Audio-Technica - AT33XMLB MC Phono Cartridge

The flagship of Audio-Technica's reborn AT33x series — a MicroLinear stylus on a solid boron cantilever atop the line's first die-cast zinc base.

The AT33xMLB leads the first extensive overhaul of the venerable AT33 Series in years, bringing new warmth and fullness through technological and material improvements — including Audio-Technica's first use of die-cast zinc at the base of the cartridge to ward off unwanted resonance, in a composite body of die-cast zinc, aluminum and high-rigidity polymer. The dual moving coil structure uses independent left and right channel coils of PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting) wire, energized by a neodymium magnet with permendur yoke.

At the top of the stereo lineup, the MLB pairs a nude MicroLinear stylus (2.2 x 0.12 mil) with a solid boron tapered cantilever — the stiffest, lowest-mass combination in the AT33x range — for precise groove tracing, long stylus life and response out to 45,000 Hz at a healthy 0.42 mV output.

Features

• Nude MicroLinear stylus (2.2 x 0.12 mil)
• Solid boron tapered cantilever
• Dual moving coil design with independent left/right coils
• PCOCC coil wire and gold-plated cartridge pins
• Neodymium magnet with permendur yoke
• Composite body of die-cast zinc, aluminum and high-rigidity polymer
• Rigid die-cast zinc base for resonance suppression
• Threaded mounting holes for easier installation

Specifications

• Type: Dual moving coil
• Stylus: Nude MicroLinear, 2.2 x 0.12 mil
• Cantilever: Solid boron, tapered
• Coil Wire: PCOCC
• Magnet and Yoke: Neodymium magnet with permendur yoke
• Body: Composite of die-cast zinc, aluminum and high-rigidity polymer
• Output Voltage: 0.42 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
• Frequency Response: 20-45,000 Hz
• Channel Separation: 27 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel Balance: 1.0 dB (1 kHz)
• Tracking Force: 1.8-2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
• Recommended Load Impedance: Min. 100 ohms
• Coil Impedance: 12 ohms (1 kHz)
• DC Resistance: 12 ohms
• Coil Inductance: 26 µH (1 kHz)
• Static Compliance: 19 x 10^-6 cm/dyne
• Dynamic Compliance: 6 x 10^-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
• Vertical Tracking Angle: 19 degrees
• Mount: Threaded M2.6 x 2 — two screws, no nuts required
• Weight: 10.1 g