The Audio Technica ART 9 is...AOK!

108.13.115.46

Posted on July 1, 2015 at 18:37:10

While out of town on business, I find out the cart I planned on buying MAYBE in a few weeks, is available at the distributor a few miles away from my hotel room.
Well, you can see how that story ends.

I spun 4 records I thought would give an overall idea of how the ART 9 performs.
1)Vocal- period(1960)mono Ella Fitzgerald "Let no Man Write my Epitaph" Black Coffee
2)Rock-David Glimour debut(1978) Theres No Way Out of Here
3)Classical Ludwig V 9th 2nd movement(1957)RCA "Living Stereo" Boston Symphony-Munch conducting
4)Jazz-Art Blakey "Moanin" 1958 Blue Note

While its much too early to really rate it, I hear improvements in areas my AT OC9III sometimes would struggle.

Reduced sibalance in vocals, NO high end sizzle in complex passages.
More realistic cymbal crashes,bass notes more defined-what was "tubby with the OC9 is taut.

This thing needs to cook for a few weeks with lots of different music for a more meaningful judgement call.

Mounting was a little nerve wracking compared to other carts. IMO its criminal to charge 1K and still have to thread teeny tiny nuts.

No sophisticated mounting procedure was used. I just used the VPI jig.I have a Feikert, but my ears can't hear any difference. I'm sure there is, for those with "audiophile" ears. Perhaps in the future, to REALLY hear what this cart is capable of, a pro alignment is needed.

So far, IMO it was worth prying my wallet open more than I wanted to.

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Been using an ART7 here....

Meatface

19:46:38 07/03/15

RE: Been using an ART7 here....

dirtyvinyl

21:02:12 07/03/15

congrats!

teenage diplomat

19:24:02 07/01/15

7

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Been using an ART7 here....

Meatface

19:46:38 07/03/15

RE: Been using an ART7 here....

dirtyvinyl

21:02:12 07/03/15

congrats!

teenage diplomat

19:24:02 07/01/15

7

RE: congrats!

dirtyvinyl

20:07:41 07/01/15

6

RE: congrats!

teenage diplomat

06:38:09 07/02/15

5

RE: congrats!

dirtyvinyl

12:49:52 07/02/15

4

RE: congrats!

teenage diplomat

18:01:28 07/02/15

3

RE: congrats!

dirtyvinyl

09:26:10 07/03/15

2

RE: congrats!

teenage diplomat

18:15:49 07/03/15

RE: congrats!

dirtyvinyl

20:06:58 07/03/15

congrats!, posted on July 1, 2015 at 19:24:02
teenage diplomat Audiophile Posts: 896 Location: burke, va usa Joined: February 3, 2001	I'm running the low output ART-7 on my HRX and love it. Tremendous clarity, tons of detail, and (like your 9) sibilance issues are non-existent. Enjoy!

RE: congrats!, posted on July 1, 2015 at 20:07:41

dirtyvinyl

I was curious about the 7 and getting a budget step up and plug into my tubed(Fosgate) phono.

Then I thought, more extra "stuff" $$$ between the cart and amp.
I'm hearing a "drier" tone I associate with uber show rigs that, to my ears is more realistic.
Another thing I'm doing different is using no antiskate-per HW.

Inthe past I've just guessed on the conservative side with it, but couldn't hear a difference.

Non existent sibalance? I guess I need to futz over the weekend with the azimuth?
I still have some, but greatly reduced.

RE: congrats!, posted on July 2, 2015 at 06:38:09

teenage diplomat
Audiophile

Posts: 896
Location: burke, va usa
Joined: February 3, 2001

I use the counterintuitive to set azimuth, which is much more effective, and much easier, than shifting the counterweight. Does your arm allow you to screw out the weights on each side of the ring mounted on the bearing cup housing? That would also work well. The vpi jig is ok, but I've found the better solution is the MintLP protractor. It aligns the cantilever much more exactly and that is the reason my old sibilance issues have gone away.

RE: congrats!, posted on July 2, 2015 at 12:49:52

dirtyvinyl

I use the SSCI. What determines which way(L/R) the CI should be moved when trying to tame sibalance?

Up to now, I just eyeball VTA and azimuth level.
When I have some time to burn, I may dust off the Feikert and try Baerwald alignment which compared to the VPI jig, shoves the cart forward.

The cart now has a couple more miles on it, and I can say comfortably, the ART 9 is in a different league compared to a couple of other carts I have used in the 1 K price point.
The OC9III, a fine cart in its own right, now sounds artificial.

At least in my system, a Benz Glider and Sumiko Blackbird both revealed their weaknesses
eventually.The ART 9 has yet to reveal any shortcomings,other than this sibalance issue.

I have a stellar period copy of Yes CTTE,the music is quite complex and gives any table a workout. The 9 handles the pipe organ section like a champ!

Buyers remorse was a concern since I was trying to convince myself to shell out another $700 for a Lyra Delos. Not anymore.

RE: congrats!, posted on July 2, 2015 at 18:01:28
teenage diplomat Audiophile Posts: 896 Location: burke, va usa Joined: February 3, 2001	I use a Fozgometer and test record to set azimuth with the CI. The Foz has directions, and it works well. It is far more accurate than eyeballing or using VPI's metal straw across the headshell trick.

RE: congrats!, posted on July 3, 2015 at 09:26:10
dirtyvinyl	If I can't get the sibalance resolved through trial and error, I will decide to either lug the table to a dealer for a pro setup or invest in the Foz/test record.

RE: congrats!, posted on July 3, 2015 at 18:15:49

teenage diplomat
Audiophile

Posts: 896
Location: burke, va usa
Joined: February 3, 2001

I'd recommend buying the mint lp protractor first. It allows you to align the cantilever much more accurately than the VPI jig does, and uses the genuine Baerwald geometry. (VPI's jig uses a proprietary set of null points that HW thinks sound better.). In my experience, the Mint will get rid of most sibilance (assuming you have tonearm height somewhere close to the level that allows the magic 92 degree stylus rake angle. I can't measure that directly since I don't have a microscope/camera/software, but my experience tells me most carts need to be slightly tail up.). You know you're right when bass is strong highs are clear, and s sounds are not spit across the soundstage.

Been using an ART7 here...., posted on July 3, 2015 at 19:46:38

Meatface
Audiophile

Posts: 189
Joined: November 26, 2011

for a month or so. I've been intending to post a detailed review, but things have been busy lately.
At first, I had a tinge of regret for getting the lower output option, but this is one fantastic cartridge. I bought a Budgie CM1254 SUT from Parks Audio and it was a significant improvement.
It is nearly impossible to make these line contact or microline styli from Audio Technica distort! The AT440MLA and AT33/PTGII have had similar tracking performance. I've almost forgotten what IGD sounds like. That alone makes the ART7 a bargain, but the magic it produces (in my system) makes me stay up too late, spinning side after side. Everything sounds fresh and alive!
Anyway, enjoy your new cartridge. I'm sure it sounds awesome!

RE: congrats!, posted on July 3, 2015 at 20:06:58

dirtyvinyl

"In my experience, the Mint will get rid of most sibilance (assuming you have tonearm height somewhere close to the level that allows the magic 92 degree stylus rake angle. I can't measure that directly since I don't have a microscope/camera/software, but my experience tells me most carts need to be slightly tail up.). You know you're right when bass is strong highs are clear, and s sounds are not spit across the soundstage."

Reading your post encouraged me to give the Feikert a go. To my surprise, using Baerwald and fussing with VTA did reduce sibalance a wee bit.
Not having on the fly adjustment makes fussing a hassle, so I only did one pass with bumping the tail up a bit. Not having something like the Foz obviously will limit things also. Perhaps during another session, I will tinker a little more.

RE: Been using an ART7 here...., posted on July 3, 2015 at 21:02:12

dirtyvinyl

Tha 7 originally was my first choice. Unfortunately, my phono(Fosgate) isn't up to the task without help.

The 7, based on what I've read is quite different from the 9. They do share a few specs, but the 7's " guts" are a non magnetic core. The 9 has a magnetic one.
I was told by the dealer the 9 gives up subtle detail for more "punch" across the spectrum.
The 7 subjectively presents music such as classical,acoustic jazz with more refinement.

My tubed system is surprisingly quite, so I may have been able to get away w/o a step up and just turn the volume more. Decided to play it safe and went with the 9.

Vinyl Asylum

The Audio Technica ART 9 is...AOK!

108.13.115.46