probably wasn't great to start with and may have gone out the window when I dialled in the extra VTA. Who knows?

I'll reserve judgement until I hear the P77 again.
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