The AT33 Series is the epitome of Audio-Technica’s dual moving coil cartridges. Its origins can be traced back to the AT34 headshell-integrated MC cartridge created in 1977. Since that initial offering, we have developed new models to meet changing needs, and now we have brought them together to form the all-new AT33x Series.
This series, the first extensive overhaul of the line since 2014, features five models: AT33xMLB, AT33xMLD, and AT33xEN stereo cartridges, and AT33xMONO/I and AT33xMONO/II monaural cartridges.
Making full use of our phono cartridge technology know-how, cultivated since our founding in 1962, we have refined both materials and manufacturing processes to deliver detailed, stable sonic performance. The cartridge structure incorporates a zinc die-cast base for the first time, combined with aluminum and a high-rigidity polymer. This triple-material design helps disperse internal vibrations through structural optimization, resulting in a natural, balanced sound profile without coloration toward any specific frequency range.
Each cartridge in the AT33x Series features PCOCC (pure copper by Ohno continuous casting) coils and gold-plated pins, designed to reduce signal interference and distortion, ensuring clean audio transmission with exceptional resolution and immersive sound quality.
To enhance installation convenience, the AT33x Series features a threaded mounting-hole design, allowing for direct mounting to through-hole type headshells or headshell-integrated tonearms—the standard configuration in most high-fidelity audio systems. The terminal pins are reinforced with thick gold plating, effectively reducing contact resistance and enhancing signal transmission quality for improved sonic performance.
Manufactured entirely in Japan, the AT33x series reflects Audio-Technica’s dedication to precision and craftsmanship. Each cartridge is carefully hand-assembled and finely tuned by skilled technicians, embodying the brand’s commitment to quality and passion for the art of sound. The packaging is thoughtfully designed using paper materials, with no plastic components, making it easy to recycle and reducing unnecessary material waste—demonstrating attention to detail beyond the product itself.
The new AT33x lineup includes the following:
- AT33xEN Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge
High-hardness duralumin tapered pipe cantilever
The AT33xEN features a high-hardness duralumin pipe cantilever that provides greater rigidity than standard aluminum. Precision-machined into a tapered shape that narrows toward the elliptical stylus tip, it enhances high-frequency control and transient response while highlighting the distinctive sonic character of duralumin. The cantilever is paired with a rigid suspension system, which slightly reduces dynamic compliance to improve tracking stability. At the cantilever’s fulcrum, two independent PCOCC coils are positioned to ensure pure and accurate signal transmission for each channel.
Lightweight nude elliptical stylus with minimal sound distortion
The significantly enhanced fundamental performance of the stylus allows for highly accurate and stable playback over a wide bandwidth.
- AT33xMLB Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge
Solid boron tapered cantilever and lightweight vibration system
The AT33xMLB features a solid boron tapered cantilever that narrows toward a microlinear stylus tip, reducing the effective tip mass and enhancing high-frequency response. Boron, known for its superior vibration transmission speed, the lightweight stylus design to deliver refined high-frequency performance and reveal delicate.
The joint between the cantilever and armature uses a double structure to increase rigidity, which improves the strength of the cantilever and suppresses unwanted resonance, thereby improving sound quality. At the cantilever’s fulcrum, two independent PCOCC coils are precisely positioned to handle left and right channel signals separately, ensuring accurate and pure signal transmission.
Microlinear stylus with high-precision and high-information capacity
The AT33xMLB features a microlinear stylus with a small curvature radius that maintains low distortion even when tracking the inner grooves of a vinyl record. This enables extended high-frequency reproduction and reveals rich musical detail with exceptional resolution and clarity.
Stable sound quality over an extended period of time
The Microlinear stylus features a multi-layered shape that evenly distributes contact pressure, effectively extending its service life. Its form and contact surface remain stable throughout the entire period of use, until the stylus reaches the end of its lifespan. This ensures consistently accurate signal tracking over time while reducing physical stress on record grooves.
- AT33xMLD Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge
• High-hardness duralumin tapered pipe cantilever
The AT33xMLD features a high-hardness duralumin pipe cantilever that provides greater rigidity than standard aluminum. Precision-machined into a tapered shape that narrows toward the elliptical stylus tip, it enhances high-frequency control and transient response while highlighting the distinctive sonic character of duralumin. The cantilever is paired with a rigid suspension system, which slightly reduces dynamic compliance to improve tracking stability. At the cantilever’s fulcrum, two independent PCOCC coils are positioned to ensure pure and accurate signal transmission for each channel.
Microlinear stylus with high-precision and high-information capacity
The AT33xMLD features a microlinear stylus with a small curvature radius that maintains low distortion even when tracking the inner grooves of a vinyl record. This enables extended high-frequency reproduction and reveals rich musical detail with exceptional resolution and clarity.
- AT33xMONO/I & AT33xMONO/II Dual Moving Coil Mono Cartridges
True Mono Structure: Delivering the Essence of Monaural Sound
The AT33xMONO/I and AT33xMONO/II adopt a True Mono dual moving coil structure that generates an electrical signal only from horizontal stylus movement, making it immune to unwanted vertical noise from the record groove. This results in clearer monaural playback with enhanced low-frequency response and reduced surface noise. The dual mono coil design also allows for accurate mono reproduction even when used with a stereo system.
High-Rigidity Duralumin Tapered Pipe Cantilever
Both models are equipped with a high-rigidity duralumin pipe cantilever, precision-machined into a tapered shape that narrows toward the stylus tip. This design enhances high-frequency control and transient response while showcasing the unique tonal characteristics of duralumin. The cantilever is paired with a robust suspension system that slightly reduces dynamic compliance, improving tracking stability across a wide range of tonearms.
PCOCC coils are positioned at the fulcrum of the cantilever and integrated with the True Mono structure. This configuration enables more direct detection of horizontal signal movements, resulting in low distortion and high-resolution monaural signal transmission.
AT33xMONO/I – High-Performance Mono Model
The AT33xMONO/I utilizes a high-energy neodymium magnet in combination with a Permendur yoke, creating a concentrated magnetic field around the coils to maximize output efficiency. This configuration delivers exceptional resolution and fast transient response.
AT33xMONO/II – Warm and Natural Tonality
The AT33xMONO/II features a magnetic circuit composed of a samarium–cobalt magnet and a pure iron yoke—the only model in the AT33x series to use this configuration. It offers a smooth, natural sound with refined tonal detail and rich texture.
Nude conical stylus ideal for monaural playback
Both the AT33xMONO/I and AT33xMONO/II feature a nude conical stylus specifically designed for monaural vinyl records. The stylus shape is optimized to match the consistent groove width and depth of mono pressings, ensuring precise tracking and faithful signal reproduction. This design enhances mid- and low-frequency energy while further improving overall sound stability and tonal consistency.
| |
AT33xEN |
AT33xMLB |
AT33xMLD |
AT33xMONO/I |
AT33xMONO/II |
| Type |
MC |
| Frequency response |
20~40,000Hz |
20~45,000Hz |
20~42,000Hz |
20~42,000Hz |
20~42,000Hz |
| Output voltage |
0.4mV(1kHz, 5cm/sec) |
0.42mV(1kHz, 5cm/sec) |
0.4mV(1kHz, 5cm/sec) |
0.42mV(1kHz, 5cm/sec) |
0.37mV(1kHz, 5cm/sec) |
| Channel Separation |
27dB (1kHz) |
- |
| Horizontal/vertical output ratio |
- |
25dB (1kHz) |
| Output balance |
1.0dB (1kHz) |
| Tracking Force |
1.8 to 2.2 g (2.0 g standard) |
2.0 to 2.4 g (2.2 g standard) |
2.3 to 2.7 g (2.5 g standard) |
| Coil impedance |
12Ω (1kHz) |
10Ω (1kHz) |
| DC resistance |
12Ω |
10Ω |
| Recommended load impedance |
≥ 100Ω (when head amplifier connected) |
| Coil inductance |
26μH (1kHz) |
27μH (1kHz) |
| Static compliance |
21 × 10-6cm/dyne |
19 × 10-6cm/dyne |
21 × 10-6cm/dyne |
14 × 10-6cm/dyne |
| Dynamic compliance |
6× 10-6cm/dyne (100Hz) |
| Stylus |
Nude Elliptical |
Nude Microlinear |
Nude conical |
| Stylus curvature radius |
0.3 × 0.7mil |
2.2 × 0.12mil |
0.65mil |
| Cantilever |
Duralumin tapered pipe |
Nude tapered boron |
Duralumin tapered pipe |
| Vertical tracking angle |
19° |
20° |
| Dimensions |
H16.1mm × W16.6mm × D26.1mm |
H16.0mm × W16.6mm × D26.1mm |
H16.1mm × W16.6mm × D26.1mm |
| Threaded hole |
M2.6 × 2 |
| Weight |
10.1 g |
10.2 g |
| Accessories |
Non-magnetic screwdriver,
Brush,
Washer × 2,
Cartridge installation screws (M2.6) (8.0 mm × 2, 10.0 mm × 2, 13.0 mm × 2),
Protector |
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