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Audio Technica AT150MLX finally gets some respect

I've been at this audiophile stuff for over 40 years. At this point I'm pretty confident of being able to ignore preconceived notions and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a component in my system. Still, once in awhile it's nice to get some validation--a sanity check.

I've been using an Audio Technica AT150MLX MM cartridge for over 3 years. Since getting it I have improved the downstream components and cabling a few times, and each improvement, rather than revealing limitations of the cartridge, has shown it to have a great tonal balance, high resolution at its price point, excellent trackability, low level detail retrieval and excellent dynamics.

Still, when I opened my January 2012 issue of The Abso!ute Sound, I was pleasantly shocked to see that the $449 list AT150MLX had been named Cartridge of the Year! Given that the $5000 Benz LP-MSR and $13,000 Clearaudio Goldfinger were also mentioned on that page, it wasn't that the AT150MLX won in absolute terms, but for performance value.

It's as I suspected from my first listen. If you want to know where the threshold into a high end cartridge is, it's the AT150MLX. I got mine in 2008 when the dollar was strong and these things were going for $250. But even at the currently available $325 they are pretty unbeatable.

Back in the Spring of 2008 I asked the A-goners about what cartridge to move up to from the DL-160. I was considering the AT OC-9 or the Denon 301 II, but a number of A-goners made a compelling case for the AT150MLX. I took them at their word and have never regretted it.

If you want the best out of this cart, you *must* give it a capacitive load between 100 and 200 pF. In fact, my highly adjustable Jolida JD-9A phono stage indicates that the real sweet spot is right around 150 pF.

Anyway, thanks A-goners, and it's also nice to know that when the stylus wears down, I can just send for a replacement plug-in stylus $225.
johnnyb53
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Interesting inputs from Dconsmack. Johnny, given particularly that the 150MLX is a high output cartridge, a reasonable approach to implementing the loading he suggests might be to use a y-adapter, preferably a "hard" adapter such as this one from Audioquest. You would then solder an appropriate resistor to an RCA plug (and a capacitor as well, if necessary), and insert that plug into one of the two female connectors on the adapter, with the phono cable of course connected to the other female connector.

As I'm sure you would be able to calculate, a 22K resistor in combination with the 47K input resistance of the phono stage would result in an overall load of 15K.

Regards,
-- Al
dconsmack
43 posts
 
If you do this, remember to have your total capacitance be 570pF or a little more. Otherwise it will sound dull due to a dip under 10,000 Hz. The 15k ohm/570pF total capacitance was the formula I was able to come up with my gear that yields the most accurate frequency response, both measured and with listening. The Ultimate Analogue Test LP was an invaluable resource in knowing what combination of impedance and capacitance to load all my carts.
johnnyb53 OP
3,510 posts
 
I can hit the 570 pF with my Jolida without modification. 100pF in the phono cable plus DIP switches that can add 220, 150, and 100 pF, which all adds up to 570. Yay! If I do the Y-adapter mod to get a 15K ohm load I'll check it out and report back.
johnjohn
42 posts
 
I agree with the original post that you need a quality turntable and arm to really hear this cartridge. I use mine on a Linn/Ittok with good results- lots of ambiance and leading edge detail. I put it on a Technics 1200 and didn't hear any improvement over a 440MLa.
plasmatech
77 posts
 
I have used the 150 MLX on my VPI Aries 10.0 JMW, Scoutmaster Signature JMW 9 Arm and Rega P5, all to good effect. I loaded it with the 47K setting on my Quicksilver phono stage and it sounds smooth, sweet, and very dynamic. A great cartridge.
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