View Full Version : audio Technica Art1
Floyddroid
04-12-2013, 17:07
Does anyone have any experience of these wonderful cartridges? I have always had one on my wish list.
belloire
04-12-2013, 17:53
I have one on my sl1210
It's bloody marvellous! Even on a stock techy with a wonky arm it produces amazing music. However, up the stakes and fit better kit around it and it gets better.
It's got a bit of everything and is as good a cart as I've heard, including io's, top end lyra's, benz's etc.
My only worry is what I do when it gives up the ghost, I've heard of having it retooled, but not of the results, problem is a lot of the magic is, allegedly, in the diamond clad boron cantilever, which is tough to replace if broken.
If you get the chance then get one, you won't be disappointed!
Hi Steve,
I've not heard one, but apparently they're rather good! Speak with Mike (Homar) here, as he's had a lot of experience with this particular cartridge :)
Marco.
I borrowed one years ago when it was a current Audio Technica model and I was looking for a cartridge. It is a fabulous technical achievement and the pinnacle of the AT line of cartridges. Unfortunately, I didn't like its tonal balance at all finding it very fast but cool and rather emotionally distant. Whether I would feel the same now I don't know but I have heard its lesser brothers much more recently and would level much the same criticism at them.
julesd68
04-12-2013, 18:09
Unfortunately, I didn't like its tonal balance at all finding it very fast but cool and rather emotionally distant. Whether I would feel the same now I don't know but I have heard its lesser brothers much more recently and would level much the same criticism at them.
+ 1. I have not enjoyed the tonal balance of any AT cart I have heard for those very reasons, but purely a matter of personal taste!
Floyddroid
04-12-2013, 19:28
Cheers Marco
Hi Steve,
I've not heard one, but apparently they're rather good! Speak with Mike (Homar) here, as he's had a lot of experience with this particular cartridge :)
Marco.
Unfortunately, I didn't like its tonal balance at all finding it very fast but cool and rather emotionally distant.
Yup, although I haven't heard an ART-1, you've effectively described the Audio Technica 'house sound'.
I'm pretty sure the cartridges are deliberately voiced that way, as that's how many Japs like it. The only AT cartridge I've heard which bucks that trend somewhat is the 33PTG, which sounds fuller and rather more 'organic' than any other AT cartridge I've used.
Of course, as with any cartridge, their inherent sonic signature is balanced out/complimented by the turntable, arm (and system) they're used with. Therefore, in the right context, I could imagine the ART-1 sounding rather good!
Marco.
I have one on my sl1210
It's bloody marvellous! Even on a stock techy with a wonky arm it produces amazing music. However, up the stakes and fit better kit around it and it gets better.
It's got a bit of everything and is as good a cart as I've heard, including io's, top end lyra's, benz's etc.
My only worry is what I do when it gives up the ghost, I've heard of having it retooled, but not of the results, problem is a lot of the magic is, allegedly, in the diamond clad boron cantilever, which is tough to replace if broken.
If you get the chance then get one, you won't be disappointed!
l would love to hear one:youtheman:
Yup, although I haven't heard an ART-1, you've effectively described the Audio Technica 'house sound'.
I'm pretty sure the cartridges are deliberately voiced that way, as that's how many Japs like it. The only AT cartridge I've heard which bucks that trend somewhat is the 33PTG, which sounds fuller and rather more 'organic' than any other AT cartridge I've used.
Of course, as with any cartridge, their inherent sonic signature is balanced out/complimented by the turntable, arm (and system) they're used with. Therefore, in the right context, I could imagine the ART-1 sounding rather good!
Marco.
Yes, I also think this character is actively chosen by AT as it becomes more obvious as one goes up the range. I can't help but wonder if the intention wasn't to emulate the presentation of CD (which was a relatively new introduction at the time). I agree that the 33PTG has a warmer balance but I still find it a bit cerebral rather than visceral.
Since then my favoured Troikas have been re-tipped and rebuilt a number of times and I can't imagine that any Art-1 is not now well past the point that it needs a new stylus!
belloire
05-12-2013, 05:46
Yes, I also think this character is actively chosen by AT as it becomes more obvious as one goes up the range. I can't help but wonder if the intention wasn't to emulate the presentation of CD (which was a relatively new introduction at the time). I agree that the 33PTG has a warmer balance but I still find it a bit cerebral rather than visceral.
Since then my favoured Troikas have been re-tipped and rebuilt a number of times and I can't imagine that any Art-1 is not now well past the point that it needs a new stylus!
There's nothing wrong with the stylus on my art1. Age and use aren't always the same thing.....
I've not met anyone who thinks the art1 sounds bad as yet, but everyone is different, I don't like some stuff that's loved by others :-)
Ive heard Darrens, and can confirm that it sounds great.
Mind you, he liked my Cadenza Black, so possibly too much booze had been drunk:cool:
There's nothing wrong with the stylus on my art1. Age and use aren't always the same thing.....
I've not met anyone who thinks the art1 sounds bad as yet, but everyone is different, I don't like some stuff that's loved by others :-)
No, I agree, age and use aren't the same thing - I was rather assuming that someone who owned one would use it occasionally though - even if only very occasionally...
I liked everything about the ART1 - except the way it sounded - but each to their own :).
Quite simply the best cartridge I have heard
Floyddroid
08-12-2013, 22:08
Interesting melange of opinion. Many thanks.
Well I got as far as the OC30 - now long gone.
I personally think they just got better the further up the range you went - a lot better, since the AT F5 was basically shite, that wasn't hard. I definitely preferred the OC30 over any Ortofon I tried. The last Ortofon I owned was an MC5000 - OK but for the money - shite.
The OC30 was nicely balanced - verging on the rich side but still with a very detailed and explicit top end that didn't annoy like an F5 and to a lesser extent the OC9 MK1 (which I think had minor tracking issues on complex passages). Used to wish for an ART1 but impossibly expensive at the time.
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