2. analog
  3. 135288-1660

1K sleeper MC cart?

My Audio Technica ART9 is going to Soundsmith for a rebuild. Mine almost made it to 3 years!

I'm considering just getting another one because I've been so pleased with its performance.

Curious if any ART9 owners have found a similar "sleeper" in the same price point. I can't go
any lower(.5mv) in output. Its going on a VPI Classic table.




tablejockey
tom_hankins
928 posts
 
I own two med to high output cartridges that sound really nice. Benz Micro Ace SM, and Soundsmith  Carmen MKII. Both are in the $1k range or less.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
I sent my benz for a retip and got a big glob of glue on the tip of the cantilever.  does not sound good.  I would not do it again
raymonda
855 posts
 
I've sent many cartridges to SS. I agree, they often don't sound exactly the same but they have always sounded better. And, not by a small margin.

tooblue
1,927 posts
 
@invictus005, I have a Shelter 901, Shelter 501, Lyra Helikon, Koetsu Blackline and a Miyabi Standard that says you couldn't be more wrong.
tablejockey OP
3,913 posts
 
Agreed, a crashed cart just isn't the same with a replaced cantilever

The ART 9 really is a great all around package.Coming from Benz Glider and Sumiko Blackbird, those two, to my ears were opposite each other. The 9 is somewhere in the middle.

Taking the leap of faith for the 9 was rewarding. Finding a different cart that exceeds this time around, may be more difficult. Very subjective and
expensive.




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