AudioTechnica ART 9 users - break in, VTF/VTA and loading questions

Hello jjss49,

Although there are a couple of long running threads about the Art9 here on the gon, some info below:

Break in around the 100hr mark, gradual improvements will occur in the meantime, and full performance will be around 250 hrs.

VTF; I run mine at 1.75g, after much experimentation. (1.55 - 2.0g)
This is in SAEC 506/30 (12") arm with the SAEC ULS 3 AL Oxide headshell. A lower mass arm may work better at slightly increased VTF.

VTA; I use a 10x magnifying glass and study the stylus as the record is spinning on the outer grooves, very slight tilt forward is where I have settled over the last year with the Art9. IE, tonearm slightly UP at the rear/pivot.

Load at 100ohms, but do experiment here. My own tonearm/internal wiring gives 72pf of capacitance which is ok, so the 100 ohm setting on the Concert Fidelity SPA-4c is best. Other phono stages may differ here!

One thing; as with all cart's is to keep the stylus truly clean and clear, again with a mag glass. This is imperative as you probably know already..

Have fun and let us know how you find the ART9 over time against the Koetsu Black too..

Best, Paul.

Jjss49-

My time with the ART9 is going on 2 years. Mounted on a VPI Classic 1.
Tail slightly up, 1.8 grams. 100 ohm loading as suggested by AT.
I can't even hear any differences changing loading while playing, so I just leave it.

Replaced a Koetsu Black? Wow! I would think cart swapping days are done with one of those. Were you just looking for some audio excitement?

Paul and TJ

thank you for your responses... will try arm tail up... counter to what most MC’s like

TJ - Koetsu is really lovely just a little romantic, soft/dark lens, think VPI Classic table on that side of spectrum as well ... felt I was missing just a little sparkle and drive,

Recently getting back into analog - having lots of fun and enjoyment with it ... maybe 15 years of listening to (pretty good) digital has me wanting a touch more detail ... analog definitely has a more holistic, organic, denser sound that is just wonderful, so right now I am just playing with different well-regarded ’killer-app’ cartridges to try to 'have my cake and eat it too' :)

ps - have a zyx r100 coming in ... will try that too before long...

Congrats JJ!  I've had my ART9 running for 3 months (~ 150 to 170 hrs) and it just finally exceeded my wildest expectations.  It always sounded good if not great but the treble and transparency finally opened up big time and the sound became much more colorful.  I love the sound of this thing! 
I am running right at the standard VTF of 1.8g and the VTA is ruler flat approximating a 92 deg SRA.  
Loading is right at 100 ohms and gain (important) is 56db.  Too much gain makes it sound less refined.  

thanks avanti

i am experimenting with gain also, using my ayre p5xe at various settings and also a rega aria i just acquired ... also trying a cinemag 1131 xformer into MM stage

what a sweet and transparent sounding unit the art 9 is... hard to imagine it still has improvement left in it