I bought my ART9 from LP gear and the cantilever is perfect, it was the first thing I checked. I added the next day shipping and it was delivered less than 24 hours after I placed the order.
I'm running mine at 56db gain and it is perfect. I also loaded it to 1000 ohms and it does sound slightly better than the 100 ohm setting.
With respect to the sound I checked my alignment and found I did a hasty job the first time around- it was off 2-3 degrees from parallel with the null point lines.
The sound is now absolutely stunning and brings out the best in really good recordings. Last night I was listening to Roger Waters Amused to Death and it has never sounded better with any other cartridge. It sounded amazing!
The sound stage was huge, the opening guitars were soaring and sounded spectacular. Water's vocals popped out of nowhere and were center stage, smooth and present. But the key moment was when the backup singer came on with her solo near the end of side one- so smooth and lifelike, absolutely zero sibilance on "S" sounds, they sounded just like someone speaking / singing. Completely natural.
As for dynamics- I played a freddy hubbard reissue and the trumpet notes just seemed to flit out of the speakers like hovering bursts of sound- no hesitation or delay- just instantaneous notes that sounded so live and real as a cartridge with superb micro dynamics can deliver. Just fast and effortless and made my old cartridges sound slow and hifi by comparison- including the Dynacector DV20X2L and Ortofon 2M black.
I am glad I found out what this cartridge was all about. Count me in as another satisfied ART9 customer!
I'm running mine at 56db gain and it is perfect. I also loaded it to 1000 ohms and it does sound slightly better than the 100 ohm setting.
With respect to the sound I checked my alignment and found I did a hasty job the first time around- it was off 2-3 degrees from parallel with the null point lines.
The sound is now absolutely stunning and brings out the best in really good recordings. Last night I was listening to Roger Waters Amused to Death and it has never sounded better with any other cartridge. It sounded amazing!
The sound stage was huge, the opening guitars were soaring and sounded spectacular. Water's vocals popped out of nowhere and were center stage, smooth and present. But the key moment was when the backup singer came on with her solo near the end of side one- so smooth and lifelike, absolutely zero sibilance on "S" sounds, they sounded just like someone speaking / singing. Completely natural.
As for dynamics- I played a freddy hubbard reissue and the trumpet notes just seemed to flit out of the speakers like hovering bursts of sound- no hesitation or delay- just instantaneous notes that sounded so live and real as a cartridge with superb micro dynamics can deliver. Just fast and effortless and made my old cartridges sound slow and hifi by comparison- including the Dynacector DV20X2L and Ortofon 2M black.
I am glad I found out what this cartridge was all about. Count me in as another satisfied ART9 customer!