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I have been doing comparisons between my new AT440MLa and some of my other carts-Ortofon OM10, Shure M95ED, M97HE, V15 III. What I notice most is that the AT440MLa has a great and detailed midrange, but doesn't have the bass or bottom end. Side 2 of Neil Youngs' "Rust never Sleeps" begins with "When You dance"-it has great impact with the ortofon and Shures, but is missing something with the AT. Should I wait for it to open up? Any other comparisons or opinions?
Follow Ups:
I hae used an extra-thick mat and doubt that I can raise it further, but I'm still well below 100 hours, so I'll wait and see. I really do love the cart and I'm discovering things I didn't know were in my vinyl.
The AT440mla has the quietest stylus of all the models shown. Probably because of its overall frequency response.It doesn't pick up much below 30 hz which is perfect for Rock and Roll. It does not get the high end with any type of air or extension. It rolls off the highs like a SE tube amplifier.
However for 100 bucks I think it is the best cartridge in this price area.
It gives up a great deal of detail to the DL103R and it has one half the dynamics of the Grado Ref Master.
I have really enjoyed mine. It is especially nice for any irreplaceable noisy albums with scratches or poor vinyl quality recordings. I plan on keeping mine for a problem solving cartridge.
100 dollars for a phonograph cartridge? I highly recommend the AT440MLA for what it does really well. I can live with its errors in ommission.
My AT440MLa is settling in nicely and I echo the sentiments already shared here. I did no experience extremes during break in and if 100 hours is the break in then my cart is still in it. I think it has well balanced range and a wonderful sound field. The bass through my system is full. What I did find that adjusting VTA was critical and that the AT was quite sensitive to VTA adjustments.IMHO, its a keeper.
Bass is beautiful, smooth, deep, outstandingly defined. There are albums I play now that I've been playing for thirty or forty years and are loaded with detail I've never heard till now.
The AT can take a sow's ear of an album and turn it into an aural silk purse. I love it.
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True that break in and a well-dialed in VTA are important factors for optimal performance w/the 440.
n
Henry
nt
not judge too harshly until the 440 has 100 hours on it.
Henry
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