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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
philb7777
401 posts
 
Yeah Wolf, I haven't heard it either. And at $8500 its out of my price range. But when Mike says its the best sounding cart he's had in his system (and I believe my memory serves he's had some stellar ones) then the Anna must be something. And for the price, she better be!

I probably won't get to hear an Anna until I go to one of the audio shows. And even then, I really won't know what I am hearing as the room and associated gear I will likely not be familiar with. Sigh.....
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
Mikelavigne, my post about relevancy was meant as humor. My true opinion on this topic is contained in my earlier post dated 5/5. As an actual owner/user of the Anna I welcome your comments. I can only speculate as to whether the OP welcomes your comments in that he seems to have made up his mind, along with others, about the Anna "debacle". Yes, someone actually used that word to describe the course of events outlined in the review.
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
As a general comment, I still think genius exists more in the ability to make great things that aren't "cost no object" and work really well. I'm often stunned at how beautiful my analog rig sounds with great recordings...and the used Linn/Akito table (rewired with a Jelco Mogami din cable) with a newer Sumiko Pearl (laughably inexpensive) into a Cambridge 640p absolutely astonishes. The State of the Art is always interesting, but when lunacy takes over as it did with Fremer's article there is just too much mirth to ignore.
lewm
13,039 posts
 
Judyasblues, Did you notice that that bit of slander from Romy the Cat was written in 2006? Mike himself has admitted that he was a bit naive in those days in his choice of audio gear, and by all accounts including his, he has come a long way since then, even assuming that Romy really did the extensive investigation that he claims, to back up his colorful insults. Can you give Mike a break, or do you think this is brain surgery with life or death consequences? In any case, dredging up that sludge from seven years ago is bad taste and mean-spirited on your part. I for one am happy to have the opinion of one of the few people who has actually heard the Anna against many comparably priced and highly touted cartridges, in his own system.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
The best Cartridge is always

- the more expensive one
or
- the next
More to discover