Audio-Technica has been manufacturing phono cartridges since 1962, so it knows a thing or two about getting the best possible sound from your vinyl. The OC9 cartridge series is one of the company's most highly-regarded products and after 30 years in production, it's time for a fourth generation model, the Audio-Technica AT-OC9X.
Launching at High End Munich this week, the new OC9 cartridge arrives with a choice of five stylus types: Bonded Elliptical (AT-OC9XEB, £210/€239); Nude Elliptical (AT-OC9XEN, £300/€339), MicroLine (AT-OC9XML, £480/€549), Shibata (AT-OC9XSH, £570/€649), and Special Line Contact (AT-OC9XSL, £660/€749).
Each new cartridge features a dual moving coil structure, separating the audio signal to the left and right channels with "pinpoint accuracy", in an effort to deliver a precise stereo image and wide frequency response.
The Elliptical and Nude Elliptical models feature an aluminium cantilever, a neodymium magnet and pure iron yoke, which promise increased magnetic energy. The Microlinear, Shibata and Special Line Contact models feature a boron cantilever design, neodymium magnet and a permendur yolk.
Additionally, Audio-Technica has launched a new range of AT-LH headshells to pair with the new AT-OC9X cartridges. Available in three weights – light, mid-weight and higher weight, and each costing £80/$89 – these aluminium headshells aim to keep vibrations to a minimum.
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