I'd go the ART9XI over the ART9XA because I do not like the brittle sound of the shibata profile used in the XA - the X! as well as the new ART20 both use special line contact rather than the shibata.
New Audio Technica ART9XA Up and Running.....
Just installed a new AT ART9XA cartridge and it sounds excellent, so enjoyable listening to music with this cartridge. It replaces a highly regarded LOMC that was an upgrade from my original ART9.
The ART9XA beats the "highly regarded" one.
The XA is the lower output air core version of the new ART9 series having .2 mv output vs. the new ART9XI with .5 mv.
The XA also has a shibata profile vs. the SLC of the XI.
Hat's off to the threads on this forum that started the legend of the ART9 (Pani and Oregon Pappa)
I am loving my recordings more than ever with the new XA. Peace.
The ART9XA beats the "highly regarded" one.
The XA is the lower output air core version of the new ART9 series having .2 mv output vs. the new ART9XI with .5 mv.
The XA also has a shibata profile vs. the SLC of the XI.
Hat's off to the threads on this forum that started the legend of the ART9 (Pani and Oregon Pappa)
I am loving my recordings more than ever with the new XA. Peace.