2. analog
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Ortofon FF15 Any Good?

I got an Ortofon FF15E MKII (with a red stylus assembly) mixed with some other stuff. I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about this cartridge. I'm particularly wondering if it's worth buying a new stylus assembly for it. (It seems to me that the stylus price is, at most, about $40, from what I see on dealer's websites.) Or, is this cartridge one that's too old to be worth bothering with, and should be installed at the bottom of a land fill?
jc2000

Showing 2 responses by 4yanx

4yanx
1,576 posts
 
I have a FF15XE MkII (yellow stylus assembly) which I have had for nearly 30 years. I replaced the stylus about 25 years ago and it had very little use since then until I used just this weekend as a stop-gap for a Lenco Project that my son and I just completed. This brought back memories of my earlier impressions which were that this cartridge, while clearly not anything super special, is open and neutral and, depending on what you plan to mount it on, may very well be worth a new stylus. I've seen them as low as $25 all the way to $55.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Elevick makes a good point regarding the difference in price. OTOH, I think the sound of the FF series is far and away better than the newer OM series. So, again, it depends on your appliction and budget. Are you certain that the stylus in yours is shot? Wondering if it is good enough for you to get a flavor of the cartridge and to determine if the cartridge itself is sound before proceeding. But, even taking a flyer on a $30 stylus wouldn't leave you out very much. I think the FF is a decent backup cartridge for the dough, or fine cartridge in a modest system. But, if you are going down the higher-end cartridge/table/arm path, it may not be worth pursuing at all.
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