Audio-Technica AT-MC2022 60th Anniversary Dual Moving Coil Cartridge

Unified stylus-cantilever made from lab-grown diamond in a titanium housing.

The result of 60 years of phono cartridge research and development, the AT-MC2022 is an innovative moving coil cartridge that produces a sharp, vibrant soundscape that lets you hear and feel every detail of your music.

The highlight of the cartridge is its unified stylus-cantilever, formed from a single, lab-grown diamond. This unique construction eliminates the distortion caused by the conventional bonding of stylus to cantilever, allowing for a purer transmission of the vibration from the record groove to the coils. The unified, very slim (0.22 mm)  diamond cantilever ensures extremely high propagation velocity and fast transient response.

The AT-MC2022 has a highly efficient magnetic circuit resulting in greater magnetic flux density and output voltage. The hybrid cartridge body is made from an aluminum base and titanium housing, with an elastomer undercover to reduce undesirable resonance. Threaded mounting holes allow for easy installation to a headshell or integrated tonearm, and high-quality terminal pins (with gold plating that’s approximately 30 times thicker than is conventional) reduce contact resistance.

In celebration of Audio-Technica’s 60th anniversary, the AT-MC2022 moving coil cartridge features design accents inspired by traditional Shippo enameling and comes in a specially crafted walnut storage case with flip lid, drawer, and acrylic window engraved with the product’s serial number and the 60th anniversary A-T logo.

Features

• Integrated stylus and 0.22 mm cantilever, formed from a single lab-grown diamond, using CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process
• Body of titanium and aluminum with an elastomer undercover to reduce undesirable resonance
• Highly efficient magnetic circuit resulting in greater magnetic flux density and output voltage
• High-quality terminal pins (with gold plating that’s approximately 30 times thicker than on conventional pins) reduce contact resistance
• Black accents on cartridge body are inspired by traditional shippo enameling 
• Threaded cartridge mounting holes allow for easy installation to a headshell or integrated tonearm
• Comes with specially designed indvidually numbered walnut storage case, and the packaging uses a traditional Japanese Echizen Washi paper.
• Hand-crafted ion plating that achieves both high durability and a stunning mirror finish
• Accessories Included: non-magnetic screwdriver, brush, washers, installation screws, protector, case, accessory pouch

Specifications

Stylus: Unified line contact (integrated cantilever type)

Stylus Curvature Radius: 2.2 × 0.12 mil

Cantilever: 0.22 mm square diamond

Frequency Response: 20 to 50,000 Hz

Channel Separation: 30 dB (1 kHz)

Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°

Vertical Tracking Force: 1.6 to 2.0 g (1.8 g standard)

Threaded Hole: M2.6 × 2

Recommended Load Impedance: ≥ 100 ohm

Coil Impedance: 12 ohm

DC Resistance: 12 ohm

Coil Inductance: 25 μH

Output Voltage: 0.55 mV

Output Channel Balance: 0.5 dB

Cartridge Weight: 9.5 g 

Dimensions (HWD): 17.3 × 17.7 x 26.7 mm