Audio-Technica AT-ART9 phono cartridge

I forgot to mention, my turntable is a Nouvelle Platine Verdier (Auditorium 23 revision) with SME M2-12 tonearm, Naim Superline + Supercap phonostage.

Pani, I have two active phono stages with over 76db gain(Pass XP-25 and modified hybrid Atma MP-1) that are excellent matches to ART7 without a SUT.

In fact both phono stages work well with a .05mV Ortofon MC2000, albeit with a bit of tube rush from the Atma LS at high volume.

The ART7 has similar qualities as ascribed to the ART9 and no short-fall of dynamics. It also took 100+ hours to reveal its best. FWIW, in a race between LOMC cartridges with non-permeable coil formers(e.g. ART7, DL-S1, MC2000) I do favor the old MC2000, notwithstanding background noise that becomes imperceptible the moment the needle drops.

Dgarretson, I have not heard the ART7 so I cannot comment on its sound per se. Its heartening to know that it can be amplified without SUT. Here is an email that was sent to a friend of mine by Audio Technica:

Mr. Rodrigo Thomaz from Audio Technica send me follow reply to this question:

Hello,
if you prefer to listen to multiple orchestrate classical music, we
recommend the Non-magnetic Core Moving Coil cartridge AT-ART7.
It can reproduce more sensitive sound of each instrument.
However
if you prefer more dynamic music like jazz/pop music, we recommend you
use the Magnetic Core Moving Coil cartridge AT-ART9. It will deliver
much more presence with rich low mid frequencies.
Hope this can help. Kind Regards, Rodrigo Thomaz

Thanks for that. I think there's an ART9 in my future. It's too tempting to miss comparing it to the 7.

Thanks, Pani. Were you able to make comparisons between the ART9, the XXIIMkII and the Delos in the same exact system--i.e. without any downstream changes? I only ask because your comments and my experience with the OC9MLII are causing me to give serious consideration to an upgrade to the ART9 however I will have to base my decision on very limited information (i.e. your comments) because there are no reviews and I will not be able to demo the cartridge (and even if I could it would be in a completely different system). Also, would you mind sharing the rest of your system just to get a better idea of what you are running and how that might factor into the differences you heard between the carts? Sorry--no Spanish Inquisition intended here just trying to get as much info as possible from limited sources before making a pretty expensive purchase.