Review : Ortofon TA-110 + Cadenza Black

Ortofon TA-110 Tonearm with Ortofon Cadenza Black Cartridge reviewed in The Absolute Sound by Jim Hannon

Read the full review here : http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ortofon-ta-110-tonearm-with-ortofon-cadenza-black-cartridge/

Conclusion :
With more manufacturers selling complete turntable system packages under their own badges, the TA-110 may have a difficult time finding a home, but it is definitely worth pursuing. It mates superbly with the Merrill-Williams 101 turntable, which also makes extensive and effective use of elastomers to control and reduce resonances, and the Ortofon Cadenza Black (and reportedly other high-performance Ortofon cartridges). What is striking about this analog front-end is its clarity and transient speed, lack of distortion and smearing, broad and deep soundstaging, engaging transparency, and smooth but detailed presentation. I was shocked by how close this combination came to the sound of mastertapes in the critical midrange.

The TA-110 is a welcome addition to the ’arms race, leveraging Ortofon’s experience in technical rubber and vibration management into an affordable separate tonearm that controls and dampens spurious vibrations quite effectively. These innovations produce a highly musical, natural, and pure sound that is surprising in this price class. If you prefer to “set-and- forget” your tonearm, you can save a bundle, get soul-satisfying performance, and come closer to the music than you might expect.