Audio-Technica AT150ANV is here

S

scottyh777

Super Member
So, I think the Audio-Technica AT150ANV came out a year ago or so?I really wanted to purchase but was reluctant because of the high initial retail cost.
I was able to get one at 1/3 of the cost with just 20 hours on stylus complete with box,manual ect ect..Goto tell you im glad I made the purchase.
After listening for the last several hours I would pay full retail no problem for this gem.Im wondering how the Audio-Technica AT150MLX compares to this.I never heard the 150MLX but I imagine it's great as well.Seriously, considering buying another one of these new as back up.I do have a AT 180 ML, AT 160 ML, and Signet TK-7CLa here if anybody wants me to attempt a shoot out using the same TT and arm.
 

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scottyh777 said:
So, I think the Audio-Technica AT150ANV came out a year ago or so?I really wanted to purchase but was reluctant because of the high initial retail cost.
I was able to get one at 1/3 of the cost with just 20 hours on stylus complete with box,manual ect ect..Goto tell you im glad I made the purchase.
After listening for the last several hours I would pay full retail no problem for this gem.Im wondering how the Audio-Technica AT150MLX compares to this.I never heard the 150MLX but I imagine it's great as well.Seriously, considering buying another one of these new as back up.I do have a AT 180 ML, AT 160 ML, and Signet TK-7CLa here if anybody wants me to attempt a shoot out using the same TT and arm.
Click to expand...

I'm interested in whatever you have to say about these carts. I'm really interested in the 180 & 160, as these are almost impossible to find! Please do the shoot out!
 
rcspkramp said:
Been curious about that one myself. I know AT sold out of it really quickly.
Who still sells these?
Click to expand...

There are several on Ebay from Japan sellers.Prices range $550-$800.
LP Gear has them at a whopping $999.00.They are out there if you look
look around.
 
Grbluen said:
I'm interested in whatever you have to say about these carts. I'm really interested in the 180 & 160, as these are almost impossible to find! Please do the shoot out!
Click to expand...

The 160 ML pops up once in a while.180 ML is extremely hard to find and can go for loopy amounts of cash if bidding war ensues.Yes, I will see if I can get motivated on Sunday and try and do shoot out.Will use the same Luxman PD-444 TT and SAEC 308 arm for the test.They are all great and very possible I will have no conclusion or draw.Will give it a shot and see what happens.
 
Thank you for posting this. The at150mlx is actually relatively inexpensive at this writing; perhaps you can procure one and compare it to the at150anv.
 
Hi scottyh777,

I have a Signet TK-7LCa that I am fond of and would be interested to hear how it stacks up against the others in your shootout.

Your shootout may be the most interesting topic to hit this forum in quite a while. Things have been pretty bland lately IMO, so please hurry up! :D

Dave
 
It appears that the body is quite different in construction materials...

Titanium with some sort of additional damping material(s) - although the underlying generator seems to be the same as the AT150MLx

As a result the AT150ANV also weighs more - 1.2g more

Compliance is the same - so the additional mass should be kept in mind with arm matching....
 
arcorob said:
They are pretty much the same except

The ANV has a sapphire cantilever pipe

The MLX is gold plated boron

Interesting on the specs though...the MLx has a broader frequency response.

I had the Mlx (just sold it with my AT arm and DIY table) and it is one helluva sweet cart...Congrats

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/0fdd550387445ba6/index.html

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/699a33304468ed99/index.html/
Click to expand...

The AT description of the ATN 150 construction says aluminum:
"Its machined aluminum housing and damping material are designed to absorb unwanted resonances for superb clarity and resolution."

I've read elsewhere that it's titanium. Could this be a mistake by retailers and it's actually the 50 ANV that's titanium?
http://www.lpgear.com/product/AT50ANV.html

http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC0150ANV.html

neo
 
neo: It's titanium - also fits to the colour and increased weight. From the Japanese AT site, pumped through the Bing translator:

"- Titanium machined the housing.
Cartridge power generation systems to support housing is high-precision titanium machined plays a role as a strong foundation of adopted materials and produce unshakeable sound."

Anyone already noticed the brand new AT-5V on the Japanese AT site, btw? Could be another way to get a fairly priceworthy low inductance body...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
I have the AT-150ANV and two Signet TK-7LCa cartridges (one with the original Signet 7LCa stylus and one with an AT-155Lc substitute).
Whilst there are certainly similarities in the overall presentation of the 150ANV and the 7LCa.......there is a refinement and elegance about the Signet which the 150ANV doesn't quite manage?
At first listen...the 150ANV is impressive but with more intensive comparisons over many genres of music......the inimitable depth and transparency of the 7LCa's midrange....the control and extent of the lower frequencies....and the ethereal luminance of the highs win out.
But so it is with any contender against the TK-7LCa IMHO :-)
 
Halcro said:
I have the AT-150ANV and two Signet TK-7LCa cartridges (one with the original Signet 7LCa stylus and one with an AT-155Lc substitute).
Whilst there are certainly similarities in the overall presentation of the 150ANV and the 7LCa.......there is a refinement and elegance about the Signet which the 150ANV doesn't quite manage?
At first listen...the 150ANV is impressive but with more intensive comparisons over many genres of music......the inimitable depth and transparency of the 7LCa's midrange....the control and extent of the lower frequencies....and the ethereal luminance of the highs win out.
But so it is with any contender against the TK-7LCa IMHO :-)
Click to expand...

Hi Halcro,

I have a TK-7LCa and, as you know, the original stylus replacement is unobtanium. I am wondering how the AT-155Lc stylus' sound compares to the original and if it fits the Signet body without any modification?

Thanks,
Dave
 
Hi Dave,

I had the Signet TK-7LCa with the AT-155Lc stylus assembly for several years before I found an original NOS TK-7LCa complete with original stylus:banana:
The 155Lc is a perfect drop-in for the 7LCa without any surgery whatsoever....and for the years that I listened to it.....there were no other cartridges (LOMC or MM) which could topple this gem.

When I heard the original 7LCa stylus......I was again floored by another dimension (albeit subtle) seemingly added to my 155Lc equipped sample.
But as you rightly comment....the original 7LCa stylus is virtually unobtanium so that the 155Lc transplant is almost mandatory (I have 6 of them :tresbon:)
Be aware though...that AT stopped producing the 155Lc stylus assemblies nearly 5 years ago I think...and they are unavailable from all the regular reliable sources like William Thacker, Stereoneedles and LPGear.
TurntableNeedles still claim to have these but I have my doubts that they are genuine?
I think the safest way these days to purchase a genuine 155Lc stylus...is to find a complete AT-155Lc cartridge on EBay. They come up from time to time and I bought two of mine this way :music:

Good luck.
Henry
 
Thanks Henry. I think my original TK-7LCa stylus still has some miles left in it. Just planning ahead.

I saw the debate on Raul's Agon thread about the authenticity of the 155Lc stylii from turntableneedles.com, but I thought that it was concluded that they were genuine. Was that not the case?

Thanks,
Dave
 
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Hi Dave,
To believe that Turntableneedles have authentic AT-155Lc stylus assemblies when all the other suppliers ran out years ago......one would have to believe that Turntableneedles bought truckloads of them from AT 5 years ago when the other stockists didn't....for some reason.
But IF this were true.....why would AT cease producing such an 'in-demand' stylus?
Then there's the fact that if you Google AT-155Lc......Turntableneedles doesn't even appear?
Add to that the fact that Turntableneedles won't accept PayPal or credit card payments from the rest of the world and suspicion must run high?
If however...you're born an optimist.....you might be in luck? :music:
 
Halcro said:
Hi Dave,
To believe that Turntableneedles have authentic AT-155Lc stylus assemblies when all the other suppliers ran out years ago......one would have to believe that Turntableneedles bought truckloads of them from AT 5 years ago when the other stockists didn't....for some reason.
But IF this were true.....why would AT cease producing such an 'in-demand' stylus?
Then there's the fact that if you Google AT-155Lc......Turntableneedles doesn't even appear?
Add to that the fact that Turntableneedles won't accept PayPal or credit card payments from the rest of the world and suspicion must run high?
If however...you're born an optimist.....you might be in luck? :music:
Click to expand...

My experience with TTN was more positive, they accepted my Australian Amex card, and also accepted a return when a cartridge was faulty - which they replaced very promptly...

Mind you this was 2 years ago - and their policies may have changed....

bye for now

David
 
Henry: Afaik AT has stopped producing the ATN155LC/152LP already quite a bit longer than just five years ago. Anyway, TTN site says "availability: obsolete" - so I think there's no further debate needed...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
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