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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 6 responses by tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
If I were sending a cartridge to Michael Fremer for review I would have it triple checked by the guy who designed it, the guy who makes it, and the head quality control guy.

I would make sure it was burned in and listened to by the best ears in the company until everyone was sure it sounded as good as it possibly could. I would then have it hand delivered to Michael and I would check with him regularly to see if he was having any problems or had any questions. I guess that's why I'm not rich.

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.

Digital keeps sounding better all the time.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
I don't understand why Ortofon didn't explain in their Manufacturer's Comments in Stereophile about the bad first batch and that the production problems had been corrected. This thread wouldn't have been necessary.

Did they think that if they didn't say anything that no one would notice that Fremer had to return the first two samples?

A little more honest explanation and less hype and obfuscation would do the high-end a world of good.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
Onhwy61,

Do you think that Ortofon will replace every Anna that is returned because the owner is not sure what's wrong but doesn't think the cartridge is working properly?

I don't.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
I nominate Onhwy61 for Minister of All High-End Manufacturing.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
I don't understand why Ortofon didn't explain in their Manufacturer's Comments in Stereophile that the first preproduction batch had some problems and that production was stopped and the problems had been corrected before any were shipped for sale to the public. This thread wouldn't have been necessary.

Did they think that if they didn't say anything that no one would notice that Fremer had to return the first two samples?

A little more honest explanation and less hype and obfuscation would do the high-end a world of good.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,623 posts
 
Dear 'Goners,
Please note that after rereading the above post I felt the first version had some problems that made it unacceptable to be presented to the esteemed readership of this blog.

Those problems have been corrected in the second version and I will give a full refund for whatever you paid to read the first post. Please submit your original receipt (not a copy) with your request.
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