audio-technica AT-ART1000X Direct Power Stereo MC Cartridge User Manual

AT-ART1000X
DIRECT POWER
STEREO MC CARTRIDGE
USER MANUAL
Direct Power Stereo MC Cartridge User Manual

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Audio-Technica product.
Before using the product, read through this user manual to ensure that you will use the product correctly. Please keep this manual, along with the warranty, for future reference.

Features

Overview
This product is an MC cartridge that utilizes a direct power system that places the moving coil directly on top of the stylus tip. Because of this, it does not suffer the negative effects to audio quality that stem from the cantilever’s length and material type.  Compared to  conventional methods that place the moving coil at the base of the cantilever, this MC cartridge vividly renders even the most subtle sonic details that, up until now, weredifficult to produce. This design allows unprecedented high-fidelity reproduction. Design details
The coil material used is a 20 μm diameter PCOCC wire, wound eight turns to a rectangular 1.1 mm × 0.6 mm to create a non-magnetic core coil. Despite being a nonmagnetic core type, an output voltage of 0.22 mV with a coil impedance of 3.5 ohms is obtained by placing the coil in the minute 0.5  mm gap of a powerful magnetic circuit. Integrating specifications that leverage the unique features of non-magnetic core type coils and specially designed magnetic circuits creates a three-dimensional sound field  with dynamic audio quality and natural clarity.
Body
The base that supports the specialized magnetic circuit, cantilever, stylus tip, and coil is made from titanium. The sturdy base is instrumental in providing consistently even playback.
It also works in combination with the cartridge’s hard plastic cover and aluminum housing to disperse resonance that negatively affects the sound quality.

Special line contact stylus and 0.26 mm diameter solid boron cantilever
The stylus tip is a 1.5 × 0.28 mil special line contact stylus type embedded in a 0.26 mm diameter solid boron cantilever, which allows music signals read by the stylus tip to be accurately transmitted to the moving coil.

Package contents

Before using the product, please make sure that you have all the included items. If some items are missing or damaged, contact your local Audio-Technica dealer.

• Cartridge
• Case (wooden box)
• Non-magnetic screwdriver
• Washer × 2
• Protector
• Cartridge installation screws (M2.6) (5.0 mm × 2, 8.0 mm × 2, 10.0 mm × 2, 12.0 mm × 2)
• Brush
• User manual (this manual)
• Important notification
• Warranty
• Tracking force information

Safety precautions

• Keep the plastic bag provided with the product out of the reach of small children and away from open flames to avoid accidents or fire.
• Keep the product out of the reach of small children to avoid accidents or malfunction.
• Do not put the product in a location where it is exposed to direct sunlight, near heating devices, or in places with high temperatures, high humidity, or high concentrations of dust to avoid malfunction.
• Do not touch the product’s cantilever and stylus tip to avoid malfunction.
• Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the product to avoid malfunction.
• Do not subject the product to strong impacts to avoid malfunction.
• Keep away from magnetic materials to avoid malfunction.

Cautions for the case (wooden box)

The case (wooden box) and drawer have magnets to prevent the drawer from falling out. Keep the cartridge away from the magnets.

• The magnets used in the case (wooden box) are weak magnets with low risk of affecting the cartridge.

How to remove the product from the case

1. Open the lid of the case and pull out the drawer holding the cartridge.
2. Using the non-magnetic screwdriver provided, support the product as you loosen the screw, and then remove the product.
   • As you remove it, make sure the protector is on the cartridge. If you try to remove it without the protector in place, you could damage the cantilever or stylus tip.

How to mount the product in the case (wooden box)

When storing the product, be sure to put it in the case (wooden box).
When transporting the product, put it in the case (wooden box) and be sure to close the lid. If the lid is not closed, the drawer could fall out and result in damage to the product.

1. Attach the protector to the cartridge, put the cartridge on the pin in the drawer, and fasten it with the screw and washer.
2. Return the drawer to the case, and close the lid of the case.

• The case for the product is made of wood, so be careful not to store it in the following environments to avoid deformation, discoloration, or other damages:
  -Hot and humid -Exposed to UV rays (sunlight and fluorescent lights)

Name of each part

Become familiar with each part before using the product.

How to remove/mount the protector

The protector is mounted at the time of purchase.

How to remove

1. Place your finger on the tip of the protectorand push upward.

How to mount

1. Align the protrusion on the product with the protrusion on the back of the protector.
2. Press the tip of the protector until it clicks.

• Make sure to mount the protector when storing the product in the case.

How to use

The product is extremely delicate. Handle it with sufficient care.
This product can be mounted only on a through-hole type headshell or headshell-integrated tonearm.

1. Mount the product onto the headshell or headshell-integrated tonearm.
   • Mount the cartridge with the protector on to avoid damaging the cantilever and the stylus tip.
   • Temporarily tighten the screws.

2. Connect the lead tips, noting output polarity.
   • Connect headshell lead tips to the product output terminals (as shown in the figure).
   • Never apply heat (from solder, etc.) to the output terminals.

3. Remove the protector from the product.
   • For details, refer to “How to remove/ mount the protector” on p. 9.

4. Determine the correct position for installing the product (adjust overhang).
   • Adjust overhang following the instructions in the tonearm’s, turntable’s, or headshell’s user manual. If you are unsure, align the stylus tip to the cartridge originally attached to the tonearm (as shown in the figure).
   • An excessively large gap will impair audio quality, so align within 1 mm, if possible.

5. Finish tightening screws, making sure there is a balance between left and right.

6. Adjust tracking force.
   • Confirm the tracking force for the product in the separate form “Tracking force information.”
   • Due to the construction of the product, each unit varies in standard tracking force. If the proper tracking force is not used, the coil will not properly position itself with the magnetic circuit, and thereby degrade output voltage and channel separation. Always make sure to adjust to the proper tracking force before using.

7. Adjust tonearm height.
   • Adjust the height so that the bottom surface of the headshell and the record surface are parallel, as seen from the side. An improper tonearm height may cause the body of the product to make contact with the record and could impair audio quality or damage the record.

8. Adjust anti-skating.
   • If the anti-skating of the tonearm is not properly adjusted, the channel balance will be degraded. Follow the instructions in the tonearm’s or turntable’s user manual and be sure to make the proper adjustments for the product.

• One of the following devices is needed to connect to an amplifier:
  – Step-up transformer and phono equalizer
  – Standalone phono equalizer (compatible with MC cartridges)

• If the amplifier has a phono input (MC position), it can be used without the above devices. However, to take full advantage of the product’s audio quality, we recommend using the above devices.

• For connection instructions, refer to the user manual of the equipment you are connecting.

Care

To properly care for the product, observe the following precautions.

• Keep the stylus tip clean at all times.
• Use the brush provided to remove dirt and dust on the stylus tip. Do not use anything except the brush provided. If you use a commercially available brush with long bristles, you may scratch the coil or leader line, causing damage.
• Keep the brush provided so as not to lose it.
• Do not use liquid stylus cleaner.
• Before using the product, cleaning the record with a record cleaner (sold separately) is recommended.
• When the product is removed from the tonearm, do not forget to attach the protector and store the product away from the amplifier and other heat sources and magnetic materials.
• Store the product in a cool and dry area to avoid high temperature and high humidity.
• If the stylus tip is very dirty, use a stylus cleaner (sold separately). For more information about stylus cleaner (sold separately), refer to Audio-Technica website (https://www.audio-technica.com/).

Cleaning the stylus tip
Cross section of the product Make sure not to use the brush on the coil, film, or cantilever. The leader lines to the coils run along the surface of the cantilever and may be severed by the brush. Always move the brush in the direction in which the record rotates.

Cartridge rebuild program

To protect against damage to the cantilever and wear to the stylus tip of this product, we offer a paid service for Cartridge Rebuild Program.
This program provides the replacement of the whole assembly including stylus tip, cantilever, coils, and rubber dampers. For complete details about this program, please visit the program’s website at https://www.audio- technica.co.jp/excellence/AT-ART1000/support/en/ or contact your local Audio- Technica Service Center.
Please be aware that this program may be discontinued without prior notice, depending on the availability of spare parts or the amount of time that has passed since the product has been discontinued.

Dimensions

Specifications

• Non-magnetic screwdriver
• Washer × 2
• Protector
• Cartridge installation screws (M2.6) (5.0 mm × 2, 8.0 mm × 2, 10.0 mm × 2, 12.0 mm × 2)
• Brush

Specifications are subject to change without notice due to improvements.

MEMO
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Applicable in European countries with separate collection systems)
This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product shall not be treated as household waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health, which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

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PLASTICA| CARTA| METALLO
RACCOLTA DIFFERENZIATA

Importer for Europe
Audio-Technica Dutch Branch
Waardsedijk-Oost 7, 3417XJ Montfoort, The Netherlands (Email: compliance @audio-technica.eu)
Importer for United Kingdom
Audio-Technica Limited
Unit 5, Millennium Way, Leeds, LS11 5AL, United Kingdom (Email: compliance @audio-technica.eu)
Manufactured by
Audio-Technica Corporation
2-46-1 Nishi-naruse, Machida, Tokyo 194-8666, Japan (Email: compliance@audio- technica.eu)
This explanation is a guidance concerned with the environmental laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China. The printed information as well as the list of contained materials conform with the standard values established by the related laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, and does not apply to other Restrictions of Hazardous Substances including Europe’s RoHS directive.

Audio-Technica Corporation
2-46-1 Nishi-naruse, Machida, Tokyo 194-8666, Japan
www.audio-technica.com
2024 Audio-Technica Corporation
Global Support Contact: www.at-globalsupport.com
ver.1 2024.03.01
351710030-01-02 ver.2 2024.06.01

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