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Vinyl Asylum: AT OC9ML/II review Part 2 by oc9luver

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AT OC9ML/II review Part 2

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I recently snapped the cantilever off the original V15VMR, (not the newer x version). I previously had a high output MC, the Benz Micro Gold. I could not hear much difference between a MM and a high output MC.
I was very tempted to trade in the broken Benz MC for the higher end Benz Glider (about 650 w/trade) or the ~1300$ wood body series (950 or so w/trade)
But, could not resist the latest flavor of the day, the OC9.
I am not good at audiophile terms like blacker blacks, more air, grain, etched.. etc etc. But I can say that they are really onto something with a lower output moving coil. Where the V15 was mostly warm and fuzzy (that is the extent of my audiophilespeak) the OC9 is detailed, not warm, yet not clinical and yes... the bass does bloom if it is inherent in the recording.
I am worried about the fragility of this anorexic cantilever. Whereas the V15 cantilever was as robust as a circus fat lady the OC9 cantilever is the latest supermodel. Set too much or too little antiskating and I can see it being forced to a sideways cant.
The cart is mounted in a Rega RB600. Setting overhang is not hard as you practically just slide it as far forword as possible in the headshell slots in order for the diamond to reach the spot on the MFSL Geodisc.
My outboard phono stage has settings for 37/47/57 dbs of gain with adjustable resistance loading. I briefly toyed with the 47db setting which certainly goes loud enough, though with too much effort, Not quite right. The 57db setting seems to work just fine. I currently have the loading set at 25k, have not experiement with different settings yet.
You often hear about the legendary tracking ability of the Shures, I have not heard any mistracking through the 5-6 lp sides I have heard so far, with minimal inner groove distortion, virtually no sibilance.

My weakness is buying massive amounts of obscure or little known rock/folk records to simply see what it contains. At the current time I am hearing for the first time "Four Jacks and a Jill" a soft rock/folk combo from 1968 along the lines of the New Seekers (Anybody remember "Georgie girl"?) By all rights this recording should not sound good. It was engineered for AM radio or some crappy home console. Surprisingly, it sounds good with the OC9, though I must somewhat take back my statement on inner groove distortion, though it is not real bad. Just switched to Jon Andersons first solo album.... wow... great sonics. If this is what less than 300 bucks buys, what the hell does the megabucks buy? I suspect not a whole lot more. Ok... another vote for the oc9 ...Tom


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Topic - AT OC9ML/II review Part 2 - oc9luver 15:22:44 11/6/04 ( 6)