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Anyone Familiar With the Audio Technica ART Series of Cartridges

Mark B said:
Good for you my friend! The AT-ART20 is in a different league than the AT-ART9 i have.
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Thanks. There have been more than one straight comparison of the 9XA/XI and the 20. The summation could be boiled down to 'not at all close'. Supposedly based upon the 9XI generator. The AT-MC2022 also said to be based on the ART20. Neither supposedly sound like the ART9XA/XI.

The ART20 is not the only interesting cartridge at its price point. Plus it is in a place in the market sector where brand can make or break. AT is very much identified with budget to mid range. Would be Koetsu buyers nary register interest. A remakable cartridge which will gradually gather a small following. My advice: Look out for ART20s which need to be retipped. Buy it at a fraction and retip at a fraction.

As long as I can get them retipped I will never part with my (2x) ART20.
 
In his recent review of the new Technics SL-1300G Michael Fremer used a VPI Shyla cartridge. The Shyla is a made to order AT-ART9XI commisioned by VPI. In his review Fremer talks about the tone of the 1300G and how that wouild mate with either warm or fast cartridges. He mentioned that VPI made their latest belt drive with a fuller-bodied richer sound. His analysis is as follows:

trackingangle.com

Technics SL-1300G Fills $2000 Gap With Sonic Excellence

The "sweet spot" in the Technics turntable lineup?
trackingangle.com trackingangle.com

Quote:

The Weisfelds went for the sound I described, they told me, just as I’m sure Technics went for this somewhat more vibrant and faster paced, (but oh so smooth) sound. If you’d want “richer”, put a warmer sounding cartridge on the SL-1300G like an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze, a Hana Blue or any number of moving magnet cartridges priced appropriately for a $3199 'table and you’re there.

Want a bit faster and shinier? Try the Shyla or if you want faster, shinier and way more detailed try an Audio Technica AT-ART20. I tried it. It costs almost as much as the turntable but the SL-1300G delivered its goods.
 
Now I might be stretching things but I detect that Fremer is also hinting that the ART20 is more detailed than the Hana Umami Blue which he describes above as 'warm'.

Again for the GT 2000 owners who wonder about ART20 and Umami Blue comparisons, I think that the last thing a GT 2000 needs is a rich warm sounding cartridge. The GT 2000 does not lack body and fullness of tone. The rare trick the GT 2000 achieves is definition, dynamics, detail and body and fullness. Body and fullness without bloat or loss of transparency. Detail without sounding bleached.

Having heard the ART20 on the GT 2000 I will say that my impression is that the ART20 compliments the sound of the GT 2000. The hear through clarity of the ART20 perfectly compliments the same quality in the GT 2000. Both components are crystal clear to the ear. The bass of the ART20 is both clear and powerful. These are traits of the GT 2000 bass region. The crystal clarity of the ART20 conveys the crystal clear clarity similar to the GT 2000 without diluting any of the detail power and authoritative drive natural to the GT 2000.

I just feel that a warm, less detailed cartridge is not what the GT 2000 requires to display what it does best and for me what the GT 2000 does best is crystal clear clarity all the way from the deep bass to the highest treble and everything in between. The ART20 shares that crystal clear clarity and like the GT 2000 power and authority. The ART is the most musically insightful cartridge I've ever owned which is another GT 2000 strong suit.
 
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I found out that another long time AK member has bought a ART20 and at last word was awaiting delivery. I hope that when he gets comfortable with it he will post his impressions here.
 
Please correct me if I'm wrong. Did I just read correctly that the female cartridge designer at Audio Technica led the design of the ART20? That might explain why it sounds unique in my experience.
 
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