Audio-Technica AT-ART9 phono cartridge

Greetings all, I've been lurking and signed up to see if anyone had any suggestions on a headshell for the ART9.  I just received the new SL1200GAE and have pretty much decided on the ART9 based on many of your comments and my own experience with the OC9mkII.  I have a magnesium Jelco HS25 on order.  This new Technics also has a magnesium arm but I don't know the mass.  Thank you for all the thoughts on the ART9.

^^^ I can't speak for head shells, sorry. I can speak for the ART-9 though. It replaced my OC-9 MK III almost exactly a year ago. Over the past year, I've made some real significant improvements to the system. Just multiply everything I've previously said about the ART-9 by a factor of ten. Its WAY better than I thought ... and I was amazed by it before. Its a real sleeper and a great value. You're making a good choice, unless you want to get into the $5.000 range. 

Thank you for your reply ORpapa.  I brought vinyl back to my system a few years ago with the last of the SL-1210M5G and an AT440MLA.  Moved on to a DL-103R.  Then a friend gave me a broken OC9.  For a reasonable fee AT replaced that with the MKII.  Great sounding cartridge.  Added a Bob's Devices Cinemag Sky 30 and a Libertyaudio B2B-1.  The sound of vinyl is amazing.  This really is a journey.

^^^
I've looked at that Bob's Devices product at the Newport show over the past few years.  I've been tempted. I have a very good phono stage (ARC PH-8). I was wondering if I could make an improvement by adding the Bob's Devices unit to the system that would justify the price.  The ART-9, at .05 output works perfectly in the system. What improvement could I expect with adding the Bob's Device, if any? Any ideas?

ARC makes such nice gear.  I'm not familiar with the PH-8 but I've seen where ARC sometimes goes hybrid or used an internal SUT for moving coil but that's just from memory.  My B2B-1 is FET and it is very quiet even with the extra stage for MC.  Having said that the SUT results in even quieter operation.  I haven't made any measurements beyond cranking the line stage up and listening for hiss and power supply harmonics.  The SUT seems to bring something special to the party.  I hear no roll-off in either frequency extreme.  The B2B-1 designer suggested that it might be a little less dynamic with an SUT in place.  He's a great deal more experienced than I am but I can't hear that with my particular setup.  The sound of the SUT is just a little different.  Bob's Devices gives you 14 days to listen risk free.  His confidence is justified.  I never looked back.  To be fair, these are fairly recent purchases and I need to go back and listen the B2B-1 in MC mode without the SUT.  Will do that soon since I have a second TT now.  My old Aragon 28k has a great phono section but I can't get the hum out in MC mode.  MM is just fine so it works great with the SUT.  I'm going to run one TT straight to the B2B-1 in MC mode and the other through the SUT into the 28k.  I'll update after I've had a little listening time.  I'd certainly do business with either Bob's Devices or LibertyAudio again.  Great companies!