Ortofon Rohmann

[trio leo]

Hi Guys,

I have the chance to buy an Ortofon Rohmann cartridge at a good price, has anyone had any experience with one?

I quite like Ortofons, got great results with an MC 30 Super, but it has just collapsed. beyond repair.
Is there a good comparison?
are they an old cartridge?

regards Al

[tannoyman]

Hi Al

I have had two Rohmann's. I liked them a lot but I felt that they were a shade bass light. I also did not like the fact that they track at 2.5g which is heavy even for MC's and I found that over a period of time the cantilever was forced slightly to one side which reflects the strain that 2.5g coupled with appropriate anti skating force puts upon it. I also feel that 2.5g is not very kind to the records.

In summary then, the Rohmann is better in the mid and treble than the bass, very good detail but overall maybe just a little hard and thin sounding. Putting this into perspective these are very minor gripes and if you like the MC30 you are unlikely to be too disappointed

Kind regards

David

[Wakefield Turntables]

Have a look at this thread

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21460

[Marco]

Hi David,

Just to pick up on a few points...

I also did not like the fact that they track at 2.5g which is heavy even for MC's...

Not really, there are quite a few MC cartridges (particularly low-compliance ones with conical styli) which track at 2.5g and above, e.g. Denon DL-103s, not to mention most Ortofon SPUs, which track at 4g! My own SPU Royal tracks at 3g.

...and I found that over a period of time the cantilever was forced slightly to one side which reflects the strain that 2.5g coupled with appropriate anti skating force puts upon it.

In my experience, that tends to occur when the incorrect amount of bias has been applied, thus causing the cantilever to be pulled out of position, and when used over a period of time that way, causes it to bend. Providing that the cantilever or suspension on the cartridge isn't faulty, the 'forcing slightly to one side' you describe certainly has nothing to do with applying a heavy VTF (unless excess tracking force is being continually used outside of the cartridge manufacturer's recommended range).

I also feel that 2.5g is not very kind to the records.

I'm afraid that this is another popular fallacy. I have records I've owned from new and which have been played for years (many 100s of hours) with 103s and SPUs, tracking at 2.6g and above, and they sound just as good now as they did then!

No, having a stylus sitting nice and snugly inside record grooves at 2.5g, or above, providing that the cartridge has been set up properly, and most importantly, ensuring that the stylus is in tip-top condition, will do records no harm whatsoever. It's when records are played with worn styli and/or are mis-tracking the grooves, often due to insufficient VTF being applied, where the damage is done!

Marco.

[tannoyman]

Hi Marco

I would like to make a point of order

I am not quite sure why you responded to my quote on this thread in this way. I simply responded with my view on the question asked. You may not agree with my comments, but nonetheless they are my view born of 5 years of using Rohmanns. If you wish to express a contrary view that is absolutely fine but it should be addressed to the person posting the original thread rather than aimed at me. Like it or lump, it my view is my view!

Sorry to be a siren voice but it is important that individuals are free to express their views without being subject to the prejudices of others even if they are the owners of the site

David

Hi David,

Just to pick up on a few points...



Not really, there are quite a few MC cartridges (particularly low-compliance ones with conical styli) which track at 2.5g and above, e.g. Denon DL-103s, not to mention most Ortofon SPUs, which track at 4g! My own SPU Royal tracks at 3g.



In my experience, that tends to occur when the incorrect amount of bias has been applied, thus causing the cantilever to be pulled out of position, and when used over a period of time that way, causes it to bend. Providing that the cantilever or suspension on the cartridge isn't faulty, the 'forcing slightly to one side' you describe certainly has nothing to do with applying a heavy VTF (unless excess tracking force is being continually used outside of the cartridge manufacturer's recommended range).



I'm afraid that this is another popular fallacy. I have records I've owned from new and which have been played for years (many 100s of hours) with 103s and SPUs, tracking at 2.6g and above, and they sound just as good now as they did then!

No, having a stylus sitting nice and snugly inside record grooves at 2.5g, or above, providing that the cartridge has been set up properly, and most importantly, ensuring that the stylus is in tip-top condition, will do records no harm whatsoever. It's when records are played with worn styli and/or are mis-tracking the grooves, often due to insufficient VTF being applied, where the damage is done!

Marco.

[Marco]

Hi David,

No offence was meant, so sorry if any was taken. However, there is no prejudice; merely a difference of opinion.

It was your comments I addressed, not the OPs, as it was yours (quoted) I disagreed with. Absolutely, you're very much entitled to your views, but equally, I'm also entitled to disagree with them and offer my contrary views, which I did.

That's the nature of forums, so there's no need to fall out over it. I hope we haven't

Marco.

[tannoyman]

Hi Marco

We won't fall out over it. I was obviously mistaken in believing that that the object of replying to a thread was to help the guy asking the question rather than taking a pop at others who try to help. I will remember that next time I am tempted to contribute.

Kind regards

David

Today's quote. " When in a hole, stop digging"

Hi David,

No offence was meant, so sorry if any was taken. However, there is no prejudice; merely a difference of opinion.

It was your comments I addressed, not the OPs, as it was yours (quoted) I disagreed with. Absolutely, you're very much entitled to your views, but equally, I'm also entitled to disagree with them and offer my contrary views, which I did.

That's the nature of forums, so there's no need to fall out over it. I hope we haven't

Marco.

[Marco]

I was obviously mistaken in believing that that the object of replying to a thread was to help the guy asking the question rather than taking a pop at others who try to help. I will remember that next time I am tempted to contribute.

David, I wasn't taking a pop at you. I was merely disagreeing with some of what you'd written, and offering my alternative viewpoint. I do hope you can see that.

If you notice, I didn't comment on anything you'd written specifically about the Rohmann, but rather general comments you'd made about high VTF and its affect on record wear (amongst other things), which I believed to be wrong. It's certainly contrary to my own experience.

A forum is for people to comment on whatever is written anywhere on the forum. It doesn't have to be just in response to whatever is being asked by the OP of a thread.

Marco.

[rubber duck]

Hi Al

I have had two Rohmann's. I liked them a lot but I felt that they were a shade bass light. I also did not like the fact that they track at 2.5g which is heavy even for MC's and I found that over a period of time the cantilever was forced slightly to one side which reflects the strain that 2.5g coupled with appropriate anti skating force puts upon it. I also feel that 2.5g is not very kind to the records.

In summary then, the Rohmann is better in the mid and treble than the bass, very good detail but overall maybe just a little hard and thin sounding. Putting this into perspective these are very minor gripes and if you like the MC30 you are unlikely to be too disappointed

Kind regards

David

Back to the OP then. I agree with David. Al, if you're using an MC30 the Rohmann will be a huge step up. And if you like the MC30, you should like the Rohmann. It's a very good cart. I've had the MC10S and MC20S and much later on the Rohmann. It's in a different league. I spent several months with the Rohmann and Transfiguration Spirit, both mounted on their own Morch DP6 arm wands for easy comparison. The Transfiguration reminded me of a good SET amp - dynamic, immediate, transparent, organic. In comparison the Rohmann had the Ortofon family sound - slightly cool and a touch lean, a little like a very good solid state amp dare I say.