Audio-Technica AT-ART20 High-End Phono Cartridge: The ART of Cartridge Design
Audio-Technica may well be much better known exterior of audiophile circles for its entry-degree turntables and affordable phono cartridges but the Japanese manufacturer is capable of generating some of the very best phono cartridges in the entire world.
The superior-close Audio-Technica AT-Art20 is intended to provide the utmost realism from vinyl playback.
The Artwork Series is Audio-Technica’s major-of-the-line selection, but there’s a flagship cartridge, the AT-Artwork1000 Immediate Power Stereo MC Cartridge that retails for $4,999.
$5,000 purchases a lot of documents and we’re not just chatting about all of these MoFi releases on sale ideal now by disgruntled purchasers.
95% of Audio-Technica’s cartridge lineup is under $500 so these two flagship cartridges are really the step-up in price tag and performance.
We read a rumor about this cartridge at T.H.E. Present 2022 although listening to some of the most high priced turntables offered and we could see this as a excellent addition to the Kuzma Stabi R Turntable that shipped some of the greatest seem at the show.
According to the specification sheets they the two use a strong boron cantilever, offer 30dB of channel separation, and frequency reaction further than human listening to. The Art1000 claims to create frequencies from 15 to 30,000 Hz, though the new Art20 goes from 20 to 50,000 Hz.
In accordance to Audio-Technica, the AT-Artwork20 provides expansive, specific seem with unmatched imaging and dynamics. The AT-Artwork20 makes use of the state-of-the-art producing and sharpening techniques that have been made in the eyeglass business of Sabae City in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture. The cartridge’s overall body attributes graceful curves with a flowing, organic design that has never been formerly realized.
That is a great deal of internet marketing hyperbole on the aspect of the company but we have listened to some of the past Audio-Technica cartridges in the $1,000 selection and we were being fairly amazed by the transparency of the sound, depth, and how how expansive the soundstage was.
If the AT-Art20 gives all of that and even far more resolution and minimal end impact, we can see why it might attraction to individuals who are looking at some of the greater MC cartridges from Lyra, Hana, and Koetsu.
Japan genuinely does seem to have a monopoly on point out-of-the-art phono cartridges and we observed at some modern supplier events that the $2,500 to $5,000 cartridges from the aforementioned manufacturers are quite well-liked with those contemplating some of the prime tables from Kuzma, VPI, Clearaudio, Brinkmann, Michell, and SME.
The body is manufactured of precision-machined titanium combined with an aluminum cartridge base and an elastomer beneath protect, a choice of components that offers sizeable resonance reduction together with decreased mass. The cartridge body has threaded mounting holes to facilitate set up.
“Our goal in developing the new AT-Artwork20 was to capture the whole expressiveness of the original recording,” stated Bob Peet, Audio-Technica World Product or service Manager – Analog Merchandise. “To that stop, the AT-Art20 embodies technologies and know-how that are the outcome of our 60 several years of encounter in phono cartridge design and producing.”
The AT-Art20 functions twin relocating coils aligned in an inverted “V” form which supplies ideal channel separation for remarkable stereo imaging and extensive dynamics. The front yoke of the magnetic circuit is .6 mm thicker than previous types, to make improvements to magnetic flux density and enhance the output efficiency by more than 15 % to .55 mV.
The cartridge employs a nude particular line-get hold of stylus with a sound boron cantilever just .011 inches (.28 mm) in diameter, to extract a amazing amount of money of details from the record groove. The boron cantilever is related to the armature utilizing a stepped-pipe construction, which supplies improved rigidity and improved power with lowered resonance for a purer audio signal with clearer, a lot more in-depth sound.
The AT-Art20’s tip reinforcement plate is built of titanium, which reduces total mass and improves the cartridge’s substantial-frequency general performance, which extends to 50,000 Hz.
The Audio-Technica AT-Art20 Twin Transferring Coil Stereo Cartridge is now accessible for $2,900 USD at Audio-Technica.com.
For more data: Audio Technica Art Sequence
About Audio-Technica
Celebrating 60 years of audio excellence, Audio-Technica is a regarded leader in the development and manufacture of high-excellent personalized and qualified audio tools. Launched in Japan in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita, the firm built its title by manufacturing condition-of-the-artwork phonograph cartridges and tonearms. Now, Audio-Technica is a around the globe team of providers devoted to generating significant-efficiency microphones, headphones, wi-fi techniques, mixers, turntables, phono cartridges and other electronic products.
A track record for excellent, longevity, performance and price has built Audio-Technica merchandise the very first alternative for quite a few of today’s top musical artists and audio engineers, and for discerning listeners just about everywhere. Drawing from its audiophile heritage, Audio-Technica stays focused to delivering new music enthusiasts with good-sounding, modern audio equipment, which includes the award-profitable QuietPoint® lively noise-cancelling headphones, preferred ATH-M50x keep track of headphones, adaptable USB microphones, and new Hi-Res Audio headphones and superior-fidelity gaming headsets.
