Ortofon MC A90 cartridge

Lewm,
sorry I have no A90, only the Windfeld and the M20FL-super sounds more natural, has more detail yet, and also is a better tracker! (It's why it sounds better also, my take)
It's why I said, this A90 as it's assessed above is the next important step for Orto, no?

Windfeld compared to MP-50 -- the Windfeld sounds OLD (good way of putting it, thanks for the expression Robm1)
Axel
PS: To me there's no way to give these LOMCs the credit of "unsuitable" phono-pre performance if it can deliver the good stuff with all those MM / MI carts. Again, I think it is clearly a tracking issue, -- at least with my SME V arm.

Dear Axelwhal: Yes a " tracking issue " could be. I posted ( two years ago in that long MM/MI thread. ) this:

+++++ " IMHO I think that the MUSIC run so easily through a MM cartridge due ( between other facts ) to its very high compliance characteristic on almost any MM cartridge.

This very high compliance permit ( between other things like be less sensitive to out-center hole records. ) to these cartridges stay always in contact with the groove and never loose that groove contact not even on the grooves that were recorded at very high velocity, something that a low/medium cartridge compliance can’t achieve, due to this low/medium compliance characteristic the MC cartridges loose ( time to time and depending of the recorded velocity ) groove contact ( minute extremely minute loose contact, but exist. ) and the quality sound performance suffer about and we can hear it, the same pass with the MC cartridges when are playing the inner grooves on a record instead the very high compliance MM cartridges because has better tracking drive perform better than the MC ones at inner record grooves and here too we can hear it. " +++++

IMHO this along each cartridge suspension design are important factors on the tracking issue.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Raul,

when you say.....

IMHO I think that the MUSIC run so easily through a MM cartridge due ( between other facts ) to its very high compliance characteristic on almost any MM cartridge.

This very high compliance permit ( between other things like be less sensitive to out-center hole records. ) to these cartridges stay always in contact with the groove and never loose that groove contact not even on the grooves that were recorded at very high velocity, something that a low/medium cartridge compliance can’t achieve, due to this low/medium compliance characteristic the MC cartridges loose ( time to time and depending of the recorded velocity ) groove contact ( minute extremely minute loose contact, but exist. ) and the quality sound performance suffer about and we can hear it, the same pass with the MC cartridges when are playing the inner grooves on a record instead the very high compliance MM cartridges because has better tracking drive perform better than the MC ones at inner record grooves and here too we can hear it. "

....i think it is very important that you add in bold type...."in my personal experience".

do better MC cartridges truely 'bounce' along the groove typically?

huummmmm. i guess one needs an open mind.

i do not question that this is what you have experienced; only that that experience might not be the universal perception. i have a hard time taking your perceptions as the final truth in this matter; although i respect your opinions and they cause me to be curious.

i admit to never listening to high compliance MM cartridges.....and have no opinion about them.

ultimately; listeners must discover the truth for themselves. i'd love to see a MM take a run at the Lyra Olympos (or any of the top level MC's) on the Rockport sometime. flat record, perfect speed, no arm tracking errors, any outside resonance effectively eliminated. just two cartridges and a groove.

Dear Mike: Yes you are right and agree: " in my personal experience ". No it is not a universal perception but only with some of the ones that already own/heard the MM/MI alternative.

I like the Olympos ( I heard it twice ) unfortunatelly I don't heard it yet in my system but I have a very clear idea about its quality performance. Well many of the Olympos characteristics and especially the " easy and natural flow " of the music is shared by the top MM/MIs where almost no other LOMC have.

I think that can/could be very interesting that you take the opportunity to hear one-two of those " humble and vintage " MM/MIs in your system.
This technology is better than what we can think before we hear it, it is a " new "/different analog source alternative and IMHO worth to try it, it is so ridiculous inexpensive .

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Axel & co

This thread is for anyone who has heard or bought a A90 or anyone who has interest in an A90
- not for MM lovers who have never heard the A90 and try to make this about MM vs MC. You 3 or 4 guys have your own 27 page MM lovers guide thread to discuss that.

Axel, that your ML phono/setup can only sound reasonable at 47k says more about your current setup than anything, as you are definately in the absolute minority favouring 47k.

If you read Fremer's review or Robm1 comments, who have actually heard both - the A90 is clearly in a different musical and sonic league compared to the Windfeld for only a little price premium.

perhaps Robm1 can elaborate on what differences he has heard - not for your benefit but for anyone interested in an A90.

A90 vs Nagaoka MP 50 - the MP 50 is a great cartridge and is well and truely as you say a giant killer - maybe up to 3k compared to some MC's - It certainly is better in every respect than a Miyabe Shilabe cart at $2800 which I have heard in my system.

In time I will also listen to the ortofon M20FL super and report.

The A90 however is comfortable better than the MP50 in my system.

Why only Ortofon sell limited Edition of 400. Frankly 400 top of the line cartridges are a LOT of cartridges for any top of line model and probably several years or more supply for other cartridge makers. Ortofon are back ordered by 6- 8 weeks, so clearly at the moment demand is outstripping their ability to manufacture and supply.

Quote from Ortofon -

"The production capacity for A 90 is limited as the Single Laser Mould is a very special process. The structures for A90 are produced by a Danish research Insitute, Teknologisk Institut Aarhus, their capacity is limited at the machine is one of 3 in all Europe.
They use it mostly for research purposes but we are a partner for them in their research for using this process for manufacturing "

Compared to other manufacturers top of the line cartridges Ortofon is actually cheap, so Ortofon should be praised for that alone.



cheers