Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN MC cartridge

Audio Technica's OC-9 series has been operating with undiminished success for over thirty years. After many years, it is still a reference for several music lovers, professionals, and journalists across the world!

Motivated by an analogue come back, Audio Technica launches the 4th generation of the OC-9 series, represented by 5 low output MC cartridge.

The Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN cartridge is the second model of the range.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XEN: BODY AND COILS

The body of this low output MC cartridge is cut into very strong aluminium that reduces unwanted resonances.

The AT-OC9X cartridges are all composed around a generator equipped with a high quality double coil made of copper (PCOCC). This very pure copper ensures a signal without distortion and few coloration.

The structure of the moving coils offers a large frequency response as well as an excellent left/right channel separation, which enables excellent stereo image.

The neodymium magnets provide an important magnetic field of excellent quality.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XEN: STYLUS

The AT-OC9XEN is equipped with a glued integral elliptical stylus (Nude), associated to an aluminium cantilever.

This elliptical stylus follows the modulation of the groove with higher precision than a conical or spherical stylus. It offers a better frequency response, while reducing distortion and surface noise.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XEN: ASSEMBLY AND COMPATIBILITY

To facilitate the assembly on the headshell, the AT-OC9XEN has a body equipped with threaded inserts. This has a true mechanical advantage, but it makes this cartridge incompatible with bottom-mount headshells, such as the old Thorens or Lenco turntables.

Its weight and its rather high compliance make this Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN adapted for medium and low weight tonearms.

Its output level requires a MC phono preamp having a minimum of 62 dB gain and 100 ohms load.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XEN: TEST AND LISTENING

The restitution is into the pure tradition of OC9 cartridges from the Japanese manufacturer. We find the transparency and detail of these phono cartridges.

The treble is certainly one of the most successful among this category in terms of accuracy and precision

This Audio Technica cartridge offers an open reproduction, detailed and with a nice transparency.

Even if this one is closed to its little sister, the AT-OC9XEB cartridge, we quickly notice more nuance, associated to a light extra softness. It tends more towards analysis than romance.

We also find very good dynamics without projection or exaggeration excess. The mid-range is also precise and very neutral. The bass are deeper, clear and very continuous.

The sound scene is reproduced with realism, without exaggeration but with precision into the 3 dimensions.

This Audio Technica AT-OC9XEN MC cartridge does not everything and cannot be perfect. You have to leave some for the 3 higher models!

However, at this price, it is very good deal! Recommended!