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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
13,130 posts
 
The thread could as well have been titled, "Tempest in a teapot".

Stringreen, I am very surprised to learn of your experience with Ortofon cartridges. Mine is the opposite. In addition, direct examination of any Ortofon cartridge at any price point typically suggests that the quality of design and construction is equal to and often better than that of other cartridges at that price point. This is not at all to say that Ortofon cartridges are always the best sounding at any price point.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,472 posts
 
Diggory/Lewm.....that is MY history with Ortofon....as a matter of fact when I complained to them, they were very accomodating to send me a new cartridge, but it too had a bent stylus.....Even under the new plastic packaging anyone could see that the stylus was severely bent. Yuk...
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rauliruegas
13,100 posts
 
Dear Mikelavigne: Thank's for your post. I did not have any doubt on the Anna top quality performance but on its QC that for me was something weird due to first hand several experiences with Ortofon cartridges.

I posted here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1365811842&openflup&25&4#25

and I said " don't fixed at all today " because I did not know what you posted, now is more clear the whole QC subject.

Thank's again.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
mallen123
110 posts
 
It would be interesting to hear from other Anna owners in this thread.

So far no actual Anna owner has said they had the same problem Fremer had.
If my count is correct, three Anna owners ( including me ) have responded with praise and no issues in this thread.

Weird that Fremer had two bad samples but would be really helpful to know if this was a case of lightning striking twice, or if there was/is a quality issue with the Anna.

I'm sure there are more than three Anna owners on Audiogon, so would be very interested to get their feedback.
wolf_garcia
6,711 posts
 
The performance of the cartridge, however great or not so great, has little to do with the humor and irony of the Fremer review of it and the aforementioned D'Agostino silliness...the fact that it's all taken to be very unfunny is also pretty funny. A strong strain of geekdom insecurity winds its way through this entire subject, and I for one am grateful.
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