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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
 
Pani ...

Just a word of thanks for turning us on to the ART-9. I've enjoyed mine immensely ever since installing it.   It just takes itself out of the equation and totally disappears leaving only the music.  Highly recommended.

Frank

pani
1,219 posts
 
Frank, credit goes to you as well for setting it up well and matching with a synergistic phono stage to get the best out of this cartridge. It really needs a medium to light tonearm and a low noise full sounding, dynamic phono stage to shine through. Using a heavy or 12" tonearm takes away some of that agility and excitement from this cartridge.
jollytinker
213 posts
 
The thing that jumps out to me most about this cartridge is its ability separate out the various instruments. I wonder how it does that.
avanti1960
1,482 posts
 
The things that jump out to me are that it makes voices and instruments sound better than they really are- it sweetens them up a bit.  Also that this effect works for all types of music styles- rock, jazz, instrumentals, etc.  Finally it is just so darn squeaky clean sounding.  
slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5
191 posts
 
OK, OK.... I have been following this thread for half the day (read from the start).  I am sold.  I was considering the Delos and the Clear Audio Concept MC Black also the Ortofon Quintet Black MC; but it looks like the ART9 will be it.

I have some questions which perhaps someone here who is far more adept at matching components than I would perhaps lend a hand to.

There is a lot of chat about compliance, tone arm mass, SUT, etc.   May I ask on thoughts about this set up I have and if it would be a right mix for the ART9:  Turntable is a VPI Ares3 with the Super Platter option, my tone arm is a SME Series IV and I have been using my old vintage AT15ss (same basic cartridge as the AT20ss) which has a not too old NOS stylus, original OEM AT and the Clear Audio Smart V2 phono stage.  The cartridge is to me, amazing, but now I feel like I have to get this new AT ART9!   I have no idea if the SME Series IV is high low or medium mass  arm, but it plays so well with the AT15ss which is about 7.5 gms, I'd assume it would work out fine with the ART9.   

Also, does anyone know the Mounting Hole center to Stylus Tip distance on the ART9?  My AT15ss is around 8 mm, or .375 inches.

Thanks in Advance for input....
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