Ortofon A90 Review

bwright -- Tue, 11/16/2010 - 15:04

I just wanted to extend a thank you to both Harry P. and Jonathan V. for their refreshing review/counterpoint on the Ortofon A90. I subscribe to TAS for accurate and objective reviews, and if Harry felt that way about the cartridge, so be it. I appreciate the objective opinion, and he certainly seemed to maintain the same throughout the rest of his review.
I don't know many high end audio shops that will allow me audition a $4200 cartridge, much less an entire range of them (I annoy them enough as it is). We truly depend on these opinions, and I for one prefer candor over delicate sugarcoating.
I also feel for the manufacturer - to have your 90th Anniversary flagship derailed by a prominent figure in the industry must be a profound disappointment. But many of their other products are well received, and the Cadenza Bronze in particular has been lauded in the British hi-fi press for the high degree of value it brings in the $1500 to $2000 range.
It also highlights the differences among listeners - my accuracy-freak friends cannot understand my driving need for tube musicality, and so on.
And I concur with Jonathan's initial assessment of his follow-up - a brave soul, indeed.
Many thanks for the excellent work.
Bill

Peter Ayer -- Tue, 11/16/2010 - 17:07

I also enjoyed these reviews of the A90. I have heard the cartridge in a number of settings and I tend to hear it the way JV does. One question of Jon: Can you compare the Ortofon A90 to two of your previous favorites, the AirTight PC-1 and the PC-1 Supreme? Any comments would be most appreciated. Peter

Jonathan Valin -- Tue, 11/16/2010 - 17:32

Peter,

Actually, my favorite cartridges currently are the Da Vinci Grandezza Reference, the Benz Micro LP-S MR (which is a higher-ouput version of the same cartridge with a different magnetic engine), the Clearaudio Goldfinger v2, and the Air Tight PC-1 Supreme. The Ortofon MC A90 joins this select bunch. Each of these great cartridges does certain things better than the Orttofon (and the other contenders), so there isn't one "perfect" cartridge, IMO. However, if I were forced to choose among them I would narrow the field down to the Da Vinci (or the Benz, depending on the phonostage) and the Ortofon. These cartridges seem to me to be the least colored, most transparent, and most realistic on the widest variety of music. This said, I could also make a case for Clearaudio (which has the best soundstaging, great dynamics, and exceptional inner detail) or the Air Tight (which also has superb soundstaging and is big, bold, fast, and goregous in tone color).

Jon

Peter Ayer -- Tue, 11/16/2010 - 19:30

Thanks for the comments, Jonathan. That is quite a rarefied group of cartridges! I own the PC-1 because it sounds very good in my system and is less expensive than the Supreme, Da Vinci, and Goldfinger. I don't recall the price of the Benz, though certainly the A90 must be considered the value pick of the bunch. I had not really appreciated transparency and lack of color until I bought the Magico Mini II's and started spending more time listening to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I now highly appreciate these qualities in components, along with accurate timbre and tonal beauty, because they just sound more real to me. The A90 will be on a very short list when my current PC-1 needs replacement. Your reviews are very well written and I appreciate your active involvement in these forums. Being able to communicate with the reviewers directly adds a great deal to the already excellent experience of reading TAS.