Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Ortofon Kontrapunkt A Phono Cartridge by Norseman

Model:	Kontrapunkt A
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$600 CDN
Description:	Moving coil phono cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	Ortofon
Manufacturer URL:	Ortofon

Review by Norseman ( A ) on May 04, 2005 at 14:44:19
IP Address: 80.202.72.62

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for the Kontrapunkt A

After long time sourcing out for a new cartridge a finally decided for the Ortofon Kontrapunkt A. Yesterday I picked it up from my local HiFi store.
I went straight home soldrered my step-up from K&K audio with right ratio, mounted the cart in my OriginLive modded Incognito rewired RB250 arm on my OriginLive turntable and put on a record for a spin. That was yesterday afternoon. Now the evning after I`ve had it more or less spinning in my waken ours and what can I say but motherf...... hallelujah. What a revelation for my recordcollection, my soul and all you who will get one in the future.
Ok I`ve heard of break in on cartridges and it`s allready really beautiful sounding so if it get`s even better, great!
My cart before this was the Benz glider, before thet Van den Hul MC2, before that Grado Gold and a few mm low-end carts.
Compared to the glider wich is real sweet honeydripper of a cart you can`t get go wrong with if you like that ( I loved it), its sounds more real life not portraing everything in mellow colors. It got crisp highs without getting getting screatchy, it pumps out massiv bass witch stops and starts on dime, it clearly gives you instruments and voices. Details in the midband, you know when the drummer in a jazzband puts down his sticks and changes to brushes, breathing between words on quiet recordings, stuff you wasn`t supposed to hear, you get them all.
Another great feat is the fine line needle, it gos deep in the grooves, so if you like thrifting second hand or got some worn records, you get much less of the crackles and pops than your used to.
I`ve heard and had high-end carts (like VdH) and I know things can get even better, but strangely enough when you hear this cart your not missing anything at all. My music tastes varies from qiuet jazz to extreme metal and it plays it all with great authority.
If your considering this cart, go for it!
This is high-end for workingmans dollar.

Product Weakness: Keeps you up for longer than planned.

Product Strengths: Overall musicallity, accurate presentation, great bass, plays worn records with lille cracks/pops.Makes me play airdrums to Black Sabbath, choiring with Greatfull Dead and crying to Coltrane.
Affordable.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Ella
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	6922 DIY
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Origin Live,NAD w mod. Art di/o
Speakers:	Snell type C
Cables/Interconnects:	div
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz,rock,soul+div
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 days
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Keeps you up for longer than planned.
Product Strengths:	Overall musicallity, accurate presentation, great bass, plays worn records with lille cracks/pops.Makes me play airdrums to Black Sabbath, choiring with Greatfull Dead and crying to Coltrane. Affordable.