Cartridge Reviews

The cartridge featured "blind" in the recent post titled "How Much Would You Pay for This Cartridge?" pictured above is "The Vessel" A3SE, which sells for $99.00.

The Vessel A3SE is a moving magnet design that features a removable stylus assembly. Here are the specs for this super-sweet sounding cartridge:

- Type: Moving Magnet
- Frequency range: 20-25,000 Hz
- Output voltage @ 1kHz: 3.0 mV
- Channel balance @ 1kHz: <1.5dB
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: 22dB
- Dynamic compliance (100Hz): 8 × 10-6 cm/dyne
- Tracking ability at 2.0g : 60 µm
- Cantilever: Special type aluminum pipe
- Stylus type: Super elliptical
- Stylus tip radius: 7.6µm × 15.5µm
- Tracking force: 2.0 g
- Internal impedance @ 1kHz: 670 ohms
- Internal inductance: 270 mH
- Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm
- Recommended load capacitance: 100-300pF
- Cartridge color, body/stylus: Black/Gold/Sky Blue
- Weight: 6.0 g
- Mounting hardware included: 4 × Screws, 2 × Nuts
- Stylus replacement: A3SE stylus

LPGear sells it. I don't know who else does. There are other more costly variants including the top of the line $679 B3SS, which features a boron cantilever and a nude Shibata stylus.

This one for $99 sounds quite sweet and pleasant. Yes, not the full extension on top, but mighty pleasant for $100. I wonder how it compares to the Audio Technical's AT95E, which is even less costly. I don't have one here to compare.