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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
 
^^^ Also, are you sure LP Tunes is sold out? I went to their site and see no indication that the ART-9 is sold out. Could it be that they've restocked??
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
LP Gear and LP Tunes often have differing amounts of inventory and minor differences in pricing. I just checked both sites, however, and they both seem to have the ART-9 in stock for $1097.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
I'd like to extend my thanks to Pani and to all of the other posters who have provided comments on their experiences with the ART9.  I recently purchased one, largely because of those comments, and although it is not yet close to being broken in I am already completely thrilled with it. 

It replaces a Soundsmith-retipped Grace F-9E Ruby moving magnet cartridge I have used for the last few years.  And although I have been sufficiently pleased over the years with the Grace F-9E series that I have used it in various incarnations for the majority of the past 35 years, I would have to say that the ART9 is in a different league altogether.  Most notable among the numerous improvements it has already provided are considerably increased detail and better definition in the treble region, cleaner and more accurate response to fast transients, and improved dynamics.  All of which it accomplishes without a hint of excess brightness.

I purchased it, btw, from Japan-Select-Shop, the seller to whom Oregonpapa linked just above.  The transaction was speedy and perfect.  As is the cartridge, on both counts :-)

Regards,
-- Al
 
catcher10's avatar
catcher10
77 posts
 
LP Gear emailed me back saying they were out of stock......My only issue with Japan buying is that AT-USA will not warranty them...That seems like a big gamble to me.
melm
1,085 posts
 
I don't think the warranty is a worrisome issue.  It was some years ago that I returned a cartridge to a Japanese seller because it did not look as though the cantilever was lined up correctly.  It was handled with dispatch.  With modern shipping the whole thing probably took no longer than if I had sent it to California (from NY).  I have found in this and other experiences that the level of business ethics is high in Japan.  Ordinarily, if a cartridge works well at the beginning, there will not be an issue.  The Art-9 that I received looked and sounds absolutely perfect.

The only issue that may be real is whether there is a trade in deal when the stylus wears.  Nothing has been written about what that deal might be if you buy from LP Gear/Tunes.  Does anyone know?  The question arises because the Art-9 does not seem to be in the catalog of A-T US Inc.

If bought from Japan or Hong Kong, can the unit be returned to Japan when the stylus wears?

A good reason to use Stylast?

It seems that the Art-9 sells for less in Asia and Europe (x-VAT) than in the US.  
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