Phantom + A90 question

The mounting issue with the Cadenzas, as with the A90, is that the rear-outside point just hangs in space. Definitely the meeting of some quirky designs from both Graham and Ortofon.

My Ortofon dealer recommended sanding the raised bar and points off the plastic-bodied cartridges like the Cadenzas. He says it's easily done using adhesive sandpaper on a flat surface, although I'd be a little wary. The metal-bodied A90 is an altogether different story.

I think I'll try using one of these spacers. They're of varying thicknesses and I'll experiment. Carbon fiber may introduce its own sonic signature, but at least that rear point will be supported. I'll let you know.

It may well be a non-issue in practice. With the front-center and rear-inside points touching the headshell along with the two screws, that's four secure points of contact, which is probably enough to maintain adequate rigidity. If the inside screw is tightened first, the cartridge shouldn't tilt when the outside screw is tightened, although over-tightening it would create countervailing pressure, if not torque, on the cartridge body. Any slight tilting could be corrected with the Phantom's easy azimuth adjustment. Still, the idea of one point out of contact bothers me a bit in theory, so I'm curious whether others have taken measures.

Hi Rockit,

I'm with you and use a Foz for azimuth, so I'm unconcerned about that aspect of any tilting. The nagging question for me is the solidity of the connection between cartridge and headshell. I'm getting the impression, since no one seems to have taken measures, that it's really not a problem. When my upgraded Supreme and rebuilt A90 arrive (tomorrow, fingers crossed), I'll try it both ways and report back.

Bill

Nice pic, Tobes. I'll relax about mounting the A90. Seems like a non-issue. Thanks.