Audio Technica AT33xMONO/II

Overview

The Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/II is a dedicated mono moving coil cartridge designed to give original mono pressings and reissues the presence and solidity they deserve. Rather than summing a stereo cartridge, it uses a true mono dual coil generator that responds only to lateral groove modulation, which rejects vertical noise and delivers a centered, focused image with a very low noise floor.

This second generation model carries a nude line contact stylus mounted on a solid boron cantilever, a pairing that reads the groove wall accurately and pulls fine detail from well worn or historic pressings. The design goal here is faithful mono reproduction with excellent tracking stability, making it a specialist tool for collectors and listeners who take their mono catalog seriously.

As part of the Audio-Technica AT33 mono lineage, the AT33xMONO/II balances refinement and clarity with a robust, musical character. It suits medium mass tonearms and any phono stage with adequate moving coil gain, rewarding careful setup with a clean, immediate presentation.

Key Features

• True dual moving coil mono generator that responds only to lateral groove motion for lower noise
• Nude line contact stylus for precise groove wall contact and detail retrieval
• Solid boron cantilever for rigidity and fast transient response
• Low output moving coil design intended for MC capable phono stages
• Optimized for mono LPs, original pressings, and modern mono reissues
• Excellent channel-to-channel balance and centered imaging
• Machined body for rigidity and controlled resonance
• Compatible with medium mass tonearms for stable tracking

How the AT33xMONO Compares

Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/II Dual Moving Coil Mono Phono Cartridge vs Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML

The AT-OC9XML is a stereo moving coil flagship of this family with a MicroLine stylus aimed at maximum detail from stereo records. The AT33xMONO/II is a specialist mono design that trades stereo playback for a purpose built dual coil mono generator with superior mono noise rejection. Choose the OC9XML for stereo listening and the AT33xMONO/II when your priority is authentic mono reproduction. See the Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML.

Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/II Dual Moving Coil Mono Phono Cartridge vs Audio-Technica AT-OC9XEN

The AT-OC9XEN is a stereo moving coil cartridge with a nude elliptical stylus, a fine entry point into the OC9X series for everyday stereo playback. The AT33xMONO/II serves a different purpose entirely, built to extract centered, low noise sound from mono pressings. They are complementary tools rather than direct rivals within the same use case. See the Audio-Technica AT-OC9XEN.

Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/II Dual Moving Coil Mono Phono Cartridge vs Ortofon MC Quintet Mono

The Ortofon MC Quintet Mono is another dedicated mono moving coil cartridge, voiced with Ortofon's own tonal character. The AT33xMONO/II offers the Audio-Technica signature of a boron cantilever and line contact stylus for a clean, immediate mono presentation. Both are true mono designs, so the choice comes down to preferred sonic character and system matching. See the Ortofon MC Quintet Mono.

Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/II Dual Moving Coil Mono Phono Cartridge vs Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/I

The original AT33xMONO/I established this mono moving coil concept with the same dual coil approach. The AT33xMONO/II continues that lineage as the current generation model. If you are building a mono focused setup today, the II is the current reference within this family. See the Audio-Technica AT33xMONO/I.

Recommended Turntables and Phono Stage

This low output mono moving coil cartridge needs a rigid medium mass tonearm and a phono stage with proper MC gain and loading. The following pairings suit its output and tracking requirements.

• Audio-Technica AT-LP7X A fully manual belt drive deck with a well damped tonearm that suits a low output MC cartridge and lets you dial in tracking force precisely. A natural in family match for careful mono setup.
• MoFi UltraDeck A solid medium mass tonearm and stable platter make it a good host for a precise moving coil like the AT33xMONO/II, giving the mono presentation a quiet, stable foundation.
• Thorens TD 403 DD Direct drive speed stability and a capable tonearm pair well with a mono MC cartridge, delivering the pitch stability that reveals the focus of good mono pressings.
• MoFi UltraPhono Pro Offers switchable moving coil gain and loading with a mono friendly setup, providing enough clean gain for the 0.4 mV output of this cartridge.
• Luxman E-250 A refined MM and MC phono stage with generous MC gain and selectable loading, an ideal partner to draw out the low noise character of a mono MC cartridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AT33xMONO/II a true mono cartridge?
Yes. It uses a dual moving coil generator wired to respond only to lateral groove modulation, which is the correct approach for authentic mono playback rather than summing a stereo signal.

Can I play mono records with a stereo cartridge instead?
You can, but a true mono cartridge like the AT33xMONO/II rejects vertical noise and gives a more centered, lower noise result on genuine mono pressings.

What is the output voltage?
It outputs 0.4 mV at 1 kHz, which requires a phono stage with moving coil gain.

What phono stage do I need?
You need a phono preamplifier with moving coil support and enough gain for a low output MC cartridge, along with appropriate loading of at least 100 ohms.

What tracking force should I use?
The recommended tracking force is 2.0 g, with a usable range of 1.8 g to 2.2 g.

What stylus and cantilever does it use?
A nude line contact stylus mounted on a solid boron cantilever for precise groove reading and fast transient response.

What load impedance is recommended?
A minimum load of 100 ohms is recommended, and many listeners find good results around that value.

Will it work with medium mass tonearms?
Yes. At 8.0 g it is well suited to medium mass tonearms found on quality turntables.

Does it play stereo records?
It is designed for mono playback. For stereo records a stereo moving coil cartridge such as the AT-OC9XEN or AT-OC9XML is the appropriate choice.

How does it differ from the AT33xMONO/I?
The AT33xMONO/II is the current generation of this mono dual coil design, continuing the concept of the earlier model.

Can it play older shellac or 78 records?
It is intended for microgroove mono LPs. Shellac 78s require a dedicated 78 stylus profile, so this cartridge is not the right tool for those.

What frequency response does it offer?
Its published frequency response is 20 Hz to 25 kHz.

Is a step up transformer required?
Not necessarily. A phono stage with sufficient MC gain will drive it well, though some listeners use a step up transformer into an MM stage.

What turntables pair well with it?
Decks with rigid medium mass tonearms and precise adjustment, such as the AT-LP7X, MoFi UltraDeck, or Thorens TD 403 DD, are strong matches.

Does it come with mounting hardware?
Yes. It includes mounting screws, nuts, washers, a non magnetic screwdriver, a brush, and a stylus guard.

Can the stylus be replaced by the user?
Moving coil cartridges like this are not user restylusable. Audio-Technica offers a replacement or exchange program for worn units.

Why does mono playback sound quieter and more focused?
Because a true mono cartridge ignores vertical modulation, it rejects much of the surface noise present in mono grooves and delivers a solid centered image.

How do I set loading correctly?
Set your phono stage to at least 100 ohms and adjust to taste. Correct loading balances detail and tonal warmth.

Is this cartridge suitable for a first serious mono setup?
Yes. It is a well regarded specialist choice for collectors building a dedicated mono chain with capable moving coil electronics.

Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Audio-Technica dealer in Maryland with this cartridge in stock, so you receive a genuine product, full manufacturer support, and expert guidance on setup and matching.