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Ortofon A90 with Graham Phantom

Looking at the top of this cartridge there are 3 little tabs. One at the front and 2 at the back. The top of the cartridge does not make contact with the headshell on its entire surface. Also, with the Graham, the cartridge is further back in the slots for correct alignment making one of the tabs at the back not make contact at all with the headshell.

After aligning it with my Mint LP and securing the screws, viewing the cartridge from the front, i can see a small gap between the top of the cartridge and the headshell and the cartridge is "tilted" ever so slightly to one side because only 2 of the tabs are making contact with the headshell.

Are you experiencing the same?
Thanks
smoffatt
tuboo
93 posts
 
Downunder,
there are several screw lenghts supplied with the A90 package, but seeing the Phantom headshell thickness the 2.5mm extra spacer could be too large indeed.
the screws are metric 2.5 millimeter or M2.5 although they are easily obtainable in EU that might not be the case in USA.
but for sure you will find a supplier of metric nuts&bolts online who could send out those screws to you.
i can give you dimensions on the spacer to fabricate one yourself. the 2.5mm thickness is a suggestion, that could be 2mm but no less due to resonance. be sure to use non magnetic screws like rustfree steel, aluminium or brass.
jaspert
157 posts
 
I came across this on another forum and i think it could potentially help some Phantom users here. From the look of it I think it can be used as pure spacer or add a few inserts to decouple the cartridge from the headshell.
I have a Phantom II with Micro RX 5000 and i might try this later when i get my A90.

Midas Touch

Midas Touch
smoffatt OP
205 posts
 
Jaspert, where do you get this spacer and do you know how thick it is.

Thanks
downunder
1,329 posts
 
I have found a set of screws that will alloow me to fit the carbon fibre spacer and A90 onto the Phantom. This will allow all three feet of the A90 to be securely grounded.

Of course I found the screws after I moved the A90 to the Exclusive P3. So it will stay there for a while.

the carbon fibre headshell seems to be doing a very good job with my dyna XV-1. I think it sounds better balanced than just using the Phantom only. Might be somthing to think about for XV-1/Phantom users
wrm57
1,040 posts
 
The Ortofon Cadenza line has the same three nubs. I've been dissuaded from buying one, or the A90, for my Phantom II for this reason.

I ran across this carbon fiber spacer product from MusicDirect. It's rather expensive but might do the trick. Comes with a selection of long screws, too.

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/84232

Can't tell whether the three points will fit on the spacers, though, and the dimensions aren't published. Can any of you A90 owners guess at a glance whether these spacers might work?
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