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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

Showing 2 responses by kiddman

kiddman
341 posts
 
"IMHO any manufacturer who is "beta" testing on the public has no right to be in business"

I would agree, but what you don't know is how many of the supposed "great names" essentially do this exact thing! Little scientific testing, designs by guys who are little more than garage tinkerers, thrown out there with a high price tag. It's all over the industry.
kiddman
341 posts
 
I don't think folks are up in arms just because an 8k cartridge exists. They (I include myself so should say "we") are upset that something so expensive was submitted 3 times before the company got it right.....to a reviewer no less! And to top it off, the reviewer then goes and raves it. This is the irresponsibility (on the company's part, not Fremer) in this hobby that so many of us are upset about.

I don't see threads on expensive Dynavectors, Air Tights, or Lyras where folks are this upset.

We all know what it means when the company can't even get a sample to a reviewer correct on the first 2 tries: it means that lots of bad ones went to consumers. I think folks should be riled up at that thought!
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