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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
 
Okay ... its been almost exactly a year since I started this thread on the great AT ART-9 cartridge. 

Over this past year, I've made some real significant upgrades to the system including some very outstanding room treatments. Where I thought the ART-9 was a killer in the past, it is now a GIANT KILLER!   

If you are thinking about a cartridge in the 3k to 5k price range ... consider the ART-9 and save yourself a ton of money.

Happy listening guys.

PS:  Again, thanks to Pani for turning us on to the ART-9
avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
I am very curious about this cart.  I have heard the AT150ANV and I actually prefer my Ortofon 2M Black.  The AT150ANV is now selling for ~ $1500.  
How is the ~ $1K ART 9 going to sound better?  
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
Chakster ...

think I heard the ART-2000 in a high-end audio store back in time, but it seems as though it was longer than 15 years. ago. The dealer was bringing them in on the grey market. No warranties. I remember being totally impressed with the pitch black background. Quite a revelation for me. Now, the top of the AT line is the ART-1000 at the price of $5000.00. 

Frank
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
I am very curious about this cart. I have heard the AT150ANV and I actually prefer my Ortofon 2M Black. The AT150ANV is now selling for ~ $1500.
How is the ~ $1K ART 9 going to sound better?
I sure hope it sounds better......
I have a dozen vintage cartridges that sound better than my AT150ANV.......and that's before counting my LOMCs 🙈
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^  I haven't heard the AT150AV, so I really can't comment on it.

I recently had the opportunity to hear an ultra expensive audio system with a retail value of over 300k. It had three turntables, one of which had the Lyra Etna cartridge on it.

 I couldn't help making comparisons with my own much more modest system of course. While the more expensive system played MUCH larger than mine (The Big Wilson's), it occurred to me that my system, as far as tonal balance and overall musicality is concerned, gave up nothing.

What I noticed about the Lyra Etna was a rising top end that was causing a bit of unnatural brightness to the highs. Now, this may have been caused by the setup and not by the cartridge itself, but I couldn't help thinking that the AT ART-9, especially for the difference in cost, really didn't give up much of anything, and actually gained with a more natural sounding treble. Again, this is  no slam against the Lyra at all ... it sounded fantastic. But for my money, I'd go with the AT-ART9 and keep eight grand in my pocket. 

Frank
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