2. analog
  3. 1437001122

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
1,484 posts
 
Installed the ART9 today.  Very difficult tightening the small slotted screws from the bottom up while holding the small nuts.  
Sounded dull and gray for the first (2) records and I was extremely disappointed.  Worse cartridge I have ever had in my system.  After (4) records it started to show what it is made of.  Rich, slightly forward midrange, bass is OK, treble is actually a little light.  
The dynamics are superb and worth the price of admission.  But the sound stage- oh man it is enormous!  Largest sound stage I have heard in my system with any cartridge.  Amazing.  
So far it sounds better than my other cartridges at or slightly below its price point.  
Good value but not ready to crown it a giant killer yet.  
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^
At least 50 hours of break-in before you'll be convinced. Then ... Zowie. 
pani
1,219 posts
 
I have been using this cartridge for the last 2 years and I am yet to spot a single flaw in this cartridge. I have never used such words for any audio gear till date, let alone a cartridge. It is an unusually balanced sounding product that defies any notion about voicing and pricing. Just use it!

P.S: It is still not the best find in my system, those are my speakers. 
avanti1960
1,484 posts
 
been playing records on it for the past (2) days.  treble and top end is starting to emerge but with a little edge to it.  surface noise is more noticeable.  not bad but noticeable.  
sound is very good but i miss my ortofon 2M black and may switch it back soon to compare.  
the 2M black's only flaw is a slight lack of dynamics.  tonality, realism and transparency is superb.  
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^

Give it some time. It really starts to open up at 50 hours and continues to improve from there. Also, have you experimented with VTA?
More to discover