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.

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.

Yeah, when you have so much gain and so many sources of mains noise it gets interesting.  My 28k is quiet in MM mode but I get mains hum in MC mode.  The outboard power supply is plus/minus 24V.  I used 4 lead-acid batteries for power with zero change.  Then I shorted the inputs with zero change.  That's when I ordered the SUT and the B2B-1.

I'm an EE and I have the parts here to build a choke filtered regulated supply but I just haven't had the time.  No project is as fun as audio.  Homebrew electronics!

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!

Thanks again to all who offered opinions on the ART9.  I installed mine a few days ago and it's excellent.  I didn't know how it could improve upon the OC9ii but it did.  The mids are so nice.  Ordered from the highly regarded seller in HK on a Thursday and it was delivered the following Tuesday.  I never purchase items like this without researching online.  This thread made me confident to place this order.

Also, I spoke with ATUSA and they do indeed support the ART9 in the US.

Cheers all.