Audio-TechnicaAT33MONO Dual Moving Coil Turntable Cartridge

I have a collection of about 2000 LP albums. I've worked in the audio equipment industry and have built or customized audio equipment. My most recent project was to build an ultrasonic record cleaning machine in order to care for my collection. I expect excellent equipment performance.For years I listened to mono albums using a stereo cartridge. The stereo cartridges got better (and more expensive) but mono LP performance did not improve commensurately. After reading extensively about mono cartridges I decided to get one.I think the first important decision I made in this matter was to buy a true mono cartridge. By that, I mean one that is designed and wired to operate as a mono cartridge rather than one which was based on a stereo cartridge design and then rewired in a way that straps the channel signals. A true mono cartridge is designed to generate signal from horizontal plane movement and to allow only vertical plane movement necessary for proper record groove tracking.My second important decision was to order the Audio-Technica AT33 mono moving coil cartridge rather than alternatives that were considerably more expensive. It is probable that these alternatives are better cartridges but in audio that last 10% of performance gain comes at an incredibly high cost. The next likely true mono candidate cartridge I considered was three times the cost of the AT33 mono.I had the advantage of some previous experience with the AT33 stereo moving coil cartridge. I knew its performance characteristics. Other users of this stereo cartridge have observed a bias toward a darker sound from this cartridge. However, I discovered that this darkness (which I heard in my system) was imparted by the head shell. If you use a head shell made of very rigid wood (e.g., African Blackwood), then the darkness disappears.I expected the AT33 mono to share this characteristic of the stereo version. I was surprised to discover it did not. Even with a Stanton head shell, the ATT33 mono sounded well balanced as soon as it's tip touched the vinyl.The true mono cartridge improves mono LP listening in a two channel system (versus listening through a stereo cartridge or strapped stereo cartridge) in two important ways: lower surface noise and better signal transmission. The noise floor is lower because the stylus is not receiving spurious noise signal from vertical plane movement, which is required of stereo cartridges by stereo records. The true mono cartridge does not unnaturally mix the signal at the cartridge. So a more faithful and coherent signal is played through the system.The Audio-Technica AT33 mono moving coil cartridge provides these benefits at a reasonable price.

Great Mono moving coil cartridge.The AT-33MONO is the first mono cartridge I have ever owned.I have a fair amount of mono LP's so now I have a turntable set up just for mono playback and WOW what a great improvement over playing mono with a stereo cartridge.Mono record never sound so good.So if you have a lot of mono LP's the AT-33MONO is a great way to get into real mono playback.

This is a great mono cartridge, really brings out the music from mono LP's, I'm very glad that I got this cartilage.

It looks great. After spending some times learning about this cartridge, I strongly recommend to buy it for mono records. It does have low output but do use it with a phono preamp. I have been using it for digitizing 45rpm mono records. The audio comes out wonderfully. It has a very good bass, mid rage to treble. The only issue is that the stylus is conical. I wish it has an option with Shabita, Microline or Specila Line Contact stylus.

Muy bien el sonido de este cartucho mono

I could tell the difference from my regular needle headshell to the magnetic coil and what a difference in sound and quality great investment for a record collector

ジャズの50～60年オリジナル盤を主に聴いています。DENONの102を使っていましたが、特にPRESTIGEのオリジナル盤で、ベースの音がつぶれてしまうのが不満でした。このカードリッジは軽針圧ですが、思ったよりキズも音に出にくくて針飛びもなく、良好に鳴ります。特にアルトサックス、ピアノ、トランペットの高音域の伸びと張りが素晴らしいです。シンバルの音やスネアの音も生々しく、細部までドラマーの仕草が見えるような気がします。少し傷が多めのステレオ盤や、いまいち華やかにならなかったステレオのボーカル盤も、この針で聴くとつややかに聴こえるので、お薦めです。低音があまり出ないのがやや不満ですが、調整すればそれほど問題ありません。5万以内の低価格帯で、入手がしやすく、高品質と三拍子そろった逸品だと思います。

Great product as described. Thank you.

モノラルレコード専用のプレイヤー（YAMAHA）で使用しています。非常に素晴らしいとまでは思いませんが、満足しています。