Audio-Technica has introduced its new AT-MCD1 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge, which features a unified diamond stylus/cantilever, newly developed Shibata stylus, dual moving coil design, and other refinements.
“The AT-MCD1 builds upon the acclaim of our limited-edition 60th anniversary AT-MC2022 cartridge to achieve even greater sonic performance,” says Bob Peet, Audio-Technica Global Product Manager, Analog Products. “It combines our latest advancements in design and materials technology with expert hand craftsmanship by our artisans in Japan.”
The AT-MCD1’s integrated diamond stylus/cantilever is formed from a single lab-grown diamond, with a newly developed Shibata stylus that has a smaller minor radius than previous shapes, sporting an r2.7 x R0.08 tip radius. The 0.22 mm-square cantilever is formed using a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process, for extreme precision and manufacturing consistency.
This allows more precise transmission of the most delicate musical signals, says Audio-Technica, and more accurate tracing of the record groove. The seamless stylus/cantilever structure enables the mechanical vibrations to be converted into electrical signals with exceptional accuracy.
Audio-Technica’s exclusive dual moving coil design ensures superior channel separation and wide frequency response, the company claims. Its magnetic circuit and PCOCC copper coils provide efficient signal transfer and higher output voltage.
The AT-MCD1’s multilayer cartridge body is crafted from an aluminum base, titanium housing and an elastomer undercover to dampen unwanted resonances and enable accurate reproduction of delicate musical signals.
Each cartridge has an individualized serial number and comes in a cherry wood presentation case. The Audio-Technica AT-MCD1 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge is available from selected specialist retailers for an MSRP of US$11,000.