Audio-Technica proudly introduces the AT-MCD1, a new flagship iron‑core moving‑coil stereo cartridge, exclusively at High End 2026 in Vienna.
Designed to deliver an exceptional level of precision and realism the AT-MCD1 builds on more than six decades of Japanese audio engineering and craftsmanship. It inherits the distinctive one‑piece diamond cantilever and stylus construction of its predecessor, the 60th anniversary cartridge AT-MC2022, while further refining the design to achieve even greater detail, speed, and smoothness.
At the core of the AT-MCD1 is an integrated diamond cantilever and stylus tip engineered to transmit the groove’s kinetic energy with minimal loss. The lightweight 0.22 mm square diamond cantilever takes full advantage of the material’s extremely high transmission speed, enabling fast attack and decay with outstanding clarity. Vocals are precisely focused, low frequencies are dense and controlled, and high frequencies are rendered with refinement and smoothness. Due to the suppression of unwanted high‑frequency resonance the listening experience feels more realistic and fatigue‑free.
To create this specific diamond, Audio‑Technica employs the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)* method. Synthetic diamond created through CVD offers material characteristics equal to—and in some respects exceeding—those of natural diamond. Its exceptional uniformity and high reliability allow it to exhibit ideal properties as a cantilever material.
The AT-MCD1 is the first Audio‑Technica cartridge to feature a newly developed Shibata stylus with a finer R2.7 × r0.08 mil curvature radius. This refined profile allows the stylus to trace even the most intricate groove modulations with more accuracy. In combination with the highly responsive diamond cantilever, it reveals subtle details such as the breath of a vocalist or the delicate decay of strings, delivering a highly immersive and lifelike listening experience.
Featuring high‑separation, wide‑response dual moving coils, the AT-MCD1 strives for accurate sound localisation and low distortion. A hybrid structure combining titanium, aluminum, and elastomer materials helps suppress resonances, and overall mass reduction ensures excellent acoustic performance, while maintaining structural integrity. Additional refinements include PCOCC coils for purer signal transmission, thick gold‑plated terminal pins to reduce contact resistance, and threaded mounting holes allow easier installation on integrated tonearms and compatible headshells.
After mirror polishing by skilled craftsmen, each housing receives an ion‑plated finish that enhances durability and creates a deep, elegant black appearance befitting the AT-MCD1 as the new flagship product.
*CVD: A synthetic diamond manufacturing process in which carbon atoms are layered through chemical vapor deposition.
Features of the AT-MCD1
- Integrated one‑piece diamond cantilever and stylus for ultra‑precise signal transmission
- Lightweight 0.22 mm square diamond cantilever for fast attack, decay, and refined high‑frequency response
- Newly developed Shibata stylus (R2.7 × r0.08 mil) for accurate groove tracing and enhanced detail retrieval
- High‑purity lab‑grown diamond produced using the CVD method for consistency and reliability
- Precision‑machined titanium housing combining low mass with exceptional rigidity
- Dual moving‑coil generator with high separation and wide frequency response
- High‑efficiency magnetic circuit with increased flux density for higher output voltage
- PCOCC coils and thick gold‑plated terminal pins for purer signal transmission
- Threaded mounting holes for easier installation on integrated tonearms and compatible headshells
- Hand‑finished in Japan with individually engraved serial number and delivered in a solid cherry wood case
The AT-MCD1 will be available from 4 June 2026. To inquire about the product, please visit the website here. Find out more at www.audio-technica.com.
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