Ortofon MC A90 Cartridge VTF

Dear Jtinn: I have four times the A90 in my systems for only a few hours each time so I can speak on the long run.

First time ( the cartridge was not settle down yet ) I run at 2.4grs with a good performance not the best the cartridge can but good enough, last time I run at 2.1grs with excellent results. The cartridge is so good that I agree with Downunder: it sounds great in most settings.

In a case similar to this I ask directly to Dynavector if I can go up to 2.6grs in the XV-1 and they told me ( I posted somewhere in that time. ) NO. The manufacturer VTF range has some targets: that the coils stay centered, that there not exist any kind of mistraking ( even if we can't detect it ), that the cartridge suspension works on target and that the cartridge performs according the manufacturer targets/voicing.

IMHO in the short run we can make any kind of cartridge set up with VTF, maybe it can't damage the cartridge or the LP's ( ??? ), but in the long run my advise is: stay inside manufacturer VTF range.

I write the " danger " of mistracking with lower VTF and I say " even if you can't detect it ", this IMHO is important because we can have a tiny/minute cartridge mistracking that we can't detect and that we are hearing like more transparency/openess on the highs.
Of course that Ortofon is the best " source " to give a precise answer but if I was any of you I stay inside the manufacturer VTF range.

Lyniv point out something that is important especially with top resolution systems like yours: every time you change the VTF you change the VTA/SRA and overhang, could you detect it? I can't say it in those systems but are another factors to take in count as is IMHO to be sure that Azymuth is on target.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Jtinn: In the other side there is no reason to "
wait "/hope that the cartridge performs the same in
three different TT/tonearms ( I'm assuming were different
but two tonearms. Btw, same IC tonearms/phono stage cables?
), the
cartridge/tonearm/TT relationship is " personal "
especially cartridge/tonearm and along that
cartridge/tonearm then the load impedance and even than the
SRA belongs to each recording the same cartridge in
different tonearm sometimes needs different VTA/SRA to tame
the sound.

I comment this because only one cartridge was on the
manufacturer VTF recomendation, is obvious by your posts
that you don't try this cartridge in the tonearm where the
cartridge performs like you like at 1.56grs. and niether the
other way around too.

Normaly a cartridge of this caliber and coming from Ortofon
IMHO have to perform in excellent/top manner inside the
manufacturer specs/advise if the cartridge makes good match
with the tonearm and if the cartridge is full and in good
operation conditions.

Anyway, Ortofon has the best/precise answer on that 1.56grs
VTF.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

I've commented regularly for 3+ years about exactly the same VTF behavior with two ZYX UNIverses. I'd be astonished if an A90 or any other cartridge acted differently. Individual details and numbers vary, but not the basic behavior.

All cartridges have elastomeric suspensions. All elastomers alter with usage, age and climatic conditions (some more than others). Therefore, the amount of downforce needed for optimal performance changes.

To clarify a point made by Tbg, excessive VTF sounds nothing like inaccurate SRA. The two effects are utterly different, at least in our system and to our ears. Yes, changing VTF does alter VTA and SRA, particularly with modern styli, but that doesn't undo the fact that the VTF sweet spot of a cartridge changes. It just means you have to monitor both parameters to maintain optimum performance.

both A90's, one on the Rockport with VTF at 2.06 grams with 65 hours on it, and the other one on the Garrard/Reed 2P with VTF at 1.56 grams with 120 hours on it, are still sounding stellar 10 days later.

Steve Dobbins took the 3rd A90 (which had been on the Kodo 'The Beat'/Reed 2P at 1.91 grams with 40+ hours on it) back home with him when he left.

this past week i had 2 visitors that really enjoyed both tt/arm/cart combos. one in particular who is well known for his knowledge of idler tt performance, commented on how the Garrard's performance had surpassed what he thought possible from that type of design.

in a few weeks i'll try different (heavier) VTF's to see if those current settings are still ideal.

Mike, I still wonder what your quest is. Is it the lightest tracking force or the sound? I assume that you are redoing the VTA with each lower tracking weight. Is that the case? Also, are you readjusting the overhang in each case? Do you have a mistracking record? I am asking this as I will soon be able to use my Ortofon and have only very old experience in setting up anything other than the Shindo Labs cartridge on their tt. With it you have no overhang adjustment and the tracking weight is a very firm stated 2.85 grams. Even VTA is strongly recommended. Everything is intended solely for the Shindo set up.

I have found that the VTA is very critical on the Shindo and would be surprised were it not on the Ortofon.