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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
tablejockey
3,867 posts
 
"There are a lot of cartridges out there for 1K why should I be getting the ART9"
I shared my impressions of going from the OC9III. Check page 1.As mentioned, I also played with a couple of popular 1k carts.
Since "good sound" is subjective, I would say if you like the overall presentation of the OC9, the ART9 offers refinement in areas the OC9
comes up short. System dependent, I heard high frequency "busy" passages as sizzly. ART9 low end more realistic-taut,defined. Vocals on nice recordings take on a other level of "you are there"
Across the spectrum, simply more REAL than the etchy, shrill OC9. I REALLY liked the OC9 before taking the leap of faith.
If your phono stage is up to the task, also consider the ART 7. It can be found for a few bucks less, and I believe it may offer a smidge more refinement OVER the ART9. It's very low output and its motor completely different.
The ART 9 ROCKS! Not to be construed as a R&R cart only. ALL music sounds fabulous thru the ART9.
aigenga
131 posts
 
Fleib, please expand on your effective mass comment. Do you have a way to compute effective mass that is more accurate?
dodgealum
1,402 posts
 
Well, it felt a little like an impulse buy (no professional reviews and no chance to audition) but I've gone ahead and ordered an ART 9. I'm grateful to those who have posted about their experience with this cartridge and am very curious as to how it will sound in my system. I'm a big fan of Audio Technica having used one of their MM designs many years ago and my experience with the OC9MLII has been fantastic. When the OC9 came out I was just getting into audio--wow, that was a while ago! Sam Tellig fell in love with the original design which has since become a classic among relatively affordable MC cartridges. Given what you all have written here it seems as though the ART 9 may become the heir to that legacy. I'll return to post some impressions if people are interested once I have put some hours on mine.
bpoletti
1,547 posts
 
Dodge - Please post your impressions of the ART-9. The more information available, the better it will be for those of us looking to step up. From my perspective, stepping up from an OC-9ML/II.
pani
1,218 posts
 
Dodgealum, get ready for a pleasant surprise :-)
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