AT OC5

[Batty]

I have the chance of obtaining a newly reipped AT OC5 at a token amount does anyone have an opinion on these carts as I have not heard one before.

The retip is the $350 Soundsmith top of the range option. Since the retip it has zero hours on it.

At the moment I have a NOS MP11 MM on the Rock and a VDH DDT-II MC away for warranty repair.

Phono stage is a Hagerman Bugle2.

[Tarzan]

Had one back in the day, on a Roksan Xerxes/ Artemiz and found it unbearably bright and thin, but l was very inexperienced audiofool back then and could have been a component issue.

[User211]

I agree they were bright as hell - I owned one. I preferred the Denon DL110 at the time.

The OC9 (MK1) was pretty good. I also had an OC30 which they stopped making. That was really good. Shame they stopped it.

EDIT: sorry realised the bright as hell one I owned was an AT F5 - not an OC5. Long time ago...:D

[AlexM]

I had one, in fact two. It is brightly lit and detailed, but I did find that the bass performance never really satisfied, if my audio memory serves me. Of course that might well have been the components I was using it with at the time - MF A100 and EPOS ES14s.

It could match your system a ittle better than it did mine, but I did feel that it had a particular characteristic sound - bright, open, high in percieved detail but tending to sound a little dry. That may sound negative, but I don't mean it to - it could be just what your system needs if it needs a bit of livening up. The next cartidge in the system was a Benz MC Silver, and it was quite boring and unremarkable in comparison.

I don't recall what stylus profile it used from the factory, but the Soundsmith re-tip might have changed it's nature somewhat if it us using a more sophisticated profile (maybe for the better). I don't remember tracking being an issue with mine.

Hope that helps a little.

Regards,
Alex

[windy]

I used one on a Pro-ject RPM9 XP a couple of years ago and although it is a bright cart it seemed to suit my system really well, I bought it used after my Sumiko BPS evo 3 cantilever got bent and wasn't dissapointed with it's performance, found good detail and great soundstage, this was with Monitor Audio silver6 floorstanders so I found plenty of bass but every source had plenty of bass through them!
I would say go for it if the price is right as you should have no problem selling it on if it doesn't suit. If you do give it a try then maybe you should should let everyone know what you think of the soundsmith replacement cantilever. i am considering sending my BPS and an AT-OC7 off to them to get them up and running again. My BPS only has about 20 hours on it when it got damaged

[Batty]

I have decided against the OC5 as I'm not too good with ruby cantilevers (broke a couple) I'll stick with my MP11 till the DDT-II returns, SS are putting a stylus on the boron cantilever.

[Floyddroid]

It's a cracking little cartridge.