Audio Technica Universal Mount Phono Cartridge (3003)

Rating:
Summary: A Decent Budget Quality Conscious Cartridge...
Review: The Audio Technica 3003 cartridge is something of a surprise. You actually get remarkable clarity and sound from this low budget priced setup. The first thing you will notice is that with this cartridge(as with most Audio Technica cartridges) is its capability of accenting the highs (cymbals or high hat especially); this means that it yields or reproduces the high frequencies with an exaggerated quality which may or may not endear listeners. When this occurs, listening fatigue can set in unless you manually adjust the treble on your receiver or equalizer. Ouput sound level is remarkably acceptable so as to not have to crank your system up as is the case with some poorly manufactured cartridges of lesser known brand names. Bass response is also well produced and defined in a taut manner. Yet, you won't get anything that sounds too boomy or soft.

Now for the cons. You will notice a sort of grainy sound quality regardless if the record you are playing is spotless, dust free, and cleaned to the extreme. By grainy, I mean you can actually sonically feel a gritty audio characteristic that is inherent of the design of Audio Technica cartridges. The sound quality is still bright, but slightly grainy and not as smooth. Therefore, you won't find much warmth as in other high-end audiophile name brands (Grado, Sumiko,etc.). This will be evident in the sibilance in the vocals. Take for example; when a singer pronounces the letter s, the s or s's should sound soft and pleasing to the ear. But with the 3003 the s's will sound slightly harsh or static-like, even crackle a bit.

I was able to compare this cartridge against a Grado Prestige Blue cartridge. While the Grado is just under the $100 range, you get what you pay for. The Grado was warm,clear, and almost precise. No grain in sound whatsoever. Nothing colored or enhanced (almost neutral). The letter s pronounced by any singer on almost any vinyl lp I used sounded natural and smooth (no static harshness). Comparing the Audio Technica to the Grado was like comparing Ford (though I drive one) to Lexus in the car/sedan category.

Overall, I highly recommend the AT-3003 as a casual cartridge intended to listen to pop or rock albums. But, if you are an audiophile, such as myself, and listen to an eclectic collection of music genres, then you will hear this cartridge's shortcomings. Otherwise, it's a bargain for someone with a small pop or rock record collection...