Ortofon MC A90 cartridge

First off, I will put my two cents in on the A90. I have made a genuine run at listening to most of the better carts out there including a few MI/MM. In my opinion, the A90 is one of the three best carts I have heard in my rig and of the three, the most honest AND best value. IMHO of course. The other two carts in my top three are the Lyra Olympos and Koetsu Coralstone.
I will be visiting Mike Lavigne next month to try out a few new tricks for the 301. Since there seems to be a lot of interest in how the A90/Olympos compares to some of the MM/MI carts, I will bring a MP-50, Andante P-76 and M20FL Super and if Mike has the time and desire, we can do a comparison and share the results. My kind of fun.

Phaser,
1. this is a *new cart* a replacement for a defective one.
Well, maybe it again is defective?!
I sounds ~"MC wise" OK and not *bad* at all, but ultimately is not as good as some other NOS carts I mentioned. In the most simple of terms is does not track as good as the "others".
2. Again as I stated, I have tried just about EVERYTHING in the book, with every loading conceivable, including SUT usage also with no loading, primary-, and secondary- loading of MANY, many different values.

Now go try and explain to me what else is missing, if I use those NOS carts mentioned and I get superior results?
It can not be my phono-pre I say, since if it's not up to scratch it's like that all the way, and not just with MCs only, right? (I'm using the exact same gain settings for both 60dB)
Also you will find in more then one thread tracking issues discussed *no end*, and ALL are related to MCs!
So I think my case is not an exception here.
I am also REALLY very glad that something like the A90 seems to have finally sorted some / all of this, and therefore my interest.
Yet I am sceptical by now, and it will take a lot more for me just go out and buy this one. The last item was my Windfeld purchase based on all this *beautiful* hype ("worlds best cartrige" BS) so some stupid NOS cart sounds better?!
It is disappointing, and having taken that last *marvel* out of production just after ~ 1 year! is not going to make me go run for the next one right now, for sure.
Greetings,
Axel

Hi Vetterone

Nice to hear from another who has heard the A90 in their own rig. That it competes evenly with its more expensive peers says a lot.

If you were only to compare one MM at Mike's place - make it the MP-50 - selfish reasons for that choice as I am familar with the sound.

BTW - fantastic selection of vintage tables!!

I have been equally impressed with the build quality and performance of my newish 30 year old Exclusive P3 & P10.

cheers and enjoy.

Steve,

I will be visiting Mike Lavigne next month to try out a few new tricks for the 301.

i'm really looking forward to another visit and further Garrard tweaks. i'll try to get the 2nd A90 broken in prior to the visit so we can really compare things (like maybe an A90 on both the Triplaner and Reed and both mounted on the Garrard.....or both mounted on the Technics).

Since there seems to be a lot of interest in how the A90/Olympos compares to some of the MM/MI carts, I will bring a MP-50, Andante P-76 and M20FL Super and if Mike has the time and desire, we can do a comparison and share the results. My kind of fun.

i'm game for comparing all three if you want to (and if we are still having fun after the 1st and 2nd). the great part is that i get to watch you do multiple set-ups and continue my apprenticeship of "pivoted arm set-up 101".

btw, for those not aware Vetterone is Steve Dobbins who built wonderful plinths for both my Garrard 301 and my Technics SP-10 Mk3.

Hi,
This Ortofon A90 is a beautiful cartridge and perhaps the best so far that I have experienced. I don't own one, a long time audio dealer friend of mine likes it very much so.
Pardon me this is off the main topic. Downunder I have fond memories of the Pioneer Exclusive P3 along with the entire Exclusive line of other components.
Japanese HiFi back in the day was certainly cutting edge technology especially with their best turn tables.
I would like to finish off with I'm happy to see a resurgence of some of these vintage turn tables, tone arms and mm cartridges. Back to the future of HiFi?