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Pani ... New ART-9 up and running ...

The Cartridge arrived and I took it down to Studio City to Acoustic Image to have Eliot Midwood set it up properly. Eliot is the bomb when it comes to setting up the Well Tempered turn tables correctly.

http://www.acousticimage.com/

So, last night I had Mr. Golden Ears over to get his assessment as well. For a brand new cartridge that had zero hours on it ... all I can say is WOW! This is one naturally musical cartridge that doesn't break the bank. Its everything I liked about the OC9-mk III, but it goes far beyond the OC-9 in every respect.

In a previous post, I talked about the many mono records I own and how good the OC-9 was with the monos. Well, the ART-9 is on steroids. Just amazing on mono recordings.

At under $1100.00 from LP Tunes, its a bargain. The ART-9 surpasses all cartridges I've had in the system before. That would include Dynavectors, Benz, Grado Signatures and a Lyra Clavis that I dearly loved. In fact, its more musically correct than the Clavis. The Clavis was the champ at reproducing the piano correctly ... the ART-9 is equally as good in this area.

Sound stage, depth of image, left to right all there. Highs ... crystalline. Mids ... female and male voices are dead on. Transparency ... see through. Dynamics ... Wow! Low noise floor ... black. Mono records ... who needs stereo?

Your assessment that the ART-9 doesn't draw attention to itself is dead on. You just don't think about the cartridge at all. Not what its doing, or what its not doing ... its just beautiful music filling the room.

Thanks again Pani for the recommendation. I'll keep posting here as the cartridge continues to break in.
oregonpapa
catcher10's avatar
catcher10
48 posts
 
Thanks tablejockey.....of course I have CTTE, I have the original version as well as the Friday Music half speed remaster by Joe Reagoso. That is exactly the spot of that song I tend to listen to, the original is so distorted sounding which is fine, but better carts have been toning that distorted sound of the organ as well as Howe's guitar.

The Phonomena II performs well above its price point, I would have to be in the $1500 range to probably better it, not ready for that investment yet. Its a dual-mono output so the staging is impressive, the ART9 would push it to its limits I am sure, but I would expect a brilliant sound.

Thanks again
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
976 posts
 
Still breaking in....listened to MFSL "Teaser and the Firecat" recently. In the room with spooky body, texture and articulation. Nothing jumps out at you just supple, real and organic. My OC9MLII had a lot going for it but the ART 9 is just in a whole other league in terms of connecting you to the performance. Absolutely stunning....still breaking in.......
I'm using the Herron VTPH-2 with "infinite loading". Keith can send me loading plugs of nearly any value and I thought I might play around with this after the ART 9 breaks in...what should I request from Keith--100ohms?
pani
1,049 posts
 
100 ohms is minimum, in my experience it loads the cart down a bit too much. Start with 130 ohms, you may need loading values up to 250 ohms if your capacitance is very low. You can go up to 600 ohms if you can increase capacitance.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
2,850 posts
 
Pani ...

It looks as though you opened up the floodgates for this wonderful cartridge. Thanks again for leading us to it. Mine is completely broken in now ... and my records have never sounded better ... even with much more expensive cartridges.
pani
1,049 posts
 
Oregonpapa, I am waiting for people who are current users of bigger and more expensive cartridges to try it and share their opinions. I have personally experienced it but lets see how many more come up with such experiences.

It is interesting that when I was still hunting around for a "great" cartridge, there were times when I had 2-3 amazing (expensive) cartridges and I was comparing them with an intention of retaining just one. Today even though I am intrigued to compare some expensive carts to the ART9 I have absolutely no drive within to spend my money, time and effort on such an exercise. It feels futile, waste of time. Mind is complicated, when one is satisfied the behaviour is so different.
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