Phantom + A90 question

I have no help to contribute here, but feel your pain. I had a hard time even getting a Koetsu secured flat to my 10" armwand. The fact that it rides way back in the headshell for proper overhang causes issues due to first the blue dot (which I removed) and then the slightly raised "rails" flanking the screw slots -- either can result in torquing forces (and thus mess with VTA / SRA) when too far in front of the mounting point.

I was thinking the other day that if I ever wanted to try an Ortofon Cadenza / Kontrapunkt, whether those 3 points (really 2 points and a rail) would cause a mounting issue in absence of the blue dot.

I don't see discussion of the Graham's headshell, but so far I feel like this is the one less-than-brilliantly-designed piece on an otherwise superb and very universal arm. Will be very curious to hear your results!

The mounting issue with the Cadenzas, as with the A90, is that the rear-outside point just hangs in space. Definitely the meeting of some quirky designs from both Graham and Ortofon.

My Ortofon dealer recommended sanding the raised bar and points off the plastic-bodied cartridges like the Cadenzas. He says it's easily done using adhesive sandpaper on a flat surface, although I'd be a little wary. The metal-bodied A90 is an altogether different story.

I think I'll try using one of these spacers. They're of varying thicknesses and I'll experiment. Carbon fiber may introduce its own sonic signature, but at least that rear point will be supported. I'll let you know.

Isn't the cadenza the same body type as the Jubilee? This is the first I have heard of a quirky design...

Isn't the cadenza the same body type as the Jubilee? This is the first I have heard of a quirky design...

Any cartridge (or headshell) with a non-flat mounting surface is potentially quirky. For a manufacturer to offer two such models isn't less so, it's doubly so.

Owners who wish to reduce cartridge/headshell contact can use aftermarket, point-contact spacers. The 3-pointed ones from Mapleshade can be fitted with the single point toward the front or the rear, which doubles the chances of a fit. Accordingly, they may be regarded as semi-quirky.

I am going to take a closer look at my A90 mount. It didn't even think it was an issue. Perhaps a can of worms is now open, perhaps it's a non issue. My sound has been fantastic with the Supreme/A90 combo and the Supreme/Coralstone combo. I use a Foz for azimuth setting.