Purchasing from LP Gear

lp gear is a good retailer, they will stand behind the products they sell

btw the art 9 is an excellent choice of cart...  lovely sound, high compatibility, easy to set up and align

@artemus_5,  unfortunately, it does not do you much good to have a conversation with a computer. I'm 67. I really do not care what form the communication takes as long as the results are to my liking. I do hate going through computer menus. Email communications are frequently less stressful. No body is interrupted or missed. Many of us will not answer the phone unless we know who the caller is forcing the unknowns into the mailbox. 

Lp gear is great. I have ordered several times without issues. They are about the only ones that still offer the shure m97xe, which I happen to like, as well as the replacement stylus.

I would spend the extra bucks for the latest version of ART9, whatever the alphanumeric designation. LP Gear is ok for this purchase IMO. I’d be careful buying a replacement stylus for MM cartridge from them however. Read the fine print.

AR lists that model as discontinued. But there is always the pipeline that lags in supply.  The other models you listed are the updated models. 
Have you listened to the ART9?

This series is intriguing, and from a major manufacturer. I may try the XA and/or XI. 
I’m an old Signet TK10ML user, and a spare styli waiting to install  soon. 
However, a new phono-pre is due here soon, so may wait on that. 
To the OP, I have no experience as yet.