Audio-Technica has unveiled the new AT-ART1000X, one of the brand’s most sophisticated transducers to date and the culmination of more than 60 years of expertise.
Developed and handcrafted in Japan, the AT-ART1000X has been designed to offer an unrivalled analogue listening experience to the most demanding audiophiles.
Building on the philosophy and design of the acclaimed AT-ART1000, this new generation takes sound excellence to new heights. It incorporates a more powerful Power Direct System, for greater efficiency and improved low-frequency reproduction.
Like its predecessor, the AT-ART1000X features the Direct Power System, which places the double voice coil directly above the diamond. This system allows the signal to be transmitted to the source and reduces the negative effects normally induced by the cantilever. This technology enables the cartridge to reproduce the most subtle sonic details and offer unrivalled transient response.
The coils newly developed for this model are rectangular, rather than round, so that more of their surface is placed in the magnetic field. This allows the cartridge to respond more accurately to strong modulations, resulting in improved output voltage and enhanced low-frequency reproduction.
Each non-magnetic core coil is made from 20 μm diameter PCOCC (Pure Copper Ohno Continuous Casting) wire, hand wound eight turns to create a 1.1 mm × 0.6 mm rectangle. The coils are contained in a special ultra-thin 25 μm film and placed in the tiny 0.5 mm gap of a powerful magnetic circuit. Despite a non-magnetic core, this design allows each coil to generate an output voltage of 0.22 mV at an impedance of 3.5 ohms.
The AT-ART1000X retains the Special Line Contact diamond, exclusive to Audio-Technica’s top-of-the-range models, and the solid boron cantilever of the previous model, to ensure extremely accurate groove reading. The primary structure on which the elements of the cell rest is made of titanium. This rigid, inert structure is fundamental to the regularity of the reading. This is dampened by two other structures, one made of polymer and the other of aluminium, to reduce resonance.
Finally, the body of this new model features threaded inserts, making it much easier to install the transducer. The screws supplied are all you need to mount the transducer on a transducer holder or on a bracket integrated into the tone arm.
Designed for durability, a special coating protects the magnetic circuit from corrosion, ensuring consistent performance throughout the life of the cell. To keep the diamond assembly at its best, Audio-Technica offers a chargeable voice coil exchange programme to exchange or have the voice coil cell accurately repaired by experts at its production facility in Japan.
-The innovative Power Direct System offers unrivalled transient response and allows the most subtle sonic details to be reproduced.
The new rectangular coils improve the output level of the cartridge and offer better low-frequency response
-Threaded inserts make it easy to install the cartridge on a cartridge holder or an integrated tonearm mount
-Special Line Contact diamond profile and 0.26mm diameter solid boron cantilever ensure extremely accurate groove reading
Non-magnetic coils ensure extremely fine, subtle readings
-The titanium base of the magnetic circuit, the polymer cover and the aluminium housing of the cartridge work together to reduce resonance
-The PCOCC (Pure Copper Ohno Continuous Casting) coil ensures unaltered signal transfer
-A special coating protects the magnetic circuit from corrosion for consistent performance throughout the life of the cell
Developed and meticulously hand-crafted in Japan
