Ortofon MC A90 cartridge

Dear Downunder: I don't own the A-90 but I already heard it in my system, here is what I posted that time:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667&openflup&1026&4#1026

Ortofon was in this cartridge market for so many years, I always admire their skills/knowledge about. Why their top LOMC cartridges were not " inside " the high-end community day by day " mouth "? is something that I can't explain due to Ortofon great cartridges quality performance.

I'm glad that with the A-90 things are improving in this regard as improving is their cartridge top performance.
The A-90 motor/stylus is similar of that of the Windfeld and the 7500 model but that A-90 new cartridge body makes a difference for the better making " dust " several top today LOMC cartridges, of course that each cartridge performance is system dependent and owner dependent but with the A-90 I think that any one that can hear it will concur on its very high quality performance.
No I don't go/run to buy it but I like it.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Tobes: I heard the A90 in my system loaded at 100 Ohms and I don't try it at 47 Ohms.

I can't say if at 47 Ohms or at 100 Ohms has the flatest frequency response, like Pseydor assume, because I don't measured it and I can't calculate either with out the cartridge inductance value.

What I can to know is that passing from 100 Ohms to 47 Ohms the SPL goes down almost 1db and this difference in SPL ( IMHO ) is the one that could makes that we hear " differences " other that a change in the frequency response due that the A90 internal resistance is so low ( 4 Ohms. ).

My thought is that the quality performance does not change but only the SPL. So to evaluate ( other than make the measurements in real time. ) what we are hearing we have to even the Phono stage/line stage output/volume at 47 Ohms and 100 Ohms.
We have to think that our ears/brain are extremely sensitive to tiny/small cganhes on SPL. Many times when we are hearing a recording with two different SPL: normally we like the one that has higher SPL.
In the other side, Pseydor say: " They also become fatiguing after awhile. ", this is correct because at 100 Ohms there is almost 1 db of higher SPL but not ( IMHO ) because is a quality differences other that the higher volume that can affect our perception " after awhile ".
Around 1 db on volume difference makes that the whole system performance change too.

Perhaps a little more important subject about is the input phono stage resistor quality where we are loading that cartridge.

Anyway, if that load impedance is the one value that works in your system that's fine because that value is the one that gives to you music enjoying.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Tobes: Only to have clear what you posted: +++++" I enlisted the help of my 10yo daughter to change input resistance while I listened.... " +++++

Could I assume that you don't change the preamp volume selector ?

Atr the end the important subject is what you like my question is only to understand about and not to be in controversy or start a controversy.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Axelwhal: Yes a " tracking issue " could be. I posted ( two years ago in that long MM/MI thread. ) this:

+++++ " IMHO I think that the MUSIC run so easily through a MM cartridge due ( between other facts ) to its very high compliance characteristic on almost any MM cartridge.

This very high compliance permit ( between other things like be less sensitive to out-center hole records. ) to these cartridges stay always in contact with the groove and never loose that groove contact not even on the grooves that were recorded at very high velocity, something that a low/medium cartridge compliance can’t achieve, due to this low/medium compliance characteristic the MC cartridges loose ( time to time and depending of the recorded velocity ) groove contact ( minute extremely minute loose contact, but exist. ) and the quality sound performance suffer about and we can hear it, the same pass with the MC cartridges when are playing the inner grooves on a record instead the very high compliance MM cartridges because has better tracking drive perform better than the MC ones at inner record grooves and here too we can hear it. " +++++

IMHO this along each cartridge suspension design are important factors on the tracking issue.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Mike: Yes you are right and agree: " in my personal experience ". No it is not a universal perception but only with some of the ones that already own/heard the MM/MI alternative.

I like the Olympos ( I heard it twice ) unfortunatelly I don't heard it yet in my system but I have a very clear idea about its quality performance. Well many of the Olympos characteristics and especially the " easy and natural flow " of the music is shared by the top MM/MIs where almost no other LOMC have.

I think that can/could be very interesting that you take the opportunity to hear one-two of those " humble and vintage " MM/MIs in your system.
This technology is better than what we can think before we hear it, it is a " new "/different analog source alternative and IMHO worth to try it, it is so ridiculous inexpensive .

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.