Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 – Luxury cartridge for € 10.000,-

Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge is the cartridge that Audio-Technica Ltd. is launching to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary. As befits such an anniversary, this is a very special system, which is unique in terms of both technology and choice of materials. In addition, it is produced in a strictly limited edition, with no more than 60 units of this solution available worldwide. However, this exclusivity has its price, because those who are enthusiastic about the new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 will have to pay an incredible € 10.000,- for it.

Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 – Celebrating Audio-Technica’s 60th Birthday

The new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 is the result of 60 years of research, development and, not least, experience in the field of pick-up systems, according to Audio-Technica. The most modern technologies are used to inspire even the most demanding lovers of analogue audio technology.

“It’s an honour to bring a high-quality audio experience to millions of people around the world. What starts with a simple vibration – a subtle movement – leads to an emotional connection, whether listening intently to an album or sharing your voice with the world.”

Kazuo Matsushita, President, Audio-Technica Ltd.

Unified diamond needle cantilever

At the heart of the new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 is a stylus and 0.22 mm cantilever made from a single laboratory-grown diamond, which is said to eliminate the distortion inherent in conventional interconnections of these essential components and guarantee pure signal transmission and fast transient response. The manufacturer also states that the integrated diamond cantilever is grown in the laboratory using a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process.

The new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge uses the same magnetic circuit as the recently introduced Audio-Technica AT-ART20 to guarantee highly efficient current generation, a higher output voltage and particularly realistic sound reproduction.

Titanium and aluminium housing

The housing of the new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge is also a special feature, as it is made of titanium and aluminium, with an elastomer coating on the underside to reduce unwanted resonances.

A handmade ion plating is supposed to ensure a particularly high durability and, incidentally, a particularly appealing high-gloss surface.

Black accents on the cartridge housing are said to be inspired by traditional Shippo enamelling or Japanese cloisonné, as the manufacturer notes.

High-quality connector pins are said to reduce contact resistance, with the manufacturer stating that they have a gold plating that is about 30 times thicker than usual.

The housing of the Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge features threaded holes for easy installation of the cartridge system on the tonearm or a headshell.

Exclusive packaging

As befits a solution of this kind, it is delivered in special packaging, although in view of the specially designed case made of walnut wood used here, one cannot really speak of plain packaging.

The case has an acrylic window into which the 60th anniversary logo of the manufacturer and the serial number of the pick-up system are engraved by laser. In addition, the packaging uses traditional Japanese Echizen washi paper.

“One of the most outstanding sound characteristics of the AT-MC2022 is its fast transient response thanks to the diamond cantilever’s vibration propagation. The sound profile is perfectly positioned between two speakers, providing clear audio reproduction for avid listeners and bringing you closer to your favourite records.”

Yosuke Koizumi, Cartridge Engineer at Audio-Technica

Pricing and availability

Those who are excited about the new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge should contact their local dealer as soon as possible, even if the cartridge system doesn’t arrive until Wikt. As the manufacturer explicitly states, there will be no more than 60 of these available worldwide. However, you should have a few euros to spare, because the manufacturer is asking for no less than € 10.000,-.

Getting to the point

The most outstanding feature of the new Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge is that it uses a unified composite needle cantilever made from a single lab-grown diamond. Added to this is a particularly sophisticated coil system, which should combine to guarantee outstanding performance. A housing made of titanium and aluminium, which presents itself in particularly radiant gold, a presentation form with a noble casket made of walnut wood, all this ensures that we are dealing with a particularly exquisite solution, worthy of the 60th anniversary of Audio-Technica Ltd. but also quite expensive.