AT440MLa for $129.99 on Amazon

TomS · « **on:** 15 Dec 2011, 03:36 pm »

Looks like prices have come down a bit from the $159 I had been seeing. Amazon/J&R has the AT440MLa for $129.99 plus $2.99 shipping right now.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT440MLA-Dual-Moving-Magnet-Cartridge/dp/B00009MK3A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323962927&sr=8-1

Wayner · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 04:27 pm »

Great heads up! Great cartridge!

Wayner

roscoeiii · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 06:29 pm »

For those of you familiar with these, how would you describe the sound? Worth adding to a stable of MMs already including a Shure M91ED with Jico SAS, a Soundsmith SMMC-4 and a Pickering XSV-3000? Or pretty similar in sound to one of these I've already got kicking around?

Gopher · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 06:41 pm »

Its a pretty darn nice cartridge and it surprised me on my former Well Tempered Reference, but if I were you, Roseco, I'd check out the SAE 1000LT. I have own it and an E, though I haven't personally heard the LT yet. But at $200 its tough to beat if its a match for your arm (WTA?)

Mitsuman · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 06:43 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 15 Dec 2011, 06:29 pm

For those of you familiar with these, how would you describe the sound? Worth adding to a stable of MMs already including a Shure M91ED with Jico SAS, a Soundsmith SMMC-4 and a Pickering XSV-3000? Or pretty similar in sound to one of these I've already got kicking around?

What type of arm do you have? I would describe it as a bit bright right out of the box. It took about 100 hrs. for mine to tame down a bit. Very translucent highs, a tad hot in the midrange, capable of nice tight and believable bass. My is on a vintage Mitsu DP-EC2 deck, which has a medium-mass S-arm and it does quite well. I had it on a mid-fi Pioneer with ultra low mass arm and it didn't seem as good of a match to me. Hope this helps a bit.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 06:49 pm »

I have a Well Tempered Amadeus, which has a pretty light arm on it.

Yeah Fred, I have been thinking hard about that SAE cart...

Mitsuman · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Dec 2011, 07:04 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 15 Dec 2011, 06:49 pm

I have a Well Tempered Amadeus, which has a pretty light arm on it.

Yeah Fred, I have been thinking hard about that SAE cart...

I would think a higher compliance cartridge might be a better match than the 440mla. Sometimes the rules of thumb don't apply, however. I know my low-mass Pioneer likes a Grado vs. the 440mla, but YMMV.

neobop · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Dec 2011, 03:55 am »

Pretty good deal considering the stylus costs $120.

Many people find the highs a little hot. I used to load it at 32K and very low capacitance. Best if you can keep the total less than 200pF. Compliance is 10cu @100Hz which is around 18cu at standard 10Hz. I seemed to get better performance with low mass arms. Guess it depends on the arm.