The Audio Technica AT 33 SA MC cartridge is a superior version of the famous Audio Technica AT 33PTG/II MC cartridge.
From the outside, apart from its grey finish, nothing distinguishes them. In order to get rid of parasitic resonances, this cartridge has a sandwich moulded under pressure aluminium alloy body with a synthetic resin.
Audio Technica AT 33 SA: Needle
The major novelty is that this AT33 SA cartridge is the first Audio Technica moving coil model to have a Shibata stylus tip!
In addition to the improved treble performances, thanks to an “almost” ideal line-contact, the Shibata stylus guarantees precise, very nuanced, and rich bass and mid-range.
This magnificent Shibata stylus is mounted on a tapered boron cantilever with a double damper to greatly improve the sound quality.
Moreover, Audio Technica proudly announces a life span of more than 1000 hours for this stylus!
Audio Technica AT 33 SA: Coils and compatibility
The coils were doubled in order to reduce crosstalk between the 2 channels as much as possible.
They use a PCOCC conductor (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting), coiled in a way to reduce the internal impedance to only10 ohms!
The generator uses neodymium magnets that provide a powerful magnetic field.
The AudioTechnica AT33 SA phono cartridge has a permendur structure which further enhances the concentrated magnetic field of the coil.
The low impedance, combined to an output voltage of 0.4mV, enable to use this MC cartridge with the majority of quality MC phono preamplifiers.
Audio Technica AT 33 SA: Listening and test review
We recommend that you listen to this Audio Technica AT 33 SA MC cartridge at least 50 hours before judging it (same as with the majority of MC cartridges).
From the first few minutes, we recognize the very natural general balance of the AT 33PTG version, but with several improvements.
The bass is deeper and more articulated. The midrange remains present but with a superior definition and a more obvious naturalness.
The trebles are chiseled and precise, loyal to the Japanese manufacturer.
The distortion and surface noise are almost non existent, even on relatively vintage vinyl records. The restitution remains very lively and dynamic, whatever the style of music you are listening to.
The excellent channel separation and the silence of this Audio Technica Hi-Fi cartridge produce a surprising, precise, and very credible soundstage.
This Audio Technica AT 33 SA MC cartridge is certainly Audio Technica’s best product to date.
The quality/price ratio is exceptional! It is to believe that a large part of the best phono cartridges are equipped with a Shibata stylus!
Highly recommended!
FranckType: low output MC
Body material: Aluminum/ synthetic resin
Frequency response: 15 hz - 50 kHz
Channel separation: 30 dB
Channel balance: 0.5 dB
Output voltage: 0.40 mV
Vertical tracking angle: 23°
Tracking force: 1.8/2.2g
Recommended tracking force: 2.0g
Stylus shape: Shibata
Stylus curvature radius: Shibata
Stylus construction: nude square shank
Cantilever: nude tampered boron
Compliance: 10 x 10-6cm/dyne /100hz
Coils: PCOCC conductor
Connectors: copper
Load impedance: ≥ 100 ohms
Internal impedance: 10 ohms
Coil inductance: 22 µH
Cartridge weight: 6.9 g
Mounting: 1/2” screws
Height: 16 mm
Customer reviews
Le choix de cellule
L'AudioTechnica AT33SA est équipée d'une pointe Shibata qui était un critère de choix sur les conseils de maPlatine.com et de mon expérience ( dans le passé j'ai eu une HANA SL). Acquise depuis plus d'un mois elle est désormais rodée.
La reproduction sonore est excellente avec très peu (voir pas) de bruit de fond.
Le son est riche, avec une scène sonore fantastique, des voix claires, des basses bien rondes, des médiums très agréables et des aigus détaillés sans être trop .
Montée sur une REGA P8 et utilisée avec un préampli Aurorasound Vida je suis satisfait de ce choix au vu de mon budget.
En effet j'ai eu mieux par le passé ( HANA ML) mais c'était plus cher, une cellule qui donne envie d'écouter des vinyles !