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Ortofon MC A90 Cartridge VTF

I just spent the weekend at mikelavigne's where we did a comparison with three turntables all using the same Ortofon MC A90 cartridges. We had the cartridges setup at the recommended VTF and they did not all have the same amount of break-in time on them. I decided to see what would happen when we lightened the cartridges up.

We started on the first table and the weight was about 2.25. We lessened the weight until I thought that the sound really locked in. By the time we were done on the first turntable, the VTF was at around 1.56. When we did the second table we got the weight all the way down to 1.92. On the third table it ended up best at about 2.01.

All parties (myself, Mike and Steve) agreed that lightening up the carts really opened things up quite a bit without loss of bass. The inner detail and delicacy inreased as did speed and dynamics.

I called Ortofon and am awaiting a response but I was wondering if those of you who own this cartridge have gone outside the recommended range and if you could share your experiences.

There is more to read about this if you want under mikelavigne's system thread.
jtinn
grr6001
103 posts
 
I totally agree with underdog & you sir (audiofeil) need to grow up.

The Ortofon a90 is a fantastic cartridge. The adjustment(VTF) from the original set up is something everyone should experiment with.

I found the same results after initial break-in is to lighten up the VTF. Soundstage, speed, impact are all improved.

I also feel different tonearm & turntables may prove to have different results.

On the Grand Prix Monaco I found the VTF to be best at 1.95.
so far.
tobes's avatar
tobes
302 posts
 
I did a bit of VTF experimentation with my A90/Phantom II/TNT.

At the moment I have VTF at 2.14g. At this setting the sound-space is more expansive and individual images are more lively, dimensional and nuanced (compared to ~2.3g).

Lowering much further produced some tracking issues in my set-up. The Reed arm (used by Mikel) must be a superb tracker to have no problems with the A90 at 1.55g!
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Thanks for the suggested lower tracking force recommendation. I will have to try them.
lewm
6,770 posts
 
Just what IS the factory recommended VTF for the A90? And is it really surprising to anyone that the actual optimal VTF might be different for different tonearms? I guess the surprising element is that in all cases the best sound was achieved at a VTF below the factory recommended one, whatever that is.
jtinn OP
1,123 posts
 
Lewm: We have tried it on two of the same arms on different turntables and the result was different for both.

If I remember correctly it was between 2.0 - 2.5. Not that dramatically out of range in some cases but quite far in others.
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