Cartridges !

Having used an Audio Technica ATOC9 XML for a few years now, I have never been overly happy with the sound of my vinyl playing gear. My big complaint is that the sound is thin. Yesterday having a moment of being totally piXXed off, I dug out my trusty old Ortofon OM40 SE and got it all installed and ready to go. Using a Musical Fidelity LX2 LPS phono stage I gave it a go. Oh my, what a difference. The OM40 has brought about such an overwhelming improvement I am amazed. Sparkling treble, bold mids and such a great depth and presence to the low end. Brand X's Moroccan Roll had such a punch and smack to it that I have not heard for such a long time. The moral of the story ? I don't know ! I love the old moving magnet.

Everyone thinks that moving coil cartridges must be better than fixed coil cartridges. I beg to differ, whilst I have no experience of your Ortofon OM40, I would mention a few fixed coil cartridges that I have enjoyed.

They are the AKG P8ES, and all of the B&O MMC series. Sadly they are now no longer in production.

Barry thank you for your response. I was quite surprised by the clear superiority of the OM40, the sound sparkles in comparison. It has amazing clarity and such a good low end.

I have no experience of either, but I am surprised that the ATOC9xml is being described as thin.
It is a popular cartridge, known for being neutral and transparent.

Sound's going to be dependent on set up, equipment used with it, the room, and of course listener preferences.

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Originally Posted by CageyH

I have no experience of either, but I am surprised that the ATOC9xml is being described as thin.
It is a popular cartridge, known for being neutral and transparent.

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Apart from the cheaper MM cartridges, I've never had any luck selling my customers AT cartridges. The usual comments are " too bright, too thin, too aggressive".

Capacitive loading is 8mportant on AT MMs.
My AT20SS sounds sublime. Flat frequency response, lightweight stylus & canti giving fast transients.

Fortunately, we are all different, so life is interesting

I owned a few AT cartridges. I ran an OC9 for a while. I agree the top end was overstated and etchy.

Then I got one of the first OC30 MC.

The was a bloody good full, rich sounding cartridge. All OC9 woes disappeared.

Quite liked the gold body, too.

This is a LONG time ago now.

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

Sound's going to be dependent on set up, equipment used with it, the room, and of course listener preferences.

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Yes.

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Originally Posted by hifi_dave

Apart from the cheaper MM cartridges, I've never had any luck selling my customers AT cartridges. The usual comments are " too bright, too thin, too aggressive".

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Yes Dave, exactly my findings after more than two years of use. I played Graceland/Paul Simon and just thought "this sounds bloody awful" being really thin and toppy. That made me dig out my old fave and try it. I'm still alarmed at how much better it is.