Recommended a highly resolving cartridge

Welp, I received the AT-ART20 and immediately installed it onto a Korf ceramic headshell. In anticipation of this cartridge and it's "very resolving" nature I loaded my phono stage and amp with Mullard tubes to round out the sound to be on the safe side. 

For those impatient types I'll spring to the headline: What an outstanding cartridge! 

For starters the set up - couldn't be easier. Because this is a big company with tons of experience the cartilever/stylus were perfectly set and all I had to do was make sure the headshell was level in all directions. In fact because of the body design of the cartridge, there isn't much latitude for VTA adjustment so I reckon that's confidence on the part of AT. 

For the past week I'd been playing my DV XX2 MkII as it's the closest from my stash that would compare to the ART20 (my other carts are: Grado Aeon3, Koetsu Urushi Wajima, DV 10x5) and allow me to transition to the anticipated sound of the AT most gracefully. 

From the jump it sounded clean, balanced, not bright or strident (big relief!), actually very similar to the XX2, but soundstage wasn't that large. By the time I got to album side #4 all that already changed - soundstage is HUGE. Instruments POP like fireworks, such amazing projection. Yes I was hearing details I hadn't experienced before, listening to each album was a whole new experience. Vocals were prominent in the soundstage. BASS! So clean, tight and strong. Albums that I never thought were all that as far as recording quality suddenly came to life and sounded dynamic and exciting. 

In all in my first listening session I put maybe 3 hours on the ART20, I can't wait to see what it'll sound like after 20 hours. The high end is clear but not bright or sharp sounding. I wonder if the Mullards were a match made in heaven (for my ears) for this cartridge? I will rotate in cleaner sounding tubes once the cartridge is fully broken in, I expect the sound to still be as pleasing but different. 

In short, for the $2600 I paid for a new ART20 (the shop upgraded me from a demo model) this is perhaps the best "giant killer" I own. If this cartridge cost $8k, I'd be pleased. More people need to know about this, it might be the best cartridge I own and I never thought I'd say that against the Grado Aeon3 which I adore. 

Thanks so much for all the help and knowledge everyone! I'll chime in as the hours accumulate for updates. Cheers! - Rich 

"In short, for the $2600 I paid for a new ART20 (the shop upgraded me from a demo model) this is perhaps the best "giant killer" I own."

No surprise.

I was in the ART9 cult when it was flavor of the month 10years ago.

ART series is only limited by one's own table/phonestage. 

Enjoy it.

The World of Audio is slowly starting to put reasonable priced products under the spotlight for being very very good VFM.

I am seeing it with Amplifiers and Speakers in a measure that is going to keep the coffers of those that adopt the methods to replat recorded music in very fine fettle.

Stories that are publicised about such devices and now a Cart' to be added is all a good content. 

I would like to think that a Single Source system with either Vinyl or CD as the Source referencing the experiences had using some of the devices that have impressed myself and considering devices others have reported on recently that are impressing others. Does put in place an opportunity for a individual interested in Audio Equipment to create a system difficult to surpass for a very very reasonable outlay.

Certain Brands will always get the Big Bucks and their owners will do quite well as the result, but such Brands are not always the cutting edge and at the forefront where End Sound is the main concern.

I have three Koetsus.
I don’t know why you would move from there. 
which one do you have? 

The ART 20 vs Koetsu Urushi Wajima is not a End Sound difference I am able to comment on.

Where there is room to comment is on the designs used.

The 20 uses a Titanium and Aluminium and a Elastomer to control resonance produced.

The Wajima uses Rosewood and Urushi Lacquer to create the controls for produce resonance.

Both share Boron Materials for the Cantilever.

The Wajima has a Silver Plating on Copper for the Coil Wire, whereas the ART has  PC OCC as the Coil Wire.

There is enough going on in the differences of the Bodies and Coil Wire to suggest a presentation with noticeable sonic differences are able to be created.

Individuals evolve in their attachment to End Sound that has an attraction to them.

I am not attracted to Richness of Tone, and as I have experienced with a selection of Audio Devices, there are certain designs that have this as their inherent trait.

Koetsu Cart's having been heard as a demo' across the years have always displayed quite discernibly a Richness of Tone. How present that is depends on whether the Demo' is supported by Valve Amp's and Horns or SS and ESL's.

In today's worlds there are easier options to experience a Sub Par Demo', but tonal differences between Cart' Designs are reasonably easy to discern, and a Koetsu in a Wood Body is always leaning towards the description of being Tonally Rich.

Another die hard Koetsu user who posts on this forum and has experiences of Koetsu's into the mutli-thousand dollar area, has recently revealed their usage of a Cart' not expected of them to adopt, being an Optical Design as a Phono Cartridge. I am keen to see what they bring to the table as an assessment.

My own experiences of the main Brands Optical Cart's, where Cart's have been demo'd up to the most expensive models. Is that Richness of Tone, is not the first sonic trait that comes to mind for being discernible. This could also be influenced by generator design, as there are versions of the generators appearing in the market place?