Audio Technica AT33xEN Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge

Audio Technica AT33xEN Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge with Nude Elliptical Diamond Stylus

The Audio Technica AT33xEN Moving Coil Cartridge is the entry into the AT33x stereo range and comes with a Nude Elliptical Diamond Stylus mounted to a Tapered Duralumin Cantilever.

This cartridge combines a rich sound field with stable control. It features a deep and vivid ocean of resonant sound with the dual moving coils of the system providing high separation and wide response for clear sound localisation with minimal distortion.

Since the original AT34 cartridge in 1977, Audio Technica have been developing new models to meet changing needs. And now they have brought them together to form the all-new AT33x Series. Making full use of Audio Technica’s phono cartridge technology know-how (cultivated since AT’s founding in 1962), they have applied advanced processing while carefully refining the materials. This includes the first use of a zinc die-cast for the cartridge base for optimum structure.

This series is the first extensive overhaul of the line since 2014, featuring five models: AT33xMLB, AT33xMLD, and AT33xEN stereo cartridges, andAT33xMono/I and AT33xMono/II monaural cartridges.

In addition to the delicate, high-resolution sound that Audio Technica’s customers know and love, they have also pursued well-balanced sound quality over a wide bandwidth. The cartridges in this series provide a full, welcoming sound through dense mid and low frequency control. Audio Technica’s aim was to create a product with a truly unique character - one that adds warmth to the human voice.

Featuring masterful technology and wide bandwidth control, the newly reborn AT33x Series invites you to flood your listening space with a deep sea of sound.

Tapered Duralumin Cantilever

The AT33xEN features a tapered Duralumin cantilever to which the nude Elliptical diamond stylus is attached.

Elliptical Stylus

The elliptical stylus has two radii, the front radius being wider than the side radius. The front radius rides in the centre of the groove like the conical, while the smaller side radius makes more contact with the groove walls. More contact with the record groove walls delivers a higher level of fidelity.

Bonded or Nude?

In a bonded (or jointed) stylus, a diamond tip is glued on a metal shank that is itself glued into the hole of the cantilever. While less expensive to manufacture, this construction may increase the mass of the overall tip and affect transient response compared with a nude stylus where the tip and shank are constructed from a single piece of diamond.

Nude styli, shaped from whole diamonds, are more costly than bonded styli. Their lower mass allows nude styli to track more accurately. Also, since Audio Technica’s nude styli are grain-oriented, with their longest-wearing faces touching the record surface, they last longer.

Our Review

The Audio Technica AT33xEN Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge is the perfect entry point into the new AT33x range, offering a wonderfully balanced blend of musical warmth and precision engineering. Its nude elliptical diamond stylus, mounted on a tapered Duralumin cantilever, captures every subtle nuance with impressive fidelity and poise, while the dual moving coil design delivers exceptional channel separation and a wide, airy soundstage. There’s a richness and depth to its presentation - a sense of calm control that makes vocals sound human and instruments truly breathe. Drawing on decades of Audio Technica cartridge innovation, the AT33xEN benefits from refined materials, advanced processing, and a new zinc die-cast base that enhances structural stability. The result is a cartridge that doesn’t just play music, but paints it - filling your space with a smooth, resonant sea of sound that feels both detailed and delightfully immersive.