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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
avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
Here is the link- google chrome to translate.  

the ART9 has won some awards in Japan- Analog Grand Prix gold award and two others according to their site.  
The reviews on Audiogon have been valuable- too many to count.  The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger are these (2) other carts that I am considering- the Ortofon Cadenza Red and the Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC star, neither of which are mentioned in any comparisons. The Soundsmith has a youtube needle drop and it sounds amazing- as fast as lightning.    

Does anyone have any ART9 needle drops they can link?  

http://www.ippinkan.com/phasemation_pp300.htm 

https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/atj/show_model.php?modelId=2365 
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 

Not sure how much can be gleaned from this review. First, the clarity of the evaluation and review conclusions is compromised by the translation. Second, the reviewer highlights the "weakness of TD 240 - 2... which makes the exquisite sound using the "sound" of the record player's arm or the casing, the "sound of the player = loose" (Especially the bass side) to spoil, its ability is hard to be demonstrated straight. Please note that there is some doubt about how accurately the sound of AT - ART 9 can be evaluated for that reason".  I'd be more inclined to give weight to the opinions expressed here by fellow audiophiles, who are using the ART 9 in a wide range of arm/table combinations and particularly those with the same table/arm or similar system preferences as your own. 


avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
thanks, well said.  
ART9 on the way.  
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^ Good choice, avanti. Please post your impressions as you get set up and start the break-in process.  

 
avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
I will.  I was listening to my 2M black today (which is better than my dynavector DV20X2L and way better than my ortofon quintet blue) and wondering why the heck i needed a new cartridge.
we'll see!  
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