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Fremer's review of the Anna cartridge

Fremer reviews the $8499 cartridge very positively, but it takes three different samples of the cartridge for him to get there. The first sample exhibited "an incompatibility between the adhesives used and the elastomer of which the cartridge's damper is made." Fremer notes "[e]vidently, however, this problem didn't affect every Anna that left the factory." Wow, what a relief. In the second sample, apparently "some the glue that secures the stylus in the cantilever had dripped." The third sample, after 100 hrs of break-in finally delivered. Fremer suggests buying and using an USB microscope as part of the cartridge buying process.

Does anyone else think this is absolutely nuts? It seems to me, at this price level, every single cartridge should be absolutely perfect. Haven't Ortofon heard of quality control? This also applies to Lyra whose $9500 Atlas cartridge had the stylus affixed to the cantilever at an angle that made it virtually impossible to get the SRA of 92 degrees.
actusreus
lewm
13,011 posts
 
Thanks, Actus.
I saw the review by Fremer and just cut to the chase by reading his concluding remarks. Therefore, I missed his description of the issues you have raised. It is very surprising to me that Ortofon would be guilty of such sins of omission (quality control, mainly). Over the years, I have come to think very highly of their capacity to produce beautifully made products, whether one likes their sound, or not. I own an MC7500, arguably the father of their subsequent TOTL cartridges, down to and including the Anna. It is beautifully made. All Ortofons I have owned fit that description, and I never saw or heard of one with such glaring defects right out of the box. So, I don't really know what to do with Fremer's report. However, for me it is moot, since I am not a customer for cartridges in that price category, just as a matter of personal choice.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Despite the impression which you may now have, there is no industry standard for SRA. None. There is more of a standard for VTA (originally decided as 15 degrees, which is the origin of Shure's "V-15" name, and later gradually revised upwards until it reached 20 degrees) than there is for SRA.

Yes. But now we have a "Standard": Fremer
That replaces everything.

If it takes them 3 tries to get it right for Michael Fremer, you can guess how much care they take in making the one they sell you.

The customer gets the most respect, the maximum care, the ultra quality control, don't worry.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Yes, nuts anyone would be buying such high priced junk. That Fremer did just not return the original cartridge and be done with it, suggests it was the price point that seduced him. Fremer fell into the hi end trap of 'the higher the price, the greater the product'. What all this tell us is that 'value' is never part of Fremer's mind set.
janeb
40 posts
 
Actusreus, I also read this review and thought along the same lines as you. IMHO any manufacturer who is "beta" testing on the public has no right to be in business. The cartridge in question had better produce and produce from the get-go. OTOH, I have to wonder if MF was 'pulling his punches' as a lot of reviewer's are known to do. What would MF have said if instead of the third Anna being just right, it took say fifty or more before they got it right? Would that have been ok??
I know one thing, If I as a consumer, received one of these high priced cartridges and it was eliciting the same problems as the first two that MF received, i would be one mighty mad girl. Would I then go on to recommend this companies products even if they finally got it right after a few tries....I don't think so.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Does anyone else think this is absolutely nuts?

That's High End. On the other side he never checked the speed stability from his turntable recommendations...

It seems to me, at this price level, every single cartridge should be absolutely perfect.

Don't be so picky. Koetsu has normally a non straight cantilever and get one huge recommendation after the next ...

... Atlas cartridge had the stylus affixed to the cantilever at an angle that made it virtually impossible to get the SRA of 92 degrees.

Hm, cheap cartridges are bought mainly from persons who need some time to get the money for it and they are critical...other customers don't care and can afford that. They prefer stoning the messenger instead... that is much more fun :-)
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