I agree with sbank that the 17D to D3 series (I own a D3) has or did have a reputation for being a bit "clinical" sounding, which usually indicates a "rising top end". But I think we all have to be careful how we use the term I put in quotes. Almost none of us has a hope of hearing a rising response in the range above 15KHz; so none of us could hear the gradual rise in amplitude above 15kHz shown on the graph that Oregonpapa referenced. In fact, there are not even any common musical instruments that can produce a primary tone in that region, only harmonics. If we really hear a rising top end, it would likely mean we are hearing a deviation from flat response in the 2kHz to 5kHz region.
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.
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.
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- 461 posts total
some interesting frequency response plots for some of the cartridges in question. The cadenza red is the flattest of the bunch. FYI my ART9 came with a FR printout and it was flat and had low harmonic distortion. https://www.artsexcellence.com/downloads/reviews/benz-micro-ace.hifi-news.artsexcellence.pdf |
@nandric Totally agree, but the ART2000 has been sold recently :) I'm on MM/MI/MF side in general. |
@sbank haha, not really. MF is "Moving Flux" generator patented by Mitachi Corporation (Japan) If you are not familiar with Glanz MF or Astatic MF cartridges. The best in Glanz series is mega rare MF61 which goes for 1500 pounds (luckily i have one). The rarest in Astatic series is MF 2500 acording to Raul's info (i don't have it). Both made by Mitachi in Japan. |
- 461 posts total