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AudioTechnica ART 9 users - break in, VTF/VTA and loading questions

Just received my new AT ART 9 -- sounds damn good right out of the box... but just thought I would check in with others already using this cart for some time...

- what is break in time you experienced for the sound to ’settle in’?
- what VTF worked well for you? I am at 1.95 grams.
- what VTA works best? I’ve started at usual slight tail-down setting
- what loading does it like best? I am at 1000 ohms

Just for context, my table is VPI Classic 2E with JMW 10.5 CF arm in VTF tower, into an Ayre P5XE.

Initial reaction is very very smooth, sophisticated sound, with a little more life and sparkle up top than the Koetsu Black I have been using previously. Midrange very very sweet and lifelike and bass is strong. Maybe just a touch more groove noise with AT...  

Differences are pretty much what I have been hoping for... Koetsu really lovely, just a little somber/romantic.

Will develop opinions of spatiality/imaging etc etc after more hours running.

Thanks in advance.
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Showing 1 response by avanti1960

avanti1960
1,405 posts
 
Congrats JJ!  I've had my ART9 running for 3 months (~ 150 to 170 hrs) and it just finally exceeded my wildest expectations.  It always sounded good if not great but the treble and transparency finally opened up big time and the sound became much more colorful.  I love the sound of this thing! 
I am running right at the standard VTF of 1.8g and the VTA is ruler flat approximating a 92 deg SRA.  
Loading is right at 100 ohms and gain (important) is 56db.  Too much gain makes it sound less refined.  

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