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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.
oregonpapa
tablejockey
4,081 posts
 
"Any info/impressions on the ART-9 with this Project 9cc arm?"

Catcher, I can't speak for your arm/cart combo. I have spent some time with the AT OC9III, now the ART 9. Previous OC9 owners using the ART 9 all seem to nod their heads in approval.
A sonic upgrade in EVERY category. Unlikely you will not like what you hear. The OC9 will sound shrill and fall short in complex music against the ART9.
The cart is also worthy of an equally priced phono amp or more if your budget allows.
Side 1 of Yes-CTTE will have a new meaning with the ART9
If that album doesn't rest in your collection of Prog, well.....
"I get up, I get down"....the swell of the church organ....GLORIOUS!!!

Load it at 100 ohms as the instructions suggest, VTF @ 2 grams(or obsess with -.1 or less) and enjoy.

pani
1,236 posts
 
BTW, Audio Technica recommends a "minimum" of 100 ohms for loading the ART9. If the phonostage is upto the task, a 400 ohm loading is well within the range.
catcher10's avatar
catcher10
77 posts
 
Thanks tablejockey.....of course I have CTTE, I have the original version as well as the Friday Music half speed remaster by Joe Reagoso. That is exactly the spot of that song I tend to listen to, the original is so distorted sounding which is fine, but better carts have been toning that distorted sound of the organ as well as Howe's guitar.

The Phonomena II performs well above its price point, I would have to be in the $1500 range to probably better it, not ready for that investment yet. Its a dual-mono output so the staging is impressive, the ART9 would push it to its limits I am sure, but I would expect a brilliant sound.

Thanks again
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,417 posts
 
Still breaking in....listened to MFSL "Teaser and the Firecat" recently. In the room with spooky body, texture and articulation. Nothing jumps out at you just supple, real and organic. My OC9MLII had a lot going for it but the ART 9 is just in a whole other league in terms of connecting you to the performance. Absolutely stunning....still breaking in.......
I'm using the Herron VTPH-2 with "infinite loading". Keith can send me loading plugs of nearly any value and I thought I might play around with this after the ART 9 breaks in...what should I request from Keith--100ohms?
pani
1,236 posts
 
100 ohms is minimum, in my experience it loads the cart down a bit too much. Start with 130 ohms, you may need loading values up to 250 ohms if your capacitance is very low. You can go up to 600 ohms if you can increase capacitance.
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