Warm. Resolute. Unmistakably Analogue.
The Audio-Technica ART9XI (Iron Core) is a premium moving coil (MC) phono cartridge built for audiophiles who demand richness and authority from their vinyl collection. At its heart lies a high-purity OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) copper wire winding — the defining difference between the ART9XI and its aluminium-wound sibling, the ART9XA.
Copper as a coil material brings a characteristically fuller tonal signature: enhanced midrange body, greater presence, and a warm, organic quality that breathes life into every groove. Yet the ART9XI never sacrifices the speed and ultra-fine resolution that have made the ART series a benchmark in high-end cartridge design. The result is an MC cartridge that sounds as natural and engaging as analogue audio gets.
Why Choose the ART9XI?
If you find that many MC cartridges lean too neutral or analytical, the ART9XI offers a compelling alternative — a cartridge that retains world-class technical performance while delivering the musical warmth that makes vinyl listening a truly immersive experience.
Paired with a solid boron cantilever (0.28 mm diameter) and nude special line-contact stylus, the ART9XI traces complex groove modulations with exceptional precision, capturing micro-dynamics and fine inner detail across a sweeping 20 Hz – 50,000 Hz frequency response.
The Ideal MC Cartridge for Whest Audio Phono Stages
The ART9XI is the natural partner for the Whest Audio 20.SP0 and 20.DP0 phono stages — both engineered from the ground up to handle the most demanding low-output MC signals. Together, they form a front-end pairing capable of extracting every nuance your vinyl has to offer.
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Detail |
| Frequency Response |
20 – 50,000 Hz |
| Channel Separation |
30 dB (at 1 kHz) |
| Output Voltage |
0.5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.) |
| Output Channel Balance |
0.5 dB (1 kHz) |
| Coil Type |
OCC Iron Wire |
| Coil Impedance |
12 ohms (1 kHz) |
| DC Resistance |
12 ohms |
| Coil Inductance |
25 µH (1 kHz) |
| Recommended Load Impedance |
Min. 100 ohms (with head amplifier) |
| Stylus Shape |
Special Line Contact |
| Cantilever |
Solid Boron, 0.28 mm diameter |
| Vertical Tracking Force |
1.6 – 2.0 g (1.8 g standard) |
| Vertical Tracking Angle |
20° |
| Static Compliance |
25 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne |
| Dynamic Compliance |
15 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne (100 Hz) |
| Cartridge Weight |
8.5 g (0.30 oz) |
| Mounting |
Half-inch standard |
| Threaded Hole |
M2.6 × 2 |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) |
17.3 × 16.8 × 25.0 mm |
In the Box: Non-magnetic screwdriver, 2 washers, cartridge installation screws (M2.6 in 5.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 10.0 mm & 12.0 mm lengths × 2 each), stylus protector, stylus brush.
