Audio Technica AT33xEN

The Audio-Technica AT33xEN marks the revival of a legendary series. This dual moving-coil cartridge combines a die-cast zinc body with a nude elliptical stylus and a conical duralumin cantilever. Designed to deliver a sound that is both warm and balanced, it unveils the full richness of recordings, whether vintage or modern.

Zinc casting joins the dance

For the first time in the history of its phono cartridges, Audio-Technica incorporates die-cast zinc into the base of the AT33xEN. This is no trivial choice: the exceptional density and rigidity of this material eliminate parasitic vibrations that typically muddy mid and low frequencies. The cartridge body strategically combines three distinct materials (die-cast zinc, aluminum, and high-rigidity polymer) arranged to disperse resonances throughout the structure. This hybrid approach prevents any particular frequency from dominating the sonic presentation, ensuring a balanced and natural reproduction.

Integrated M2.6 threaded inserts in the body make mounting significantly easier. Unlike cartridges that require nuts and bolts, the AT33xEN attaches directly to the headshell or integrated tonearm with just two screws. This design not only simplifies installation but also improves assembly rigidity.

A cantilever built for responsiveness

The AT33xEN’s cantilever adopts a conical shape in duralumin, an aluminum alloy renowned for being stiffer than standard aluminum. Used in the aerospace industry for its steel-like strength combined with remarkable lightness, duralumin tapers progressively toward the diamond tip. This conical geometry improves high-frequency control while preserving the material’s distinctive tonal characteristics.

At the end of this cantilever sits a 0.3 x 0.7 mil nude elliptical diamond, cut from a single piece. This tip precisely follows the record grooves, extracting a substantial amount of information while keeping vinyl wear to a minimum. The 19° vertical tracking angle optimizes contact with the groove walls for faithful playback.

The suspension mechanism, newly developed for the AT33x series, stands out with a reduced dynamic compliance of 6 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne at 100 Hz, versus 21 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne in static compliance. This relative firmness yields a more substantial sound, particularly in the upper-bass/lower-mid region, while broadening compatibility with different tonearms. Users of medium effective mass arms will find the AT33xEN a compliant partner, while the recommended tracking force of 2.0 g (range 1.8 to 2.2 g) suits most current setups.

Dual moving coil and pure copper

The heart of the AT33xEN is a dual moving-coil architecture, with independent coils for the left and right channels. These coils are made from PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting), a continuous casting process developed by Professor Atsumi Ohno that yields copper virtually free of crystal boundaries. This monocrystalline structure minimizes disturbances in signal transmission, ensuring remarkable smoothness and purity.

The coils are positioned at the cantilever fulcrum, where vibrations are captured with the greatest fidelity. This layout provides 27 dB channel separation at 1 kHz, delivering a precise and well-defined stereo image. Output balance is maintained within 1.0 dB, a sign of meticulous craftsmanship.

To maximize signal generation efficiency, Audio-Technica pairs a powerful neodymium magnet with a permendur yoke. The latter, an iron-cobalt alloy with exceptional magnetic properties, concentrates the magnetic field in the coil gap. This combination yields an output voltage of 0.4 mV from a coil impedance of just 12 ohms, requiring an MC phono preamplifier with a minimum load impedance of 100 ohms.

Extended frequency response

The AT33xEN covers a spectrum from 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz, far beyond the audible limit. This extended bandwidth is not just a paper spec: it demonstrates the ability of the cantilever-diamond-suspension system to faithfully track rapid groove modulations, ensuring transients and the finest details are preserved. In the low frequencies, the cartridge reaches down to the deepest fundamentals without softening or smearing. The mids benefit from heightened expressiveness thanks to die-cast zinc controlling resonances. The highs remain clear and airy without ever becoming aggressive.

This sonic character—described by the brand as “warm and rich”—sets the AT33xEN apart within the new lineup. Where the higher AT33xMLD (€799) favors analytical precision thanks to its microlinear stylus, and the AT33xMLB (€899) focuses on speed with its boron cantilever, the AT33xEN offers a different balance. Its presentation is warm without coloration, detailed without being clinical, and versatile without sounding bland.

The AT33x series: a decade in the making

Before the AT33x series, Audio-Technica already offered renowned moving-coil cartridges such as the AT33EV (with elliptical stylus), AT33Sa (Shibata tip), and AT33PTG/II. These models, praised for their value and sonic signature, nonetheless needed an update. More than ten years had passed since the last major evolution of the range, and technology had moved on.

Launched in October 2025, the AT33x series brings substantial improvements while preserving the spirit of earlier models. In addition to the AT33xEN, the lineup includes two other stereo cartridges—the AT33xMLD and AT33xMLB—as well as two mono models: the AT33xMONO/I and AT33xMONO/II. These latter use a generator specific to mono vinyl, designed to ignore vertical groove movement and thereby reduce surface noise on older or worn pressings.

All models in the series share the same core innovations: a hybrid zinc-aluminum-polymer body, independent PCOCC coils, a neodymium magnet with permendur yoke, and a reduced-compliance suspension system. This technical consistency ensures a common sonic identity, while allowing each model to express its own character according to the stylus and cantilever used.

Technical specifications

Electrical specifications

• Output voltage: 0.4 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Coil impedance: 12 Ω (1 kHz)
• DC resistance: 12 Ω
• Coil inductance: 26 µH (1 kHz)
• Recommended load impedance: ≥ 100 Ω (MC preamp required)

Mechanical specifications

• Cartridge type: MC (dual moving coil)
• Recommended tracking force: 1.8 – 2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
• Static compliance: 21 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne
• Dynamic compliance: 6 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne (100 Hz)
• Stylus: nude elliptical (0.3 × 0.7 mil)
• Cantilever: conical duralumin tube
• Vertical tracking angle: 19°

Audio performance

• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 40000 Hz
• Channel separation: 27 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel balance: 1.0 dB (1 kHz)

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (H × W × D): 16.1 × 16.6 × 26.1 mm
• Weight: 10.1 g
• Threaded inserts: M2.6 × 2

Included accessories

• Non-magnetic screwdriver
• Cleaning brush
• Washers × 2
• Mounting screws: 8 mm, 10 mm, 13 mm
• Protective cap