{"product_id":"audiotechnicaatart9xa","title":"Audio-Technica AT-ART9XA MC Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Audio-Technica AT-ART9XA is an MC cartridge with a non-magnetic core, a bare Shibata diamond, and a solid boron cantilever, engineered for maximum resolution and natural tonal colors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's the finely-drawn half of the ART9X duo. Where the AT-ART9XI plays on drive with its iron core and Special Line Contact grind, the XA takes the other path: less output voltage, but a sound free of any magnetic coloration. A cartridge for people who don't just want to listen to their records, but read them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the AT-ART9XA?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt its heart is the non-magnetic core. With no iron in the coil former, there's no core distortion, and playback stays free of artificial coloration. The two coils sit in an inverted V arrangement, wound with PCOCC wire and driven by a neodymium magnet with a Permendur yoke. The bare Shibata stylus on the 0.28 mm boron cantilever reads the groove with extreme finesse, and the hybrid housing of machined aluminum and high-rigidity plastic keeps resonances exactly where they belong: outside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you hear\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum resolution:\u003c\/strong\u003e the bare Shibata diamond and boron cantilever pull the finest nuances out of the groove.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNatural tonal colors:\u003c\/strong\u003e the non-magnetic core avoids the coloration of iron-cored cartridges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA quiet background:\u003c\/strong\u003e voices and strings stand free, even in quiet passages.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStable imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e the hybrid housing keeps the soundstage steady instead of letting it flutter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho's the AT-ART9XA for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor audiophile listeners with a high-quality turntable and a properly aligned tonearm who want to get the most out of their collection. Bottom line: at 0.2 mV output, the XA is demanding on the phono stage – on a weak, noisy MC stage you throw away its potential entirely. If you like your rock records loud and punchy above all, the higher-output AT-ART9XI suits you better. And if you're after a low-maintenance entry-level solution, you're simply overqualified here – no shame in admitting that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn uncompromising MC cartridge that combines high resolution with musicality – the worthwhile step up once your turntable and tonearm already bring the class. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we mount and align the AT-ART9XA precisely and match it with you to your tonearm and phono stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat the specialist press says: “The smoothness, and ease it presented classical music … was fantastic.” – Chris Groppi, HomeTheaterHiFi, 2021.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dual Moving Coil (MC), non-magnetic core\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStylus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shibata, bare\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCantilever:\u003c\/strong\u003e solid boron, 0.28 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutput voltage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.2 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm\/s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20–50,000 Hz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChannel separation:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 dB (1 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChannel balance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 dB (1 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoil impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12 ohms (1 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended load impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e min. 100 ohms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTracking force:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.6–2.0 g (standard 1.8 g)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVertical tracking angle:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20°\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDynamic stylus compliance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm\/dyne (100 Hz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatic stylus compliance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 × 10⁻⁶ cm\/dyne\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoil wire:\u003c\/strong\u003e PCOCC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagnet \/ yoke:\u003c\/strong\u003e neodymium \/ Permendur\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHousing:\u003c\/strong\u003e hybrid of machined aluminum and high-rigidity plastic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e half-inch, M2.6 threaded holes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (W × H × D):\u003c\/strong\u003e 16.8 × 17.3 × 25.0 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.5 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's included:\u003c\/strong\u003e cartridge, non-magnetic screwdriver, 2 washers, M2.6 mounting screws (2× each of 5, 8, 10, and 12 mm), stylus guard, brush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the non-magnetic core do for the AT-ART9XA?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt prevents core distortion. Because there's no iron in the coil former, the signal isn't magnetically colored but transferred the way it sits in the groove. The result is a more open, calmer sound. The price for that is the lower output voltage of 0.2 mV – so your phono stage needs to be low-noise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat phono stage does the AT-ART9XA need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA low-noise MC phono stage with plenty of gain and a load impedance of at least 100 ohms. At 0.2 mV output, you'll hear every weakness of the preamp immediately: noise, congestion, missing dynamics. A good step-up transformer works too. We're happy to talk through which combination suits your tonearm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat sets the AT-ART9XA apart from the AT-ART9XI?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe core, the stylus grind, and the output voltage. The XA works with a non-magnetic core and a bare Shibata diamond, delivering 0.2 mV. The XI relies on an iron core, a Special Line Contact grind, and more than double the level at 0.5 mV. Both share the 0.28 mm boron cantilever. The XA draws finer, the XI pushes harder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the stylus of the AT-ART9XA be replaced?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, the cartridge is built as a single unit and has no replaceable stylus. If it wears out after many years, replacement runs professionally through Audio-Technica's trade-in program. We handle that for you and mount the replacement cartridge back into your tonearm, aligned properly right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Audio-Technica AT-ART9XA at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause a cartridge of this class only shows its potential with exact alignment: azimuth, VTA, tracking force, anti-skating. Our technician sets that up instead of just handing you a box. Add honest advice from almost three decades of practice in Wädenswil – call us (044 680 22 00), email shop@hdzuerisee.ch, or send us a WhatsApp (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e, text only, no calls).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll find the right surroundings among the \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eturntables\u003c\/a\u003e, the \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003ephono preamps\u003c\/a\u003e, and the rest of the \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/tonabnehmer\"\u003ecartridges\u003c\/a\u003e. The brand's full range is under \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/audio-technica\"\u003eAudio-Technica\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/alles-vinyl\"\u003eAll Vinyl\u003c\/a\u003e gives you the complete overview.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Audio Technica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52989485351248,"sku":"ATHATART9XA","price":1599.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/audio-technica-at-art9xa-mc-tonabnehmer-schraegansicht.png?v=1785433342","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en-ch\/products\/audiotechnicaatart9xa","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}