AT33E

About the AT33E

The Audio-Technica AT33E is a moving coil cartridge manufactured by Audio-Technica in Japan between 1981 and 1984. It features a precision aluminum alloy body with low oxygen copper coils (LC/OFC) to ensure pure audio transmission. The cartridge has an elliptical diamond stylus (0.2 x 0.7 mil) mounted on a beryllium cantilever, designed to reduce mechanical deformation and unwanted vibrations with internal damping materials such as Hanenite. It offers a wide frequency response from 15 Hz to 50,000 Hz, channel separation greater than 30 dB at 1 kHz, and a low output voltage of 0.4 mV at 1 kHz/5 cm/s. The recommended tracking force is nominally 1.5 g (range 1.2 to 1.8 g), with a vertical tracking angle of 23 degrees. The cartridge weighs approximately 6.8 g, making it compatible with most modern tonearms. It is praised for accurate, detailed, and rich sound reproduction with excellent bass, dynamics, and soundstage. The AT33E requires a phono preamp with high gain and an input impedance greater than 17 Ohms for optimal performance.