Dear @thuchan : Audio Technica/Signet has an enviable cartridge manyfactuer pedigree that perhaps only Ortofon can be nearest to AT.
They were one of the first manufacturers to choose the Shibata stylus tip along berylium and boron cantilevers materials but they used too ruby and diamond material for top models in its cantilevers and even developed its own stylus shape they named micro-line. They were almost the first manufacturers that used blend and all cartridge body materials as titanium and ceramic one even with external body damping materials. They developed several great cartridges in both alternatives: LOMC and MM ones where its top models even today are a challange for today other manufacturers designs.
AT, developed too equipment to make LPs and even developed some self AT recordings including the great testing AT two records presentation.
They were and are true experts on analog develoments of tonearms ( along AC. ) and SUTs. They developed too first rate and very high quality magnesium headshells, cartridge wires, phono and IC cables, TT platter clamps, TT mats including the first stand alone vaccum hold down mat and they took the time to developed and marketed very good damping feets to use it every where in a system but especially on TTs. Apart from that, AT are manufacturing ( for many years. ) professional microphones ( for studio recordings and home too. ) as headphones of every type, including electrostatic. Even manufactured speakers, TT and some electronics.
Always with a first rate quality by any standards.
Unfortunatelly AT never been took in count by all those FALSE analog " professional " gurus " " and for the corrupted AHEE where all audiophiles belongs to.
If it’s true that JVC L-1000 was one of the first cartridge manufacturer to unveiled the ART 1000 idea about to seat " there " the coils ( they did it in different way. I owned the JVC. ) the way AT choosed to do it is a patent for them and it’s not the only " new " kind of design on it but something that they did it before that’s: air core/non-magnetic coil armature that they unveils for the first time in its designs with the AT50ANV, ART7 ( no, the ART9 is a different design. ) and now the ART 1000.
This is the only top AT/Signet model I never have the opportunity to listen it. I owned/own or listened all its top models in my system.
Congratulations to own the ART 1000 that as I said is developed and manufactured by TRUE very high pedigree analog EXPERTS.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
