Audio Technica AT-ART9XI MC cartridge

Following the success of the Audio Technica AT-ART9XA cartridge, the manufacturer comes back with a new high-end MC cartridge based on the latter, but with a less elitist approach making it easier to pair with conventional MC phono preamplifiers.

In reality, this Audio Technica AT-ART9XI MC cartridge replaces the AT-ART9 for good.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-ART9XI: TECHNOLOGY

The defining feature of this phono cartridge is the “Audio-Technica Reference Transducer” (ART).

Compared with the magnetic core used in most MC cartridges, the AT-ART9XI uses non-magnetic cores. Usually, conventional non-magnetic cores provide low output voltage, but Audio Technica managed to boost this generator by combining permendur and neodymium in order to obtain an exceptional output level of 0.5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s). This voltage makes the AT-ART9XI easy to pair with phono preamplifiers. In fact, you can use it with a 60-dB gain MC preamplifier. It’s not the case with the 9 dB AT-ART9XA!

High-performance PCOCC dual moving coils (Pure Copper Ohno Continuous Cast) are aligned in an inverted V shape providing high separation and wide response for clear sound localisation and minimum distortion.

Audio-Technica selected a Special line contact stylus paired with a solid boron cantilever.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-ART9XI: BODY

The body is made of machined aluminium and high-rigidity PVC. This combination ensures perfect stability of the magnetic circuit and the stylus/cantilever assembly, providing high playback precision.

The body features threaded cartridge mounting holes allowing easy installation on the turntable’s headshell or tonearm.

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-ART9XI: TESTING AND LISTENING

From the first few measures, we notice a superb dynamic level. On this aspect, the Audio Technica AT-ART9XI is better than the AT-ART9XA! It provides a pleasant realism and liveliness. But it doesn’t prevent it from being very subtle and nuanced too.

There’s almost zero surface noise and the absence of distortion provides an outstanding transparent sound. This allows to highlight every single detail of the track, without pointing out the high end of the spectrum.

The high channel separation provides excellent sound quality, as well as precise and realistic stereo image.

The AT-ART9XI clearly tends towards neutrality with a natural “swing” making live music proud! This phono cartridge honours the analogue through its timbre quality and nuance. Of course, there’s the physical side that we can find on the best low level MC cartridges.

This Audio Technica AT-ART9XI MC cartridge is surely the best value for price proposed to this day by the Japanese manufacturer! And the technical solutions used prevent you from having to buy an expensive phono preamplifier…

A favourite.