congrats! keep the faith, it will sound better as it wears in and you refine the installation. the only time the ART9 sounded bright on my table is when the alignment was slightly off- the cantilever was not parallel to the runway lines at the null point- and when the VTA was too high. VTA likes to be about 1/2mm tail up from level. If you drop it down from there it does get darker- and if you go up from there it becomes very bright. Also I have found it likes 100 ohms loading minimum and VTF right on the money at 1.8G. VTA less than that can also sound brighter. peace and good luck.
Here is the graph..you can see the rise at about 11k and then drops at about 17.5k which is consistent with test tone rips
I have been using mine since the summer and my initial impressions are still valid.It is neutral,clean,resolving and free of sibilance. On the downside my previous carts definitively had more tone and colour.I havent tried a new phono stage yet,but maybe i should do it. My stage has fixed gain of 65db,maybe that is too much.
Hmm lets see..working backwards Soundsmith MIMC Star Soundsmith MIMC Ortofon Quintet Black S ART-7 AT33SA AT33PTG/II Ortofon MC A90 Soundsmith Sussorro Paua Zyx 4D-X/SB2 Zyx Airy 3X-SB AT33PTG
It is a very different presentation on my system, I can go back and listen to rips with each cart and hear the differences, the PTG and SA carts seem to try to present slightly unnatural imaging when comparing to the Art-9...to me.on my system. It is all about synergy
Can you post any links to clips of your rips using Art-9? curious to hear the cart and also synergy with your system. if not, no biggie.
Holy schmokes that is quite a list! The MIMIC start was originally up for consideration. Can I ask your impressions about that one?
I'll quote someone after hearing both the ART-9 and the MIMC star...."The Zephyr makes me feel like I'm listening to a record while the ART-9 make me feel like I'm listening to music"
Obviously this is a bit of a tough thing to quantify but I'd say the most "tonally dynamic" cart I've owned was a DV 20x2L. Man, that was a FUN cart to listen to. But, it was a bit too extreme on some material. It had midrange to die for but sometimes to a fault. To contrast it, I had a Lyra Delos which seemed more like a scalpel than a cello. Since I like balance, I wished for a cart that woudl combine the best parts of both. I found it in the Art 9. It's extremely sensitive to whatever is upstream. Feed it to a like-minded phono stage and you're in for a treat. I wouldn't call the Art9 clinical, cold, or tonally dull whatsoever.
Just got an ART9 to replace my OC9-2 so will be very interested to hear the improvement that I get as the OC9 is sublime in my system. Using a Source t/t, Source 3D PSU and Odyssey RP1-XG2 arm. Phono stage is a Linn Linto
definitely some "table"influence differences comparing our experiences with the DV20X2L. loved it at first but it eventually turned into a bass heavy dark sounding monster to the point of drowning out the midrange and treble on lots of recordings. i wished the midrange were more forward! dynamics were great though. thanks for the mention of the delos, another potential upgrade contender. sticking with the ART9 for now.
If anyone is interested in my rips so far with my ART9 please message me. I'll send you through a link and login information for my NAS. Just make sure you download after 12 at night (Brisbane time) to avoid congestion with the Australian fibre link to the US.
I bought one today for a VPI Prime and will report back. I am replacing an MLX150 which I just love, so I'm not really sure why I'm even bothering but a forum member said it is like the MLX but better all around. And I agree with your totally correct statement...the only thing wrong with the MLX is it is also ridiculously cheap for what you get!
Tail up refers to the counterweight end being slightly higher than the cartridge end whilst playing. Just a smidge past level. That's how I've set mine and find it to be best for my tastes.
Well, I’ve been and gone and done it. I broke my cartridge mounting damage virginity and somehow managed to end up with a skewed cantilever. The first cartridge I’ve ever managed to damage and no point in getting annoyed. Another ordered and awaiting receipt - an expensive lesson. However, given the skew was slight and the diamond was perfect under inspection, I decided to re-align my tonearm to compensate for it in the short term for evaluation purposes. Wow. Just wow. Compared to a perfectly good OC9, this cartridge is stellar and it is nowhere near run-in. Less than a handful of hours on it. Big soundstage, great tune, excellent detail and a real dynamism to the presentation. All said, I’m pleased to say that the OC9 is staying in it’s box and I can’t wait for the next Art9 to arrive.
Anyone compared an Art 9 to an ortofon cadenza bronze or any of the upper tier charisma carts? I really like the idea of a little extra warmth that the ortofon in particular is said to impart. Table is notts 294 w/ ace space 12" arm. Phono stage is Musical Surroundings Nova II, so super quiet, infinitely adjustable, and quite neutral. Thanks