Audio-Technica AT-ART9 phono cartridge

I am using it. I was about to write a review about it but anyway since you have asked, all I can say is go for it! I have owned many cartridges in the last few years. Some carts costing up to $5k, the only cartridge that I felt worth owning was the Audio Technica ART9. It combines some of the best attributes of all the carts I have heard and some. Yes, it sounds better than many $$$ cartridges. It is supremely neutral with a terrific flow to the music. Dynamics are as good or better than my earlier Miyabi 47 cartridge. I have heard the OC9 MK2, it is also nice but it ultimately sounds like a great budget cartridge. There is something that the more expensive cartridges (starting from the Lyra Delos and above) offer especially in the areas of resolution and dynamics which the budget carts only hint but dont quite get there. This "something" just makes for a more complete presentation. Listening to a Lyra Delos or Dynavector XX2 mk2 would be a good introduction to this completeness. However a Delos or an XX2 would very soon also convey their weaknesses. Once the honeymoon is over the weaknesses are easily known and those weaknesses are solved in the higher range cartridges of these very same brands. With an ART9 you will be hard pressed to find any weaknesses! Very rare in our hobby but it happens sometimes. Your appreciation for this cartridge will actually increase with time, in a way the honeymoon period is very very long :-). In every listening session a sense of "wow!" is conveyed.

Anyway I want to keep some things to write in my first ever review :-). IMO, dont waste time if you are looking at an ART9. If it was not a consumable it could potentially have been the last time you shopped for a cartridge

Pani,

Hello. I have ordered a AT ART 9 and will be looking for your 1st review. I also have many high priced M/C cartridges. The Krell KC100 (Mayabi) being one of them. Another being the Benz Micro LP S.
Keep us posted. I will add anything I can when mine finally arrives.
Regards,

I'll be interested in following this thread. I've been happily using an AT OC9MLII on my VPI Scout but am interested in the potential jump in performance that the AT ART 9 might offer. Can anyone comment on the differences between the ART 7 and ART 9? Just wondering whether much of what can be had from the 9 is found in the less expensive 7. BTW: I ran a bunch of Dynavectors before the OC9, including the XX2MKII, and found the OC9 very competitive with them. Also considering a Soundsmith MI as a possible upgrade path but those have gotten VERY pricey, thus my interest in the new ART 9. Finally, I know the OC9 can be found discounted if you look around a bit--anyone found a less expensive source for the ART 9? Thanks!

Griffithds, please note, the ART9 needs 150 hours of burn in to settle down completely. Initially it could sound a bit bright or thin. It happened on mine. As it settles down you will be amazed by the combination of liquidity, resolution and dynamics. Another thing, it needs to be very well aligned with correct anti skate, VTA and VTF. All these adjustments may take some time but every little adjustment in the right direction will put a big smile on your face. I finally got mine settled after I had the Mint LP protractor specifically for my tonearm (SME M2-12) and ART9.

Dodgealum, I did some research on ART9 before buying. According to an insider at Audio Technica (Japan) the ART7 is more for classical music because it has better micro layering of soundstage. ART9 on the other hand is a much more of an all rounder because it has a very powerful presentation which suits Jazz, Rock and Pop along with classical. ART7 doesnt have the macrodynamic force that the ART9 has. Moreover ART7 is an extremely low output cart making it a difficult cart for phonostage matching. The ART9 is much more friendly in its output voltage and matches with any decent phonostage. The loading needed for ART9 is between 100-120 ohms.

I do not know what price you are expecting for an ART9, on ebay it is mostly listed for $1 -1.2k. I have never seen it cheaper. In fact Audio Technica has been very silent about these carts. There are no known reviews of it. In Japan though it has received many awards and it was one of the Japanese audiophiles who told me that it is one of the super cartridges out there. While insiders know about ART9, outside Japan it is a mystery.

Thanks, Pani. That is very helpful. What arm and table combinations are you guys using with this cartridge? Pani, can give us some further perspective on the weaknesses of the XX2MKII and Delos relative to the ART9? I know the XX2MKII well so that might give me a sense of what the ART9 has to offer.