The Vessel A3SE cartridge

The Vessel A3SE cartridge

SKU: THEVESSELA3SE

  • $129.00

THE VESSEL A3SE CARTRIDGE

"The Vessel A3SE cartridge is an absolute world-beater at $99. To say I was wowed is a huge understatement, and I very clearly preferred The Vessel A3SE to a lot of $400 cartridges I have tried before. The presentation is slightly forward in perspective, with sound that is silky-smooth, rich, clean, precise and detailed, with beautiful tonality from deepest bass to highest treble. The superlatives just flow when describing it, just as beautiful music flows from this exceptional cartridge." - Don Lindich, Sound Advice Q&A Newspaper Column"1

"Experiencing the Vessel A3SE and its performance at the price is probably the most shocking experience I have had in 15 years of reviewing audio. There is a complete line of The Vessel cartridges and they can also be upgraded by changing the stylus, so it can grow with you when you upgrade to a new turntable. Given how great the A3SE sounds, I can only imagine what the more expensive models are like!"2

"Once again, I don't stop listening to my dear old vinyls (and I've got many 100s). The quality of sound with this cartridge is UNSURMOUNTED! (That is not English, is it?). Anyway, you catch my drift. I am 62 and have been through more than a few record players in my life, but this is "unheard of" (sorry for the silly pun). In short: WOW!"3

The Vessel A3SE is a wonderfully disruptive cartridge. Its generous, organic and natural Full Spectra Sound complements any type of music on your list. 4 The beautiful, natural tonal balance, richly harmonic presentation and spatial resolution convey sentience the energy beyond hearing, beyond listening hiding in the grooves of your vinyl. It's more than just the sound, The Vessel cartridge communicates the emotional content in the groove. You'll hear it, you'll feel it and experience it. The A3SE features a beautifully-made Super Elliptical diamond and uprated parts and materials handcrafted in Japan. Upgrading is as simple as swapping the stylus.

The Vessel A3SE Cartridge Specifications
- Type: Moving Magnet
- Frequency range: 20-25,000 Hz
- Output voltage @ 1kHz: 3.0 mV
- Channel balance @ 1kHz: <1.5dB
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: 22dB
- Dynamic compliance (100Hz): 8 10-6 cm/dyne
- Tracking ability at 2.0g : 60 m
- Cantilever: Special type aluminum pipe
- Stylus type: Super elliptical
- Stylus tip radius: 7.6m 15.5m
- Tracking force: 2.0 g
- Internal impedance @ 1kHz: 670 ohms
- Internal inductance: 285 mH
- Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm
- Cartridge color, body/stylus: Black/Gold/Sky Blue
- Weight: 6.0 g
- Mounting hardware included: 2 Screws, 2 Nuts
- Stylus replacement: A3SE stylus

 

____________________________________

Footnote 1: Don Lindich, "Sound Advice Q&A Newspaper Column", Sound Advice, February 3, 2017.
Footnote 2: Ibid.
Footnote 3: Customer e-mail Feb 12, 2017.
Footnote 4: A high resolution system is needed to experience the Full Spectra Sound and sentience of the A3SE. LP Tunes Music listening equipment: Graham Slee Reflex M phono preamp, Graham Slee Accession phono preamp, Graham Slee Elevator EXP headamp, Denon AU-300LC Step-up transformer, Graham Slee Proprius mono amps, Quicksilver Silver 88 mono amps, Odyssey Kismet stereo amp, Roadrunner Digital Turntable Tachometer, Sota Sapphire turntable, Pioneer PL-12D turntable, Audience SE Phono Cable, Audience Ohno speaker cables, Rogers LS3/5A speakers, Audience ClairAudient 1+1 Loudspeakers, Krell LAT 2 speakers, Yamaha NS1000M speakers, LP Tunes CF3600LE cartridge, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, Ortofon 2M Black cartridge, Rega Carbon, Supex SD 901 Super cartridge, Denon DL-103 cartridge, Denon DL-110 cartridge, Grace F-9E cartridge.

Customer Reviews

Based on 2 reviews
50%
(1)
0%
(0)
50%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
A
Anastasios

The Vessel A3SE is a just ok cartridge for beginners! I have it more than a year and now I have to replace it with a better one!

C
Christopher Cahill (Navarre, US)
Vessel A3SE

Took my Denon DP-45F turntable out of moth balls since 1995. I bought it in 1984 when I was stationed in Guam with the Air Force. Contacted LP tunes about their recommendations for a cartridge. The A3SE was at the lower price range. Not sure of the turntable's health, went with the A3SE so as to keep cost low. Easy installation with the longer screws provided. Balanced tone arm and aligned cartridge. Sound quality is great and am very pleased with the performance. Would highly recommend the A3SE.


JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay in the loop with LP Tunes sales, promotions & deals!

★ Reviews ★

Let customers speak for us

3865 reviews
94%
(3623)
5%
(211)
0%
(16)
0%
(4)
0%
(11)
Realistic R8010 belt

I can confirm that this is the correct size belt for this turntable.

LP Tunes Order

I received the replacement Ion turntable belt and diamond stylus in 10 days after the online order. I chose LP Tunes because it is one of the few suppliers for both of these items, and I have ordered from them in the past. I purchased this stylus as a future replacement for the usual ruby stylus and the belt as a spare to use when needed, so I have not had a chance to try these items yet. I am interested to see whether the diamond stylus handles "skips" in the old records better than the ruby stylus.

Replacement stylus

Carrie from LP Tune was amazing to work with.
Thank you LP Tune.

Top quality in every way

Audio Technica’s own production is always well made, but the Jico replacement I got is even better. No messy blobs of cement, perfect alignment, and higher compliance than the original, tracking well at 1.8 grams. Very nice, especially for the asking price.

K
Stylus for Stanton 681EEE cartridge
Kent Taylor (Stillwater, US)

Stylus for Stanton 681EEE cartridge

Although it came out of the box orange, it still fit and worked perfectly!

J
Stylus for Pickering XV-15/350 cartridge
Jeff Counihan (Denver, US)

Great company

R
Replacement for Kenwood N-67BL N67BL stylus
Ricardo Kamenetzky (Atlanta, US)
Good experience with LP Tunes

I needed a replacement for a Kenwood N-67BL stylus. Other store websites were offering replacement styluses, but it was not clear if they were replacements for a N-67BL. The LP Tunes item was clearly labeled for what it is intended to do, and it fits perfectly. I want to also comment on the great customer service by LP TUNES in how they handled a return and exchange, for a separate purchase.