edit previous post- make that a just installed ART9XA, not XI
AT-ART9XI Cartridge - Reduced Compliance
Hi folks, I'm leaning toward the AT-ART9 cartridge for my SME V. The new version - the ART9XI - has a thicker solid boron stylus (was .26mm, now .28mm) and slightly lower compliance (was 18, now 15 x10-6).
The newer version costs $300 more ($1,300 v. $1,000). I'm inclined to buy the old one. Any opinions? (Please keep in mind I bought my SME V 30 years ago when it was $2k even.) Thanks in advance!
The newer version costs $300 more ($1,300 v. $1,000). I'm inclined to buy the old one. Any opinions? (Please keep in mind I bought my SME V 30 years ago when it was $2k even.) Thanks in advance!
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- 37 posts total
Avanti, lots of praise on Audiogon for the XA. The SME V is higher mass than your arm (10-11g) and, unless I swap out a couple resistors in my Classe Six, the gain would only be 57db. As you mentioned back in August, the XI would probably work better with my arm, and I wouldn't have to mod the Classe. The SME is due back in 3 weeks, so I have to pull the trigger soon. The XA sounds so enticing I'm still in a quandary. |
It's an easy swap of two resistors on an old school board. The manual has a detailed list of resistors for fine tuning the output in 2db increments, so I could choose +63, +65, +67, etc (up to +75!). Pretty dang thoughtful of Classe. Truthfully I'm more concerned about the SME's mass, which is technically in moderate territory, but just barely. The XA wants a low mass arm. Your arm is 9g, mine is 10g with the lightest hardware. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. |
What's the best way to increase the effective mass of the SME V if I select the AT-ART9XA? The XA's dynamic compliance is only 10, and it weighs 8.5 oz. Without increasing the SME's effective mass (10-11g depending on hardware), the resonant frequency would be a bit high. It seems the effective mass should be at least 12g for the XA, according to Vinyl Engine's chart. Is there hardware available for this purpose? How is the proper weight to add determined? https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php?eff_mass=12.0&submit=Submit |
- 37 posts total