The Audio-Technica AT-ART9XI 

Featuring a special line contact stylus on a 0.28 mm diameter solid boron cantilever, the AT-ART9XI replaces the AT-ART9 as Audio-Technica’s flagship magnetic core MC cartridge.

The “ART” in the model number stands for Audio-Technica Reference Transducer, a designation that we give only to our flagship phono cartridges. The specially designed magnetic circuit boasts an output voltage of 0.5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec), making the cartridge easy to use and capable of reproducing even the most delicate expressions, while also ensuring dynamic playback. The dual moving coils (fashioned from high-performance PCOCC wire) are aligned in an inverted V shape to provide high separation and wide response for clear sound localization and minimal distortion. Threaded cartridge mounting holes make installation to a headshell or integrated tonearm incredibly easy.

Features:

• Audio-Technica’s flagship magnetic core moving coil cartridge
• Dual moving coils are aligned in an inverted V shape, providing high separation and wide response for clear sound localization and minimal distortion
• Special line contact stylus ensures faithful reproduction of the music signal, and the 0.28 mm diameter solid boron cantilever provides excellent response characteristics
• Neodymium magnet and permendur yoke significantly increase magnetic energy
• Specially designed magnetic circuit provides an output voltage of 0.5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
• PCOCC coils ensure high-fidelity transmission
• Machined aluminum base supports both the magnetic circuit and the vibration system, ensuring excellent playback stability
• Hybrid body of machined aluminum and high-rigidity plastic reduces undesirable parasitic resonance
• Threaded cartridge mounting holes allow easy installation to a headshell or integrated tonearm

Specifications:

Cartridge & Stylus

• Frequency Response: 20-50,000 Hz
• Channel Separation: 30 (dB at 1 kHz)
• Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
• Vertical Tracking Force: 1.6-2.0 g (1.8 g standard)
• Stylus Construction: Nude
• Recommended Load Impedance: Min. 100 ohms (when head amplifier connected)
• Coil Impedance: 12 ohms (1 kHz)
• DC Resistance: 12 ohms
• Coil Inductance: 25 µH (1 kHz)
• Output Voltage: 0.5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.)
• Output Channel Balance: 0.5 dB (1 kHz)
• Stylus Shape: Special line contact
• Cantilever: 0.28 mm diameter solid boron
• Static Compliance: 25 x 10-6 cm/dyne
• Dynamic Compliance: 15 x 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
• Mounting: Half-inch
• Dimensions: 17.3 mm (0.68″) H × 16.8 mm (0.66″) W × 25.0 mm (0.98″) D
• Accessories Included: Non-magnetic screwdriver; 2 washers; cartridge installation screws (M2.6) (5.0 mm × 2, 8.0 mm × 2, 10.0 mm x 2, 12.0 mm x 2); protector; brush
• Threaded Hole: M2.6 x 2
• Weight: 8.5 g (0.30 oz)

Notes

• Note: moving coil cartridges require receivers or preamps with compatible inputs; their stylus assemblies are not field-replaceable.

Question: How do I choose between the ART9XI and the ART9XA phono cartridges?

Answer: This is a tough question to answer because both are great cartridges and each sounds great. It is almost like asking which one of your kids do you love the most. I guess the best approach would be for us to dive into the structure of both cartridges and discuss the differences. This may help you choose between the two. The major difference is the core structure that the coils are wound around. In the AT-ART9XI, the coils are wrapped around a permendur (iron) core. The iron core adds a bit more mass to the coil structure, and both the coils and the core generate the signal. Because the iron core is energized by the coils, magnetic hysteresis (a lag in the alignment of the magnetic field) comes into play. You could say that the iron core colors the signal a bit. Since the iron core helps generate the signal, the output is .5 mv (2.5 times greater than the non-magnetic core AT-ART9XA). So the XI is probably a bit more forgiving in the audio setup in that the gain needed isn’t as severe as with the non-magnetic core. The XI also has an SLC (special line contact) stylus.

In the XA, the coils are wrapped around a liquid crystal plastic core. The core does not have any magnetic properties so the coils alone are producing the signal (like the ART1000). The LCP core also has less mass, so it’s a bit more nimble in the grooves, resulting in slightly more detail. The .2 mv output is an improvement over the ART7, however it’s still fairly low and probably a bit more delicate to set up due to the gain needed. Non-magnetic core cartridges tend to have moderate mid/low and low frequency reproduction. A Shibata stylus was chosen to offset this for a completely balanced sound.