High-Resolution Moving Coil Performance with a Nude Shibata Stylus
The Audio-Technica AT-OC9XSH Dual Moving Coil Cartridge combines Audio-Technica's long-established moving-coil engineering with a nude Shibata stylus designed for highly accurate groove tracing. Its advanced stylus profile makes broad contact with the groove walls, helping retrieve subtle musical information, reproduce extended high frequencies and maintain precise tracking through complex passages. A 0.28 mm solid boron cantilever provides exceptional rigidity with low moving mass for fast, responsive transient reproduction.
Independent moving coils for the left and right channels work with PCOCC copper coil wire, a neodymium magnet and a permendur yoke to deliver clean signal generation and excellent stereo definition. The rigid aluminum body helps suppress unwanted resonance, while pre-threaded mounting holes simplify installation on compatible headshells and tonearms. With its 0.4 mV output, the AT-OC9XSH is designed for high-quality analog systems equipped with an appropriate moving-coil phono stage, head amplifier or step-up transformer.
Highlights & Benefits
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Nude Shibata Stylus — The sophisticated 2.7 × 0.26 mil Shibata profile provides an extended groove-contact area for precise tracking and detailed high-frequency reproduction.
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Solid Boron Cantilever — A 0.28 mm-diameter solid boron cantilever combines high rigidity with low moving mass for excellent transient response and accurate groove tracking.
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Independent Dual Moving Coils — Separate left- and right-channel coils help provide strong stereo separation, stable imaging and accurate channel reproduction.
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PCOCC Coil Wire — Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting is used in the coil windings for highly conductive signal transmission.
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Rigid Aluminum Body — The cartridge housing provides a stable mechanical foundation while helping control resonance and unwanted vibration.
Technology & Design
Nude Shibata Diamond — The Shibata stylus uses a narrow horizontal contact radius with an elongated vertical contact area, allowing it to trace fine groove modulation while spreading contact over a larger portion of the groove wall.
Reverse V-Shaped Coil Configuration — The left and right moving coils are positioned in a reverse V arrangement designed to reduce mechanical pressure on the stylus assembly and help minimize distortion.
High-Energy Magnetic Circuit — A neodymium magnet and permendur yoke provide strong magnetic energy for efficient signal generation from the lightweight moving-coil assembly.
Pre-Threaded Aluminum Housing — Integrated M2.6 threaded mounting holes allow the cartridge to be attached with two screws without separate nuts, simplifying installation while maintaining a rigid connection to the headshell.
FAQ — Audio-Technica AT-OC9XSH
What type of stylus does the AT-OC9XSH use?
The AT-OC9XSH uses a nude Shibata diamond stylus with a 2.7 × 0.26 mil curvature radius. The Shibata profile is designed to provide extended groove contact for detailed reproduction and accurate tracking.
What tracking force should I use with the AT-OC9XSH?
Audio-Technica specifies a vertical tracking-force range of 1.8 to 2.2 grams, with 2.0 grams as the standard recommended setting.
Does the AT-OC9XSH require a moving-coil phono stage?
Yes. The AT-OC9XSH has a low 0.4 mV output and should be used with a compatible MC phono input, moving-coil phono preamplifier, head amplifier or suitable step-up transformer. Audio-Technica specifies a recommended load impedance of at least 100 ohms when using a head amplifier.
How does the AT-OC9XSH differ from the AT-OC9XSL?
The primary difference is the stylus. The AT-OC9XSH uses a nude Shibata stylus, while the AT-OC9XSL uses Audio-Technica's nude Special Line Contact stylus. Both use solid boron cantilevers and the OC9X dual moving-coil architecture, but their stylus profiles and resulting specifications differ.
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