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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Technica AT110E Phono Cartridge by star man

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REVIEW: Audio Technica AT110E Phono Cartridge

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Model: AT110E
Category: Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price: 28 Pounds or Less
Description: Stereo phono cart with Elliptical stylus
Manufacturer URL: Audio Technica
Model Picture: View

Review by star man ( A ) on January 23, 2003 at 05:10:45
IP Address: 203.27.69.112
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for the AT110E


I have been using this one for over 6 months now and am so happy with it I feel more than happy to share my experience.

Several years ago I came across a very pretty looking turntable. An old Rega Planar 2 with wooden plinth coupled with the very Sexy Grace 707 tone arm. The previous owner must have kept his best cartridge for himself as it was fit with a very Cheap Nagaoka cart worth about $20. My records did sound better than CD but not by a lot. So for several years after I was convinced from the long running propaganda campain that I could find a CD player that would better the sound this turntable. During this time I had no clue about Elliptical styli that my cart could use, how cheap my cart was, or about other cartridges that might sound better or how good a tonearm and turntable I had. So basically all those years were wasted.

To cut a long story short one day I got the $50 Ortofon OM10 which was an eye opening experience. I was impressed mostly by the detail it produced and how smooth the sound was but the high frequencies were highly emphasised and it could not be tuned out by increasing the value of the loading capacitor the higher the value the more balanced the highs but the more stifled the music bacame. I am telling the truth when I say after a few minutes of listening on a clean record, I could not tell if I was listening to a CD or a record. This was very disapointing, I wanted my old cart put back on. So back went the old cart. All I can say about that is that I could not believe I thought this unfocused slow splodgy elephant sound although tonaly decent used to sound good to me. I had tasted a bit of the good life and could not go back but neither could I use that CD sound alike Ortofon. To be fare I must say I think there must a bit of a synergy problem between the ortofon and the ultra light 7 gram Grace tonearm as no matter how the tracking force or VTA was set I was also getting major tracking problems towards the centre tracks on every single record I tried to play with the ortofon.

So what next? I had just wasted $50 from other stupid peoples recomendations and could only think now I will spend another $100 for a better cart when I should have at first spent $150 on a really good Cart.

But then came The Audio Asylum to the rescue. Fortunately some others agreed with me on the tinny sound of the Ortofon and recommended The Star of today The one and only Audio Technica AT110E. Total cost $24 pounds. So around $35US. I got it from Mantra Audio. The advertised price is $28 Pounds but for international orders it its less the  VAT. Thats Cheaper than the Ortofon.

So Howd it go? Well let me first say to be patient. At first the sound was promising It was tracking perferct had the right tone I wanted but the trebles were harsh as harsh could be. I was in fact getting ear fatigue. Thinking this was a set up problem I tried all of the most extreme Vertical Tracking Angles to get rid of that harsh sound And managed to permanently damage Two records in the process. I didn't think about break in. I managed eventualy to get the set up right and about 4 hours later the harshness was well on its way out by about 8 to 10 hours there was nothing left but smooth beautiful music.

One weakness I could hear straight away is that this cart does not have the detail of the ortofon. The detail is good but just not quite at the same level as the ortofon. But then comes the strength that outweighs the weakness by Many Pounds. And that is the music. The pure rich full tone. I tested on some classical music. With the ortofon which sounded best with classical the violins were staggeringly accurately portraid. Having lived in an Irish farmhouse with a Violin Maker living in the back cottage, I know what a violin sounds like and the ortofon reproduced that sound very well. With the Audio Technica Cart, the violins are not so well defined but when the full orchestra is playing what you get is absolutely georgeous hamonically rich music. And this Is the Biggest strength of the AT110E for such a cheap cart we are not expecting the worlds greatest channel separation and resolution. But I tell ya, the musicality is there applenty.

Now the resolution may be down a little but the focus definately is not. And the sound is Big which I absolutely love. My current system is not capable of producing a deep sound stage. But what I am getting from my turntable is a big clear stable focused sound. I have always diliked the sound of My Steve Ray Vaughan CDs. But putting on that record is heaven. Crisp cymbols, larger than life vocals sweet wet sounding Bass. I just wonder how amazing this cart would sound teamed up with a tube based pre amp.

Next is Bjork, I managed to pick up a good copy of Post. To compare to the CD. On CD bjork sings. With this cart Not only do you hear her sing, you can also hear her cheeky smile she is wearing as she sings. I love it and I love this Cart.

The only problem I have ever encountered with this one is that sometimes on some records you get a tiny bit of sibilance in some parts. not enough to be a major concern. There has only been one record that this cart had trouble tracking in parts but that was a modern record that probably had not been engineered correctly for phono reproduction.

My conclusion Is this is a very musical cart. I am happy enough with this one that It will last me easily through My next series of amp pre-amp upgrades which could go on for years.

I can't get over that I am still listening to what is basicaly a beginers HiFi set up. What will it sound like when I start getting some depth in my sound stage?

A great cart, and for only 24 Pounds or so theres not much financial risk involved to try it out either. And by the way the recomended capacitance load is between 100 and 200pf and conveniently enough I found the sound was best slap bang in the middle at 150pf.

One last thing, One thing which impressed me right from the start is what is written at the beginning of the little owners manual. I quote " Above all, we hope that your Audio Technica cartridge will enhance your systems performanceand and bring you increased musical appreciation and enjoyment". It did for me, very much so. (once I got past the break in priod that is) Thankyou Audio Technica!

Paul.



Product Weakness: very occasional sibilance. So cheap you may not believe it could sound so good and go buy something more expensive and miss out.
Product Strengths: Smooth Natural Sound, good bass and focus, almost perfect tracking.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: NAD 3020 with all the mods done
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Nad pp-1 Cheap but full of upgraded parts
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Very Old Rega Planar 2 /Tjoeb 99 with amperex tubes
Speakers: Vifa drivers - home built with ear tuned crossovers and ports
Cables/Interconnects: Dodgy originals / tara labs prism 11 on CD player
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock / Classic / soundtrack
Room Size (LxWxH): small x x
Room Comments/Treatments: P.W.B. treatments
Time Period/Length of Audition: over 6 months
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Technica AT110E Phono Cartridge - star man 05:10:45 01/23/03 ( 5)