Audio-Technica shows off $7000 turntable cartridge

Expect “the highest audiophile listening experience.”

Audio-Technica has unveiled its latest moving coil cartridge. Priced at a Herculean $6999, the AT-ART1000 is handcrafted in Japan and is the outcome of 54 years in cartridge design.

The product uses a direct-power system with the moving coil placed directly on top of the stylus tip, which A-T says, enables the tracing of super subtle sonic detail and “unsurpassed transient response”.

As What Hi-Fi explains, the AT-ART1000 features a diamond stylus construction that apparently has the ability to track even the most complex record groove. The core coil itself is non-magnetic with 3 ohms impedance whilst the body structure is made of titanium, which provides strong acoustic audio reproduction.

Yousuke Koizumi of Audio Technica’s Japan division said:

“We found some inspiration in the renowned Victor MC-L1000 cartridge of 1986 and charged our research and design engineers to imagine a Direct Power System of unsurpassed levels of precision and sophistication. I’m pleased to say we have achieved everything we set out to do. Our AT-ART1000 is truly the landmark cartridge we wanted to make.”

The AT-ART1000 is available from fifty selected retailers worldwide in June.

Out of your budget? Here are the 8 best turntable cartridges that don’t cost $7000.

Don’t forget that when it comes to playback quality, the choice of cartridge is just as important as the amp, loudspeakers and the deck itself.