AT440MLa

[smee4]

mine should be here any day now. It will be interesting to see what I find.

[smee4]

My AT440MLa arrived. It sounds superb, right off the starting block. Mucho detail and separation of instruments. Plenty of bass, not overly shrill or trebly.

Now to see how it settles in...

[RED_One]

My AT440MLa arrived. It sounds superb, right off the starting block. Mucho detail and separation of instruments. Plenty of bass, not overly shrill or trebly.

Now to see how it settles in...

What's your set up?
What's your comparison to previous cartridge?
What Music ?

I'll post my second thoughts soon just trying some classical at moment

[smee4]

My AT440MLa arrived. It sounds superb, right off the starting block. Mucho detail and separation of instruments. Plenty of bass, not overly shrill or trebly.

Now to see how it settles in...

What's your set up?
What's your comparison to previous cartridge?
What Music ?

I'll post my second thoughts soon just trying some classical at moment

My setup is an SME Series II improved tonearm, on a large idler drive TT in a CLD plinth. My amp is DIY - all tube, SET, full range drivers with tweeters to supplement the top end.

My older carts have all been Shure, the latest being an M97xE. The AT is much more detailed, and has slightly better bass.

I have played Jazz, female pop vocal, orchestral pop/jazz, so far. I have yet to try classical.

[smee4]

I played some classical after my last post. Having listened to some Tchaikovsky , and some Carl Orff, I have to say the AT440MLa performs admirably on all sorts of music.

I'd be interested in a side by side comparison with more expensive cartridges, but, compared to carts at about the same price, well, I know I won't be using the Shure M97xE much any more.

[RED_One]

Since my first post I took the advice & have been playing loads of music of all varieties so I reckon the AT is run in by now. Tracking at 1.7 gram

My Second Appraisal as follows :-

I now find it a lot smoother, & generally most enjoyable. Sometimes I think its the best cartridge I've heard .. at other times not. It is a very clear & articulate cartridge, extremely detailed, good bass, excellent separation & soundstage. I find it good across all music genre though at times I would still like it to have a richer sound eg violin but find cello is fine. (strange?) Speech is good but for me could do with a touch more warmth.
Some examples
Playing Dave Edmunds (tongue defying vocals) the words come out very articulate ; Santana absolutely superb ; Paul Simon excellent but a tad more warmth in vocals would be better to my ears ; Pointer Sisters totally stunning:

So my earlier criticsm is now revoked, if AT could bring out another version of the AT440MLa (ie B) with a little more bias to warmth then I think they would have a real class beater. I will be hanging onto this cart in the hope that with more playing it continues to get even smoother sounding.

[delcam1n0]

Red,

I'd experiment with:
a. a tad more tracking force
b. a better phono pre-pre amp
c. a better turntable/arm combo than your
Connoisseur/BD4, given funds available:

And as for the sound: I've always noted that after, say,
fifty hours one gets so used to the"new" that the old is
no longer acceptable...unless your aural memory for what
was is a heck of a lot better than mine of course ;)

regards/delcam1n0

[RED_One]

Red,

I'd experiment with:
a. a tad more tracking force
b. a better phono pre-pre amp
c. a better turntable/arm combo than your
Connoisseur/BD4, given funds available:

And as for the sound: I've always noted that after, say,
fifty hours one gets so used to the"new" that the old is
no longer acceptable...unless your aural memory for what
was is a heck of a lot better than mine of course

regards/delcam1n0

You are absolutely right ..
a What Tracking like 1.8 or higher again? the recommended max is 1.8
b c I would be interested to know the difference myself, but try not to spend too much money Also have a Thorens 160 but prefer the Conn

Aural memory is good (not excellent) base reference is CD comparison with the same music playing. Yet to do an accurate A/B test

[sreten]

Hi,

I can't remember the cable set up on the SAU2, but if its long shortening
it may help with the AT440MLa balance, as would reducing any deliberate
capacitance loading in the phono input stage. Generally - the less capacitance
the less bright ATs sound with the AT models I looked at (some time ago).

/sreten.

[RED_One]

Are we on the same subject here Chairguy? seems we have a crossed post. ??

Sreten
The leads are not that long less than 1m but I will need that length come the wall mount I hope to do