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I have been listening to a Dynavector XXII Mk2 on my LP12 Valhalla with Kuzma Stogi arm for quite some while. Recently, I have the opportunity to acquire an Audio Technica ART9 for a pretty good price. I wonder if it would be a good move.
The XXII Mk2 sounds pretty decent to me, but I would say that with the current setup, it does not seem to be as lively and open as I would like. (I changed from an old Akito I to the Stogi, which gave much better density and stability of sound, but seems a little less PRAT.) The phono stage is the AD2800 phono card in an Accuphase C2400 preamp, whose loading setting maxes out at 100 ohms (Would this be a problem?). I listen to jazz mostly. I read that although the ART7 probably has a more interesting air core, but it also has very little output and seems more voiced for classical, hence my interest in the ART9 (Is this correct?)
Thanks.
Follow Ups:
Here are my thoughts about the ART9, please check this thread:
http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=162362
My monicker on PFM is "Pani".
Just to summarize the ART9 is a very good performer. Being the reference cart from a company like Audio Technica it actually sounds like a top quality reference cartridge. More transparent than the XX2 mk2, equally dynamic as the Lyra Delos and better PRAT/flow than either of them. In fact in terms of PRAT it is one of the absolute best I have heard. It is also one of the most neutral cartridge around. I have heard the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze too. Ultimately all these big cartridge companies who sell carts all the way to $10k range will deliberately short change their lower priced cart in some way or the other. It is audible. With ART9 I dont hear compromises! It is terrifically transparent, fast with a solid presence and body to the music. No coloration, no gimmicks. I have not heard the ART7 so I cannot say whether it is better or not but I bought the ART9 because I was told it is a better all-rounder and a much easier cart to mate with a phonostage. Considering that the ART9 is actually cheaper than all the other carts I have mentioned here, it is not funny how good it sounds. If I change I will only look at a Lyra Kleos and the likes.
Thanks for your comments. The cart is certainly looking quite interesting
Your Accuphase should work well with the ART9 with a 100 ohm load. As you state, the ART7 with its 0.12 mv output would be a problem for your system. A step up transformer could be an option if you can get 74-76 dB of boost from your moving magnet set up in combination with a step up transformer. Otherwise forget it. 100 ohms is the standard loading suggested by Audio Technica. The ART9, with its 0.5 mv output should not be a problem whatsoever.
As for it being superior to your current cartridge, I cannot say. Bang for the buck usually favours the Audio Technica.
According to spec, the phono card has 68db of gain in its high gain MC mode. I am now using its 62db lower gain mode. Just out of curiosity, would that suffice for the ART7 or does it really need a transformer to shine?
I think 68-dB gain would work for the ART7. That's about the minimum I would want, though. The rated output of the ART7 is 0.12-mV. That means that 68-dB gain would amplify that to 301-mV and you would get a maximum output from playing records of about 3-volts.
Best regards,
John Elison
FWIW, with ART7 I prefer 1K loading on Pass XP-25. With this cartridge there are only minor differences across the range from 100R to 1K.
Thanks.
How would you characterize the sound of your ART7 as compared with other carts?
It sounds more natural and refined than I expected from AT. It easily surpasses the few MCs that I've recently owned(Lyra Helikon, AQ7000 Fe5, Denon DL-S1). Very resolving, spatial, extended at both extremes of FR, neutral, and dynamic without being forced or up front.
Assuming that your Accuphase is reasonably quiet you should be fine with 68db of phono gain. With the Pass XP-25 ART7 works well at 76db or 66db, with a modest increase in preamp volume necessary at 66db phono.
The big question is whether the ART9 is any better. I would speculate that the higher-output user-friendly ART9 was introduced to reach a broader market, and that the lower-output ART7 sounds better owing to its non-permeable coil formers. Reportedly the later higher-output iterations of the similar Ortofon MC2000 were not as good as the original version with miniscule output. I'll go with along with this story until shown otherwise.
Wow - love my AQ7000 fe5, so that is saying something... a couple of questions if I might :)
What is the recommended VTF of the art7?
And how does the bass compare between your memory of the AQ7000fe5 and the Art7? and same for staging...?
It would be with a 68db gain phono stage (with the art7 being about a 1/3 less output over the .4mv AQ)
VTF spec is "1.6-2.0 g(1.8g standard)". I like around 1.7g.
Agreed, an AQ7000 Fe5 is nice. I'll try to find the time to remount it for a fresh comparison. My recollection is that it's a bit recessed and sepia toned compared to the AT.
With wide-range recordings ART7 has excellent LF extension and control-- but it doesn't compensate where bass is lite in the grooves.
Wow, concise and I think I hear the differences... well said. If you do that comparison again, just shoot me a line, or post here! That would be cool to hear about... I just know the Aq7000fe5 is more like the Titan, than any other Lyra I have heard. Maybe not as detailed, but dynamic, nice stage, and big bottomed, like you said, when recorded or stamped that way.
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