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Pani ... New ART-9 up and running ...

The Cartridge arrived and I took it down to Studio City to Acoustic Image to have Eliot Midwood set it up properly. Eliot is the bomb when it comes to setting up the Well Tempered turn tables correctly.

http://www.acousticimage.com/

So, last night I had Mr. Golden Ears over to get his assessment as well. For a brand new cartridge that had zero hours on it ... all I can say is WOW! This is one naturally musical cartridge that doesn't break the bank. Its everything I liked about the OC9-mk III, but it goes far beyond the OC-9 in every respect.

In a previous post, I talked about the many mono records I own and how good the OC-9 was with the monos. Well, the ART-9 is on steroids. Just amazing on mono recordings.

At under $1100.00 from LP Tunes, its a bargain. The ART-9 surpasses all cartridges I've had in the system before. That would include Dynavectors, Benz, Grado Signatures and a Lyra Clavis that I dearly loved. In fact, its more musically correct than the Clavis. The Clavis was the champ at reproducing the piano correctly ... the ART-9 is equally as good in this area.

Sound stage, depth of image, left to right all there. Highs ... crystalline. Mids ... female and male voices are dead on. Transparency ... see through. Dynamics ... Wow! Low noise floor ... black. Mono records ... who needs stereo?

Your assessment that the ART-9 doesn't draw attention to itself is dead on. You just don't think about the cartridge at all. Not what its doing, or what its not doing ... its just beautiful music filling the room.

Thanks again Pani for the recommendation. I'll keep posting here as the cartridge continues to break in.
128x128oregonpapa
pani
1,219 posts
 
@tablejockey I do not want to derail the ART-9 train but it will be interesting to understand which turntables would be considered "Uber" from the ART-9 perspective ?

Any good $5k turntable should be able to differentiate between a $1k ART9 and say $6k Ortofon A95 sufficiently to justify the difference in price. At the same time I do not expect a ART9 on a Continnum turntable either. However as one goes up the ladder of turntables, what is the level where ART-9 seems to be a non-starter ?

For the reference, before my current turntable I was using the ART9 with a Verdier TT. One may not consider it Uber going by the price and the fact that it is an "old" design but it was a legendary machine in more than one ways. On the Verdier the ART-9 was as good as anything, I would say it was the sweetest spot for a TT like Verdier. So, the "Uber"has to start much higher than the Verdier at least.
avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
just read on another forum that for VPI owners an upgrade to the 3D printed tonearm has made the ART9 sound much better in their system.  
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 
FWIW I ran the ART 9 on the standard JWM9 that came with my Scout and it sounded great. However, a recent upgrade to the 3D-10 made a tremendous difference and really helped me to get the most out of this excellent cartridge. There is a tonal purity and utter lack of distortion that comes with the 3D arm. Highly recommended!
lewm
13,012 posts
 
Pani, I find the correlation between goodness of sound and price, when it comes to cartridges, to be unreliable at best, if not totally non-existent. Thus, if I find a cartridge that is "special", no matter what the cost, I would use it on the best turntable I could afford, regardless of cost. Among the MM/MI cartridges in my stash, I adore the SS re-tipped Grace Ruby and the Acutex LPM320STRIII.  Neither is worth more than $500-$600, but I would use either on any turntable with any suitable tonearm regardless of cost.  And they do respond to better and better equipment downstream.
wrxified
13 posts
 
Great thread.  Thanks Pani for your input.  Have a couple questions for the group.  Looking for suggestions. 

I see most people are using an appropriate phono pre-amp to deliver 100 ohms or more.  Went through the 8 pages and might have missed it but is anyone using a SUT with their pre-amp.

I ordered the ART9 and it's going to go on my new VPI Prime with 3d arm.  For step up and pre-amp capabilities I have several options.  I have the Parks Audio CM1254 SUT and was using it with my AT33PTG/II on my VPI Scout.  Not because my pre-amp options wouldn't support the .3 mv, but mostly because I'd bought into the idea that an a passive SUT to 47k mm pre-amp would deliver better results than most pre-amps could handle unless I was using a very high end pre-amp.  It sounds really good.

So I have the budgie CM1254 SUT.  I also have an Emotiva XSP-1 stereo pre-amplifier.  It has an okay pre-amp.  I believe it's MM 47k plus the option for the MC @ 47,100, 470, & 1000.

In addition I have the Clear Audio Nano V2.  I bought this when I had my Project TT and was having trouble with isolating the unit to a point to avoid low frequency rumble through the speakers.  That has both the MM option of 47k ohms and MC at 51, 200, 402 and 1000 ohms.  Again, bought the Clear Audio mainly for the rumble filter but it seems to be a really good phono pre-amp for the $500 and under range.

So what are your thoughts.  I'd be interested in people's point of view having the options detailed above.
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