Ortofon MC A90 cartridge

Tobes & All,
I do agree in every respect with what you're saying, yet let me throw out one more curve ball.
The Windfeld I'm referring to is a new replacement of an earlier one that had issues also acknowledged by Ortofon (who replaced it for no charge), having "a VTA problem".
It was "riding" VERY low from the start and the body was not build / assembled up to scratch either.
So it could be explained that the two would've behaved quite differently.
The new item is now riding a lot higher and this *may* just be the way the first would have meant to be? (In fact I'm not so sure at all!)
A similar story with slightly different faults I had with a Jubilee, which also was replaced eventually after 2 attempts to correct the initial problems (body gapping and more and more skewing cantilever).
I mention these so as to explain why I think (by now), that there are rather more variations in these carts then one could wish for.
The MP-50 I mentioned by comparison is CLEARLY! a better tracker (then the Jubilees, or Windfelds in my system) and those two Ortos are *supposed* to be GREAT tracking carts!
There have been some very long threads on explaining mis-tracking, of difficult vinyl bands and not just IGD i.e. the inner bands only, and none of those Ortos did too well for me ever.
In fact, it seems this form of mild to more sever mis-tracking that makes these carts lack in ultimate "clarity" and I can no more easily explain it in terms of a lesser phono-pre performance. By now more then one MM or MI cart seems to disprove these ideas of insufficient rise time and the like.
It looks now that the A90 has finally got this sorted, reading the above reports about *superior clarity* --- very GOOD!
Now why only build 400!? Marketing? More then 400 ought be sold by now in any case...!
Using those carts mentioned in an SME V arm should NOT be the limiting factor AT ALL.
Just food for thought, and possibly an opportunity for some more learning.
Axel

Lewm,
you are so right, in fact I would up the stakes to $3000 easily IMO.
I'm back with the M20FL super and it just seems to bring out details in "right" way no MC so far could do in my system.
Again let me mention Jubilee, Windfeld, Axia, Orpheus, Dynavector XX2 MkII, and Dorian, just to mention what comes to mind. (All pretty well regarded MCs in their own right)
And as always YMMV
Axel

Hi Tobes,
just let me chip in on these loading findings. The Windfeld and A90 having the same generator it might give *some* perspective, and *mostly* with regard to the phono-pre-amp in use.
Mine are ML 326S phono-modules (inside the 326S).
Now loading the Windfeld (same motor as A90, yes) in my system sounds best with 47k!!!
I have tried with any thing from 13ohm to 1kohm (13 ohm because it is my dealer's preferred setting!!!!)
Can you see already what is going on here?!
Anything in my system other then 47k sound either plain sat-on (13ohm to 460ohm), or un-natural ~compressed or ~over-tight" 1k ohm to 18kohm.
So in my case 47k ohm produces the most "natural" result!
When using my 30dB XF-1 SUT (with its 47ohm "natural" primary impedance) all sounds better yet, this is your setting --- are you sure do not have an internal SUT in that phono-pre of yours?
Long story short, I then switch to a MP-50 Nagaoka ($500, an "MI" cart) and sorry for me, it yet out-classes the Windfeld!
Good thing Ortofon came out with that A90, since in my system there are better alternatives to the Windfeld (M.F. praised...) for less money, and thanks to Raul I found some :-)
Greetings,
Axel

Lewm,
sorry I have no A90, only the Windfeld and the M20FL-super sounds more natural, has more detail yet, and also is a better tracker! (It's why it sounds better also, my take)
It's why I said, this A90 as it's assessed above is the next important step for Orto, no?

Windfeld compared to MP-50 -- the Windfeld sounds OLD (good way of putting it, thanks for the expression Robm1)
Axel
PS: To me there's no way to give these LOMCs the credit of "unsuitable" phono-pre performance if it can deliver the good stuff with all those MM / MI carts. Again, I think it is clearly a tracking issue, -- at least with my SME V arm.

Downunder,
y.s: >> the A90 is clearly in a different musical and sonic league compared to the Windfeld for only a little price premium.<< and
>> The A90 however is comfortable better than the MP50 in my system.<<
Very good feedback thank you, as the MP-50 sounds clearly better then my Windfeld by some notable margin ---- yet the difference between the former STAR of their product line and the A90 must therefore be APPRECIABLY more the I have understood this to be the case. (In fact it well might rubbish that *former star*, obviously the case since now being discontinued, hm)
Having the same "motor" and only a different housing truly makes a case for how much the housing seems to contribute the sound! (JCarr had a lot to say on that subject and how right he seems to be)
Food for thought in deed, and thank you for suffering me mentioning any other name than A90 only.
Axel

Phaser,
1. this is a *new cart* a replacement for a defective one.
Well, maybe it again is defective?!
I sounds ~"MC wise" OK and not *bad* at all, but ultimately is not as good as some other NOS carts I mentioned. In the most simple of terms is does not track as good as the "others".
2. Again as I stated, I have tried just about EVERYTHING in the book, with every loading conceivable, including SUT usage also with no loading, primary-, and secondary- loading of MANY, many different values.

Now go try and explain to me what else is missing, if I use those NOS carts mentioned and I get superior results?
It can not be my phono-pre I say, since if it's not up to scratch it's like that all the way, and not just with MCs only, right? (I'm using the exact same gain settings for both 60dB)
Also you will find in more then one thread tracking issues discussed *no end*, and ALL are related to MCs!
So I think my case is not an exception here.
I am also REALLY very glad that something like the A90 seems to have finally sorted some / all of this, and therefore my interest.
Yet I am sceptical by now, and it will take a lot more for me just go out and buy this one. The last item was my Windfeld purchase based on all this *beautiful* hype ("worlds best cartrige" BS) so some stupid NOS cart sounds better?!
It is disappointing, and having taken that last *marvel* out of production just after ~ 1 year! is not going to make me go run for the next one right now, for sure.
Greetings,
Axel

Downunder, Phaser,
this does not strictly belong here as already mentioned. Yet as the Windfeld has the same motor as the A90 and 47ohm loading was mentioned as very good with the A90, I now gave that a try with Windfeld.
Voila! it happens to be THE best setting, and as things go --- the ONE I actually had not tried.
So thank you, and have a merry Xmas.
Axel