Audio Technica AT-MCD1 Dual Moving Coil Cartridge

The AT-MCD1, Audio-Technica’s flagship iron-core moving coil cartridge, is one of the finest phono cartridges ever produced, designed to surpass even the outstanding expressiveness of our limited-edition AT-MC2022 60th anniversary model.

With its unified stylus-cantilever, formed from a single lab-grown diamond, the AT-MC2022 offered exceptional responsiveness and transparency, establishing a new benchmark for analog playback. The AT-MCD1 inherits that one-piece diamond construction but further reduces the mass of the cantilever and adopts a newly developed Shibata stylus (R2.7 × r0.08 mil tip radius) that traces the record groove with extreme accuracy. This seamless, high-purity structure enhances the precision of converting mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, achieving a higher integration of detail, density, speed, and smoothness.

The cartridge’s dual moving coils provide high separation and wide response for clear sound localization with minimal distortion. Its highly efficient magnetic circuit creates strong magnetic flux density and output voltage, further enriching the presence and realism of the sound image. A carefully crafted cartridge body, consisting of an aluminium base, titanium housing, and elastomer undercover, disperses unwanted resonance, while threaded mounting holes make the cartridge easy to install to a headshell or integrated tonearm.

Built around its diamond core structure, the AT-MCD1 naturally reproduces everything from the faintest nuance to powerful dynamic expression, presenting sound in which image contours and spatial depth emerge vividly. By retrieving even the most delicate signals without loss, sound rises smoothly from silence, and the texture of instruments and the lingering resonance of harmonics are conveyed with striking realism. The unbroken purity of the AT-MCD1’s diamond construction delivers ultra-low noise and outstanding resolution while staying true to the anniversary model’s philosophy, faithfully drawing out every detail in the original recording.

Unified Diamond Stylus-Cantilever
The AT-MCD1’s unified Shibata stylus (R2.7 × r0.08 mil tip radius) and 0.22 mm square diamond cantilever is formed from a single, lab-grown diamond. This unique construction eliminates the distortion caused by conventional bonding of stylus to cantilever, allowing for a purer transmission of the vibration from the record groove to the coils.

New Shibata Stylus
The AT-MCD1 features a Shibata stylus tip that’s been specially developed for this cartridge. With an R2.7 × r0.08 mil tip radius, the stylus can pick up the finest details from a record groove, resulting in stunningly lifelike audio reproduction.

Moving Coil Construction
The AT-MCD1 adopts the highly efficient magnetic circuit originally developed for the AT-ART20, which generates strong magnetic flux density and output voltage for exquisite sonic realism. Two independent PCOCC moving coils, positioned at the cantilever’s fulcrum, ensure pure signal transmission for each channel.

Specification

Frequency Response    20 to 50,000 Hz
Channel Separation    28 dB (1 kHz)
Vertical Tracking Angle    20°
Tracking Force    1.7 to 1.9 g (1.8 g standard)
Recommended Load Impedance    ≥ 100 ohms (when head amplifier connected)
Coil Impedance    12 ohms (1 kHz)
DC Resistance    12 ohms
Coil Inductance    25 μH (1 kHz)
Output Voltage    0.55 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.)
Output Balance    0.5 dB (1 kHz)
Stylus Shape    Shibata (integrated cantilever type)
Cantilever    0.22 mm (0.0087”) square diamond
Static Compliance    21 × 10-6 cm/dyne
Dynamic Compliance    15 × 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Dimensions    17.3 mm (0.68”) × 17.7 mm (0.70”) × 26.7 mm (1.1”) (H × W × D)
Accessories Included    Non-magnetic screwdriver
Brush
*Washer × 2
*Cartridge installation screws (M2.6) (5.0 mm (0.20”) × 2, 8.0 mm (0.31”) × 2, 10.0 mm (0.39”) × 2, 12.0 mm (0.47”) × 2)
Protector
Case (wooden box)
Threaded Hole    M2.6 × 2
Stylus Curvature Radius    2.7 × 0.08 mil
Type    MC
Weight    9.5 g (0.34 oz)
Notes    * Washers × 2 and screws (8.0 mm (0.31”)) × 2 are used to secure the cartridge at the time of purchase. Be sure to keep and not lose these after removing the cartridge from the imitation headshell.

For product improvement, the product is subject to modification without notice.