Audio Technica AT-LH13OCC

Audio-Technica AT-LH13OCC: TechniHard Headshell with PCOCC Leads

Thirteen grams, not one more: this specific mass places the AT-LH13OCC in an optimal compatibility zone with the majority of tonearms on the market, while providing the rigidity required for precise groove tracking. Audio-Technica designed this headshell to allow fine adjustment of azimuth and overhang, two parameters that directly affect a turntable’s playback quality.

Proprietary alloy for vibration control

The body of the AT-LH13OCC is machined from an aluminum alloy called TechniHard, developed in-house by Audio-Technica. This proprietary material combines lightness with structural rigidity. The shell undergoes a surface treatment with bead blasting followed by anodizing, which improves wear resistance while giving it its characteristic matte appearance.

The two-part design—the shell itself and the connector end—allows azimuth and overhang adjustment via an adjustable collar. This engineering choice helps control resonances: independent measurements have shown that the vibrational modes of this headshell are confined to the high frequencies (around 7 and 15 kHz), with rapid damping in less than 100 milliseconds. The absence of through-slots in the structure contributes to this rigidity.

PCOCC copper conductors with gold plating

The AT-LH13OCC comes equipped with AT6101 leads, which connect the cartridge to the headshell pins. These conductors use PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting), a continuous casting process developed by Professor Ohno of the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan. This technique produces an almost monocrystalline copper wire, reducing the boundaries between metal grains that can affect signal transmission.

Each wire is made up of 22 strands with a diameter of 0.12 mm, offering a good compromise between handling flexibility and conductor cross-section. The clips are plated with 24-carat gold to ensure stable, oxidation-resistant contact over time.

Simplified mounting with internal threading

Unlike conventional headshells that require nuts to secure the cartridge from underneath, the AT-LH13OCC features integrated threaded holes. The mounting screws screw directly into the headshell body, which simplifies installation and avoids juggling tiny parts in a confined space. This design also makes cartridge changes easier for users who own multiple pickups.

The supplied kit includes seven pairs of screws in different lengths (3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 mm) to fit virtually all standard ½-inch mount cartridges. A hex key is also included for azimuth and overhang adjustments.

Azimuth and overhang adjustments

The adjustable collar located between the shell and the connector end allows two types of corrections. Azimuth adjustment compensates for any lateral tilt of the cartridge, ensuring symmetrical contact of the stylus in the groove. Overhang adjustment modifies the distance between the stylus tip and the platter’s axis of rotation, a parameter that influences tracking angle and tracking distortion.

These adjustments require patience and suitable calibration tools (alignment protractor, azimuth mirror). The collar system offers a sufficient adjustment range for most situations, but fine-tuning remains delicate on a mechanism of this size.

Technical specifications

Construction and materials

• Mass: 13 g
  • Optimal balance between structural rigidity and compatibility with most tonearms
• Material: TechniHard

Wiring and connections

• AT6101 PCOCC cables (pure copper obtained by Ohno continuous casting)
  • 4 conductors
  • 22 strands of 0.12 mm per conductor
  • 24-carat gold plating on all conductors
  • Clear and precise signal transmission

Adjustment and mounting

• Mounting system: threaded tip without nuts
  • Simplified installation
• Precision adjustments available
  • Adjustable overhang
  • Adjustable azimuth
  • Optimized groove tracking

Compatibility

• ½-inch standard-mount phono cartridges