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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
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
Pani ...

I have an Audio Research PH-8 set at 100ohms. It seems to be the best setting for my preamp and system. There's about 75 hours on the cartridge now ... and just like you said, it is still improving. We were comparing notes last night on other cartridges I've used over the years. The closest one to the ART-9 was the Lyra Clavis. While the Clavis was a wonderful cartridge, it had a tendency to be analytical and focused on inner detail. It had a wide and deep soundstage as well. I always felt that the strongest attribute of the Clavis was the way it reproduced the piano. Well, at this point, the ART-9 is beating the Clavis by a long shot. Its nothing about inner detail, soundstage, or a "wow" factor ... its just that the darned thing gets with the music and never says: "hey look at me, I'm a high end cartridge." It just puts Sarah Vaughn in the room with you. The highs are so accurate its amazing. Brushed cymbals and high-hats are dead on. Vibes are amazing. I'm hearing Cal Tjader like never before. I could go on, but one more time ... thank you for pushing me over the edge to buy this cartridge. I was saving up for another brand that would have set me back over $3000. I don't think I'm missing anything at all at this point.
pani
1,219 posts
 
Here is an interesting update:
I bought my ART9 for USD 1k about a year back. I live in Singapore so I bought it directly from the local dealer. Here Japanese products are relatively cheaper than in US. Just yesterday a friend of mine inquired for the ART9 from the same dealer, he was quoted USD 1.5k. Supposedly Audio Technica has revised the prices of their reference carts. Now I am sure the ART9 will sell more than ever since its no more a "budget prices" cart :-). And even AT has realized it sooner than later!!
aigenga
131 posts
 
Is anyone using an Art-9 on a Jelco 750L. I am worried that it is too high compliance for my arm.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
Aigenga ...

Wish I could help you, but I don't have a clue. Why not send an Email to LP Tunes? Here, this will take you right to the spot: http://www.lptunes.com/articles.asp?ID=83
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
According to this web page, the Jelco SA-750L has an effective mass of 11g not including cartridge. The Art-9 weighs 8.5g and has a dynamic compliance of 18. That compliance with an effective mass of 19.5g creates a resonant frequency of about 8.5 Hz. This is on the low side of the safe range. The Jelco is fluid-damped, which reduces the amplitude of the resonance which makes things even better. You could also use a lighter headshell to take a few grams off the effective mass. I have a headshell like the Jelco and it's about 14g. That's on the heavy side. The matchup as it is should be fine, but if you could get a 9-10g headshell it would be just about ideal at 9.85 Hz.
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