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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

Showing 2 responses by stampy

stampy
10 posts
 
I've had all sorts of cartridges over the years.

The ART9 is as musically satisfying as any, and a champ at getting out of the way and just letting the music flow.

What does this mean, really ?

It doesn't highlight any particular part of the frequency spectrum. It is uncolored and self effacing rather than adding embellishment. Another way to describe it, it does not sound "hi fi".

It does preserve PRAT, detail, soundstage, although I've heard other cartridges do certain of these things better, the ART9 is a champ at keeping everything in perspective.

It is currently my favorite and I see no reason to pay more for anything else, even though I could afford it.
stampy
10 posts
 
Just thought I'd share this info

Now my ART9 sounds much more dynamic on the SME 312s arm. I changed the cartridge loading from 100 to 1000. Once this cartridge is set up exactly right and broken in, I highly advise trying this.

Sounds fantastic through my Coda 06x phono stage which is going up for sale shortly.
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