warmest sounding audiotechnica model is________?

[silvertone]

my experience with AT carts is that generally, they are a high energy upper ended focused cartridge maker.....that can be debated I know, but if we assume there is something to that characterization, what model would be there warmest sounding model with the most body and fullness and maybe less upper end? I like the AT sound, but the models I've tried many years ago were just alittle too over the top and 'energetic'. I'd like to try a model (if there is any) that is more midrange centered/focused. Maybe a little more old school and laid back.......

[Whitneyville]

Well, the AT95, with your choice of stylus, then with cartridge loading, you can fairly easily control the "top-end" and "warmth". Are you using a separate pre-amp, or one in an amp or receiver? That can make a big difference. With just a couple of exceptions, I'd say AT's are mostly "neutral sounding". "Bright neutral" compared to a Denon DL 110, different than Ortofons or other brands, but except for the bargain basement models, I can never call them harsh. Most of them track like bloodhounds, especially with the advanced stylus shapes (ViVidline, Shibata, Nude Shibata, Micro-Line), even the hyper-elliptical or the .2x.7 mil elliptical track better than the same stylus in some other brands of cartridges at the same VTF. There are a couple of long discontinued AT carts I'd suggest, but I checked the "Mighty Five" stylus dealers and the replacement stylii are no longer available (as I thought). These were the old AT 7,8,9 "front loaders" as the stylii pushed straight in from the front. I can't find "generic" stylii even under "Gemini", Technics, Pioneer, Aiwa, or Concord brands.

[lini]

I'd also generally debate the opinion that AT carts generally sound bright - pretty neutral would also seem more correct to me, provided the loading isn't all too far from AT's recommendation. I guess that impression often rather comes from people running bright sounding speakers in an only sparsely dampened environment, so that they also prefer record to cd playback, 'cause the latter is similarly extended and neutral as the higher quality AT MMs about from AT12XE/AT120E level up...

Or in other words: To me the really good ATs, correct loading provided, with well recorded records sound pretty much like decent CD players with well recorded CDs - both very nice. And I think that's how it should be. If I'd only like my good records with a so-called "warm" sounding cartridge, while having a problem with all of my CDs, I'd rather suspect that I'd have the wrong speakers/headphones for my taste...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[Blue Angel]

My oldtimer AT2003VX which I like a lot. I don't know how many are still around but you may get lucky on the 'bay.

ba

[lini]

BA: If I'm not mistaken, the AT2003VX was a renamed AT13EaV/EaX. Have you checked the needle under the loupe? If it's bonded, it should be equal to the ATN13EaV/EaX - whereas if it was nude with rectangular shank, it would be equivalent to the ATN13 (for the AT13Ea).

Greetings from Munich (& a hug to my favourite dackel)!

Manfred / lini

[lynnot]

Hi,

the AT-7V is said to be warm and you can upgrade it to a ML needle if you want.

Rgds, L.

[Hepokatti]

I'd also generally debate the opinion that AT carts generally sound bright - pretty neutral would also seem more correct to me, provided the loading isn't all too far from AT's recommendation. I guess that impression often rather comes from people running bright sounding speakers in an only sparsely dampened environment, so that they also prefer record to cd playback, 'cause the latter is similarly extended and neutral as the higher quality AT MMs about from AT12XE/AT120E level up...

Or in other words: To me the really good ATs, correct loading provided, with well recorded records sound pretty much like decent CD players with well recorded CDs - both very nice. And I think that's how it should be. If I'd only like my good records with a so-called "warm" sounding cartridge, while having a problem with all of my CDs, I'd rather suspect that I'd have the wrong speakers/headphones for my taste...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

This is an excellent comment and pretty much everything that needs to be said about AT carts in this regard. With the correct loading "neutral" is the only word coming to mind describing AT MMs.

[Blue Angel]

BA: If I'm not mistaken, the AT2003VX was a renamed AT13EaV/EaX. Have you checked the needle under the loupe? If it's bonded, it should be equal to the ATN13EaV/EaX - whereas if it was nude with rectangular shank, it would be equivalent to the ATN13 (for the AT13Ea).

Greetings from Munich (& a hug to my favourite dackel)!

Manfred / lini

Hello lini

Warmest greetings to you too from Cape Town.

The AT cartridge I mentioned has a tapered cantilever with .2 x .7 nude elliptical stylus.

It has been one of my alltime favourite MM cartridges and for this reason, I have used it sparingly. The replacement stylus for it is ATN13.

Another Audio-Technica favourite is my AT23a with integrated headshell. Both of these cartridges have exemplary construction and are superb examples of what was state of the art during the golden age of vinyl playback.

Way OT and sincere apologies to the OP.

Judy dackel has had a rough time during the past 2 years. I think you will remember she was bitten by what we think was a button spider two years ago and she had to have a toe amputated due to necrosis of the right front leg and foot.

During the last year, a horrible misshapen nail grew out from the operation scars and caused lots of problems - hooking and tearing of skin and tissue everywhere and causing discomfort while walking.

Two weeks ago, there was more or less sufficient regrowth of skin and tissue and she was operated on again to remove this nail as well.

It has been wearing a pneumatic collar to prevent interfering with the stitches but she is recovering and getting more mobile every day.

I will post a pic for you in OT a bit later.

Regards

ba

[lini]

BA: Oh, good, then the 2003VX actually was a renamed 13Ea and you have the better needle variant anyway. The 13EaV/EaX were only cheapified in terms of the actual tip, though - cantilever nevertheless still was the tapered version. And the body was the same for all. Earlier 13EaX exemplars look a bit different, though - 'cause on these the plastic holder of the needle was dark green.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: I also like that thing. Got a new old stock AT13EaV and four new old stock ATN13s in my own collection...

[dconsmack]

A "warm" cartridge to me is one with the flattest frequency response. So many have a several dB boost above 10,000 Hz. That being said, an AT150MLX at 570pF total capacitance/15k resistance produces a relatively flat frequency response (±1.5dB) when measured with The Ultimate Analogue Test LP. Don't load that one at the recommended 100pF/47k loading! It'll fry your cilia.