Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL 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 the analogue come back, the Japanese manufacturer launches the 4th generation of the OC-9 series, represented by 5 low output MC cartridges.

The Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL MC cartridge is the fifth and last model of the new range.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XSL: BODY AND COILS

The body of the phono cartridge is cut into very strong aluminium that reduces unwanted resonances.

The AT-OC9 “X” 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 AT-OC9XSL is equipped with Permendur yoke to improve the magnetic energy of the magnets made of neodymium. These magnets provide an important magnetic field of excellent quality.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XSL: STYLUS

The AT-OC9XSL cartridge is equipped with a Special Line Contact stylus. It has a low mass and is associated to a boron cantilever.

This stylus with a complex profile follows the modulation of the groove with higher precision than a basic elliptical stylus. It offers a higher frequency response, while reducing surface noises and distortion in high frequencies.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XSL: ASSEMBLY AND COMPATIBILITY

To facilitate the assembly on the headshell, the AT-OC9XSL has a body equipped with threaded inserts.

This has a true mechanical advantage, but it makes this phono 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-OC9XSH 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. This is the stylus mounted on the ART1000 cartridge of the Japanese manufacturer.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9XSL: TEST AND LISTENING

The restitution offered by this AT-OC9XSL cartridge is very precise and detailed. It demonstrates a real feeling of space and realism, whatever the style of music listened to.

Note that it is on the orchestral masses that this moving coil cartridge shows all its potential!

The tonal balance is excellent.

The reproduction is rich and very informative all over the bandwidth. Furthermore, there is a very realistic transient response that gives a rhythmical, fast and articulated listening.

All this without forget the nuance and subtlety that seems to be the "strong point" of this Audio Technica cartridge.

The absence of surface noise and distortion makes it possible to highlight a treble and the mid-range of great precision and accuracy.

The bass is very transparent and precise. It goes very low continuously, with definition and articulation, as it is the case on the whole OC9 range.

This AT-OC9XSL cartridge is one of the most performing low output MC cartridge from Audio Technica.

It totally meets the expectations of even the music lover! Mainly for Classical music lovers who are looking for perfect mastery of the placement of the orchestra, and the precision of the instruments precision.

Highly recommended!