Early comments: Audio-Technica 440ML Cartridge

Dan Driscoll · « **on:** 18 Oct 2004, 05:36 pm »

I've only put about 15 hours on this cartridge so far, keep in mind it needs 75-100 hours for proper break-in. The 440ML replaced a Goldring 1012GX and was installed last Thursday. I have only done a couple of hours of listening so far, the rest of the time on the cart has been with an album that's in decent condition, but that I don't like to listen to, just spinning for break-in purposes.

The high end frequency response of the 440ML is definitely better than the Goldring. It seems quicker and more responsive to small groove changes than the Goldring. The 440ML also seems to track a little better, channel separation/ghosting has improved. I suspect this is due primarily to the difference in styli, the Goldring is elliptical, the AT is microline. The mid-range seems a little bright and the low end was lacking a bit. However, this already seems to be improving as the suspension loosens up. Another 20-30 hours should improve the sound considerably.

dogberry · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Oct 2004, 07:58 pm »

Yeah, my friend has the same cart. NICE cart for the price. The high-end AT cart is supposed to be the joint, too.

lcrim · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 08:01 pm »

Your review is so enthusiastic, I am considering changing my Goldring 1012 for an Audio Technica AT440ML. I can't find a specification for the actual weight of the cartridge so that I can tell if the SME Series III tonearm would be a match for it. The high output is also an advantage. Can anyone suggest where I might get this spec.

audiochef · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 11:04 pm »

Icrim,

weight is 6.5 grams. Specs are in Music Direct catalog.

It is an excellent cartridge ,not far behind my Grado Sonata , but is awfully cheap looking.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Oct 2004, 02:53 pm »

Quote from: audiochef

Icrim,

weight is 6.5 grams. Specs are in Music Direct catalog.

It is an excellent cartridge ,not far behind my Grado Sonata , but is awfully cheap looking.

I'm not sure if that's how I would descript the 440ML's appearance, but I do agree it does not have the more modernistic body design of Ortofon or even Goldring carts.

lcrim · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Oct 2004, 03:15 am »

Kevin Barrett (KAB) just happened to have an Audio Technica 440ML and swapped it into my Rega Planar 3, SME Series III after work today. Reseting overhang was problematic, so I was happy to have Kevin's help.
I have only been listening to it for a few hours. It is playing through an ASL mini phono section, AES AE-3 preamp, the TEAC 3 channel digital amp (Tripath) and Sonus Faber Concertino Homes.
The surface noise issues I was having w/ the Goldring 1012GX are hugely improved. The Goldring really pointed out any surface imperfections.
The Audio Technica may not be as correct , however. It is definitely better on the ends but the midrange, at least early on, is a touch bright. After it settles in, playing around with VTA might help the glareyness. I think it is going to be a nice (and inexpensive) cartridge. Thanks for the idea.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Oct 2004, 03:01 pm »

Quote from: lcrim

It is definitely better on the ends but the midrange, at least early on, is a touch bright. After it settles in, playing around with VTA might help the glareyness. I think it is going to be a nice (and inexpensive) cartridge. Thanks for the idea.

How many hours do that cart have on it? I noticed some mid-range brightness also, but it definitely is improving as the cartridge gets more playing time. I'm also still playing around with the VTA, so that may be part of it, too. Hopefully yours will settle in the way mine seems to be doing.

lcrim · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Oct 2004, 07:31 pm »

Dan:
I don't know for sure how many hours are on the AT, it wasn't new but I doubt if there is more than 10 hrs or so. I have diycables.com "Superlatives" right out of the tonearm (the SME Series III tonearm does not have wired leads but female receptacles) going to the phono section. Those IC's have sounded kind of glarey in other places I've used them. I hate to shitcan wire because you end up needing it for something or other as soon as its gone.
Apparently , from what Kevin and I could figure out, the stylus on the AT doesn't extend as deeply into the groove as the Goldring 1012, which I never disliked, but the surface noise on some of my older vinyl was magnified for some reason by the TT, tonearm, cartridge, phono section combination. I am not sure that a cantilever "breaks in", the metalurgical properties of aluminum are a constant but I'm hoping an IC change helps. The ASL mini phono also has been found to be bright by many, so there are any number of things which could be causing the slight brightness. It sounded nice and open on an LP by Yo Yo Ma playing with a string section, I forget the composer and conductor, but the cartridge just tracked it beautifully.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Oct 2004, 09:14 pm »

Quote from: lcrim

Apparently , from what Kevin and I could figure out, the stylus on the AT doesn't extend as deeply into the groove as the Goldring 1012, which I never disliked, but the surface noise on some of my older vinyl was magnified for some reason by the TT, tonearm, cartridge, phono section combination. I am not sure that a cantilever "breaks in", the metalurgical properties of aluminum are a constant but I'm hoping an IC change helps.

That doesn't sound quite right. The AT has a microline stylus that is narrower than the elliptical stylus of the Goldring. It should be sitting deeper in the groove. THe best part about that is the deeper in the groove, the less wear the record should have, especially older albums that were always played with elliptical or conical styli.

The cantilever itself doesn't break in, but the support mechanism that holds it does. Think of it as a new shock absorber on a car. It will be a little stiff when you drive it off the lot, but after about a few hundred miles it will have relaxed and loosened up to it's normal design operating stiffness.

lcrim · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 09:16 pm »

Dan:
The Goldring 1012GX is listed as a Gyger II stylus by Goldring. The Goldring 1006 is listed as an elliptical.
Gyger II and Micro Line, according to Kevin, is marketing speak for a line contact stylus. They are the same type of cartridge.
The amount of surface area that is contacted by a line contact stylus is greater than an elliptical. A line contact stylus spreads the tracking force out over a greater area, so your records will experience less wear. Tracking older vinyl, that has previously been worn a bit by an elliptical, will not always sound quieter when played with a line contact stylus. If you could find the three dimensions for the AT, it would be possible to know where in the groove the stylus is riding. The Goldring's front radius is published @ .47 mils. Our supposition, since that is so low, was that the AT rode higher.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Oct 2004, 04:52 pm »

Quote from: lcrim

Dan:
Gyger II and Micro Line, according to Kevin, is marketing speak for a line contact stylus. They are the same type of cartridge.

My mistake, I thought the Gyger II was an elliptical,

Quote

If you could find the three dimensions for the AT, it would be possible to know where in the groove the stylus is riding. The Goldring's front radius is published @ .47 mils. Our supposition, since that is so low, was that the AT rode higher.

The AT site doesn't give the dimnsions of the Microline stylus. The only dimension I could find was here and .12 mils is so small I'm pretty sure it is actually the side radius, not the front.

The reason I suspected the 440ML was sitting deeper in the groove wasn't because of the reduced surface noise, but rather because you indicated the frequncy response had improved. The stylus sitting deeper in the groove will definitely improved high end response and could potentially make the mid-range sound somewhat bright, in comparison to a stylus that rides higher in the groove, where there has been more wear.