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AudioTechnica ART 9 users - break in, VTF/VTA and loading questions

Just received my new AT ART 9 -- sounds damn good right out of the box... but just thought I would check in with others already using this cart for some time...

- what is break in time you experienced for the sound to ’settle in’?
- what VTF worked well for you? I am at 1.95 grams.
- what VTA works best? I’ve started at usual slight tail-down setting
- what loading does it like best? I am at 1000 ohms

Just for context, my table is VPI Classic 2E with JMW 10.5 CF arm in VTF tower, into an Ayre P5XE.

Initial reaction is very very smooth, sophisticated sound, with a little more life and sparkle up top than the Koetsu Black I have been using previously. Midrange very very sweet and lifelike and bass is strong. Maybe just a touch more groove noise with AT...  

Differences are pretty much what I have been hoping for... Koetsu really lovely, just a little somber/romantic.

Will develop opinions of spatiality/imaging etc etc after more hours running.

Thanks in advance.
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oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
I've been running my ART-9 for about two years now. Once broken in (100-200 hours) I stopped thinking about the cartridge all together.  It never calls attention to itself. It just plays music in a very refined and natural way leaving the listener to concentrate on the performance of the artists and become more emotionally involved with the music. Its a real killer on mono records too. 

Frank
violin
120 posts
 
I have an AT 33Sa MC which AT recommends set TF at 2.0 grams and I have the back of the cartridge slightly raised and loaded at 100 ohms and it sounds terrific. According to your post about the ART-9 and their recommended tracking force with slightly raised rear end , AT must have really done their design and listening home work with these cartridges
Wishing you much continued listening pleasure.
carter








dhjohnson
10 posts
 
I'm running my ART9 on a Technics SL-1200G. It is mounted to an Audio Technica MG-10 magnesium headshell.  I set the tracking force to 1.8g per AT's recommendation. The cartridge seems to be level at the "0" tonearm height setting.  Is there anyone here running this same setup? If so, could you share your settings for VTF and tonearm height?

Thanks!
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent
491 posts
 
How many hrs can be played with ART 9?
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