Question: How do I choose between the ART9XI and the ART9XA phono cartridges?
Answer: This is a tough question to answer because both are great cartridges and each sounds great. It is almost like asking which one of your kids do you love the most. I guess the best approach would be for us to dive into the structure of both cartridges and discuss the differences. This may help you choose between the two. The major difference is the core structure that the coils are wound around. In the AT-ART9XI, the coils are wrapped around a permendur (iron) core. The iron core adds a bit more mass to the coil structure, and both the coils and the core generate the signal. Because the iron core is energized by the coils, magnetic hysteresis (a lag in the alignment of the magnetic field) comes into play. You could say that the iron core colors the signal a bit. Since the iron core helps generate the signal, the output is .5 mv (2.5 times greater than the non-magnetic core AT-ART9XA). So the XI is probably a bit more forgiving in the audio setup in that the gain needed isn’t as severe as with the non-magnetic core. The XI also has an SLC (special line contact) stylus.
In the XA, the coils are wrapped around a liquid crystal plastic core. The core does not have any magnetic properties so the coils alone are producing the signal (like the ART1000). The LCP core also has less mass, so it’s a bit more nimble in the grooves, resulting in slightly more detail. The .2 mv output is an improvement over the ART7, however it’s still fairly low and probably a bit more delicate to set up due to the gain needed. Non-magnetic core cartridges tend to have moderate mid/low and low frequency reproduction. A Shibata stylus was chosen to offset this for a completely balanced sound.
The photos below give you an idea of the structure of both cartridges.
In summary, both are fantastic sounding cartridges – the ART9XI louder, the ART9XA providing more detail.
If you have further questions, feel free to contact the Audio Solutions Department for assistance.