AT-ART9XI Cartridge - Reduced Compliance

Dear @keegiam : You don’t need the mistake to avoid the XA that’s for a wide range the best one on that 9 series.

Your Classé unit has more than enough gain to handle not only 0.2mv output level cartridge but even lower outputs than that:


Classé Audio 6MK2:

"" In the MC position, 20dB of additional gain is added to the MM’s 35dB. The MC gain can be adjusted between 20 and 40dB by replacing resistors R15 and R16 on the preamplifier’s system board. ""

Additional the unit has 18db of gain through its line stage.

Don’t worry about that 0.2mv and buy what you already know is the best.

R.

Thank you Raul.  The Classe Six manual says the MC gain is factory preset at +22dB and can be changed in 2dB increments by switching resistors (using silver solder).  This morning I did some more research and found the KAB gain calculator, and for .5mV (ART9XI) optimum gain is 56dB, so all would be well.

For .2mV (ART9XA), optimum is 64dB, so it would be best to replace the 2 resistors and bump the gain by 6-8dB.  Not a big deal.  I don't have the original resistor kit - I bought the Classe as a nearly new trade-in - but the resistance values and color combos for various gain increases are listed in the manual.

Am I on the right track?

Dear @keegiam : Rigth to where you need to stay. Good luck.

R.

Hit a speed bump.  Looking into ordering the XA, I noticed its dynamic compliance is 10 (x10-6 @ 100 Hz) vs. 15 for the XI.  10 seems quite low for the SME V with its 10/11 gram effective mass.

I believe I read somewhere that viscous damping, which the SME has, makes Fres less crucial.  Should that alleviate my concern?

Between possibly adding headshell weight and switching out the Classe's resistors to handle the XA, I'm back on the fence re: XI vs. XA.

After many decades in audio, I was curious about Audio Technica cartridges. I bought a new AT 440Mlb, and was shocked how good it sounded on my Dynavector 501 arm.

I then ordered a new ART-9, and have found my analog front end is much better than I knew it was. 

I wish I'd done it sooner.