Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Moving Coil Cartridge
The AT-OC9XML Dual Moving Coil Cartridge with Microlinear Stylus is designed to provide outstanding channel separation. The Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting (PCOCC) coils ensure pure audio transmission and are aligned in a reverse V-shaped formation to exert less pressure on the stylus, thereby minimising distortion.
Audio quality is further enhanced by a rigid aluminium body that reduces resonance, a neodymium magnet and premium Permendur yoke that increase the magnetic energy, and the nude Microlinear stylus on a boron cantilever that tracks the record groove with incredible accuracy, low distortion and high-transient response. The cartridge body has been pre-threaded, enabling it to be mounted to a headshell or integral tonearm with just two screws – no nuts required.
Excellent Channel Separation: The moving coil structure has a wide frequency response and enables the audio information to be separated into both the left and right channels resulting in an accurately defined stereo image.
Pure Copper Coils: Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting process (PCOCC) is used for the coils to achieve the purest signal possible.
Simple, Stable Mounting: Threaded holes in the cartridge body enable the cartridge to be mounted on to the headshell, or integral tonearm, with just two M2.6 screws– no nuts required.
Boron Cantilever: The AT‐OC9XML features an ultra-stiff boron cantilever to which the nude Microlinear diamond stylus is attached.
Dramatically Increased Magnetic Energy: The neodymium magnet and Permendur yoke fitted to the AT‐OC9XML provides dramatically increased magnetic energy. Permendur is a soft magnetic alloy made of Iron and Cobalt.
Ultra-Stiff Body: The aluminium body minimizes unwanted vibration for reduced resonance and superior audio reproduction.
What Styli Shape to Choose? The purpose of a stylus is to ride along the record groove capturing movement, which is then transferred into an electrical signal within the cartridge. Audio-Technica produces styli for the AT-OC9X Series in four different shapes (Elliptical, Microlinear, Shibata, and Special Line Contact) that make contact with the record groove and capture movement in different ways, creating unique sound characteristics.
Elliptical Stylus: The elliptical stylus has two radii, the front radius being wider than the side radius. The front radius rides in the centre of the groove like the conical, while the smaller side radius makes more contact with the groove walls. More contact with the record groove walls delivers a higher level of fidelity.
Microlinear Stylus: The Microlinear stylus almost exactly duplicates the shape of the cutting stylus that produces the original master disc (the disc used to create the pressed vinyl record). This likeness enables the Microlinear stylus to track portions of the groove other styli cannot reach, resulting in extremely accurate tracing of high-frequency passages and a flat frequency response within the audible range. The unique multilevel shape also wears more evenly, greatly extending record and stylus life.
Shibata Stylus: The Shibata stylus was originally developed to play four-channel (quadraphonic) vinyl records. The Shibata stylus has two radii, similar to an elliptical stylus. However, the radii of a Shibata stylus allow for more surface contact and effective pickup of ultra-high frequencies with less groove stress and distortion.
Special Line Contact Stylus: The special line contact stylus is shaped to track the record groove with the highest level of precision, resulting in excellent high-frequency response, low distortion and minimum abrasion. The special line contact stylus makes more surface contact than any other stylus shape. It should be noted that due to its high-fidelity, the line contact stylus may produce more noise on heavily worn records. The line contact tip is used on Audio Technica's higher-end cartridges.
Round, Square or Rectangular Shank? The stylus shank is the piece that connects the tip to the cantilever. A round shank can be more difficult to align when it is affixed to the cantilever. Proper alignment is needed in order to position the stylus tip precisely in the record groove.
A square or rectangular shank styli cost more to make than round shank styli, but mounting them in laser-cut holes in the cantilever locks them in precise alignment with the record groove.
Bonded or Nude? In a bonded (or jointed) stylus, a diamond tip is glued on a metal shank that is itself glued into the hole of the cantilever. While less expensive to manufacture, this construction may increase the mass of the overall tip and affect transient response compared with a nude stylus where the tip and shank are constructed from a single piece of diamond.
Nude styli, shaped from whole diamonds, are more costly than bonded styli. Their lower mass allows nude styli to track more accurately. Also, since Audio Technica's nude styli are grain-oriented, with their longest-wearing faces touching the record surface, they last longer.
About Audio Technica
Inspired by the depth of emotion he witnessed at vinyl listening sessions organised during his tenure at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Hideo Matsushita was determined to enable more people to experience the warmth of analogue listening. In a small Shinjuku apartment, he established Audio Technica and began developing cartridges. His first two products, the AT-1 and AT-3, achieved success and enabled Hideo to expand his business. He opened a larger headquarters in Machida, where the company still operates today.
Building on a shared passion for listening, Audio Technica have designed many critically acclaimed headphones, turntables and microphones whilst remaining a family business and with the firm belief that high-quality audio should be accessible to all.
Audio Technica believe that sound should be natural and so they strive to reproduce true, accurate, representations of audio. They start every product with the pure vibration created when sound is captured, using this analogue transducer technology to create products that transcend everyday sensory experiences. The quest to create pure, natural, audio is perpetual - it never stops, never ends.
Audio Technica headphones, turntables and microphone systems are used across the globe in a wide variety of applications, from live concert tours and recording studios to theatres, educational facilities, and houses of worship. There are also millions of music enthusiasts, gamers and content creators who use Audio Technica products every day.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Moving Coil Cartridge with Microlinear Stylus
- Model: AT‐OC9XML
- Features low mass Nude Microlinear Stylus and Boron Cantilever which provides lower distortion and high transient response
- A Neodymium Magnet and Permendur Yoke provides dramatically increased magnetic energy
- Aluminium Body minimizes unwanted vibration for reduced resonance and a superior audio reproduction
- Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting process (PCOCC) is used for the Coils to achieve the purest signal possible
- Frequency Response: 20 - 47,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: 27 dB (1 kHz)
- Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
- Vertical Tracking Force: 1.8 to 2.2g (2.0g standard)
- Stylus Construction: Nude Square Shank
- Recommended Load Impedance: Min 100 Ohms
- Coil Impedance: 12 Ohms (1 kHz)
- DC Resistance: 12 Ohms
- Coil Inductance: 25 μH (1 kHz)
- Output Voltage: 0.4 mV (@ 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
- Output Channel Balance: 1.0 dB (1 kHz)
- Stylus Shape: Microlinear
- Stylus Size: 2.2 x 0.12 mil
- Cantilever: 0.28 mm Ø Nude Boron
- Static Compliance: 20 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne
- Dynamic Compliance: 16 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne (100 Hz)
- Mounting: ½" Centres with Threaded inserts
- Body Material: Aluminium
- Wire Used for Coils: PCOCC (Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting process)
- Terminal Pins: Brass
- Included Accessories: Non Magnetic Screw Driver, Stylus Brush; 2 Washers, 4 Pairs of Mounting Screws: 5mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, Plastic Stylus Protector
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 168 x 173 x 257 mm
- Weight: 7.6 grams
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.