Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Combines smoothness in the upper and mid frequencies with sharply drawn and well-defined high-frequency transients.
- Masterfully voiced, with low coloration, and works well with all musical genres, especially acoustic music.
- Highly dynamic sound, potentially the best achievable outside of the Opus One.
- Features a holistic sound that reminds reviewers of classic studio carts.
- Renders recorded space perfectly with a deep and wide soundstage.
Product Considerations
- Tracking abilities are only moderately good, requiring a VTF of 2.2gm to negotiate the 60µm peak on a test record.
- Requires a tonearm with an effective mass of around 15g-18g for a perfect resonance frequency.
- Expensive
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- PC-1 coda combines the smoothness with more sharply drawn and better-defined high-frequency transients than previous Matsudaira cartridges, compared to Lyra cartridges.
- PC-1 Coda's holistic sound and the ability to let the music speak with one voice reminds reviewers of the classic studio carts, compared to Ortofon SPU/EMT JSD.
- PC-1 Coda's speed and transient accuracy are nearly on par with Lyra Atlas.
Takeaway: The Air Tight PC-1 coda is a versatile cartridge that performs in a balanced way, so it is suitable for any musical style. Its outstanding performance can transform the listening experience.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
PC-1 coda
reviews
[{"title":"Analog Corner #284: Air Tight PC-1 coda phono cartridge, ...","link":"https://www.stereophile.com/content/analog-corner-284-air-tight-pc-1-coda-phono-cartridge-zesto-andros-allasso-step-transformer","source":"Stereophile","datePublished":""},{"title":"Air Tight PC1 Coda – “it took us 30 years to reach this point…”","link":"https://medialux.blog/2019/10/27/air-tight-pc1-coda-it-took-us-30-years-to-reach-this-point","source":"Medialux","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Internal impedance: 1.7 ohms (DCR)
- Output voltage: 0.5mV/1kHz
- Stylus pressure: 2.0 - 2.2g
- Channel balance: within 0.5dB/1kHz
- Cantilever: boron
- Stylus Tip Type: Semi-line contact (3 μ mm × 30 μ mm)
- Cartridge base: A7075 (Extra Super Duralumin)
- Housing: A6063
- Terminal: Rhodium plating
- Weight: 12.7g
Description
It's been over a decade since the first AirTight MC cartridge PC-1 made its debut. Today, we are pleased to announce debut of PC-1 coda, a new MC Cartridge pouring technologies and knowledges from our years of designing Cartridge.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- A&M stands apart with its long-lived designs; models like the ATM-2 remaining in production for over 30 years with only incremental updates, demonstrating a commitment to timeless quality over fleeting trends.
- They incorporate point-to-point wiring, hand-wound transformers (often sourced from small family businesses), and carefully selected components, reflecting a dedication to craftsmanship reminiscent of audio's golden age.
- Their products consistently balance high technical performance with exceptional musicality, delivering lush, textured sound with spatial accuracy and detail retrieval that sparks inner senses.
Select products
Select product comparisons
ATC-3
- Positioning: The entry-level stereo line-control amplifier designed for affordability and ease of use.
- Description: Features a simple SRPP design with a reinforced buffer stage and a quick recovery diode power supply that offers very low noise. Compared to the more advanced ATC-7, it has fewer features and lower output capability, making it best for small rooms and buyers with a tighter budget and basic functionality needs.
ATC-7
- Positioning: The mid-range stereo line-control amplifier focused on precise signal handling.
- Description: Uses dual 12AX7 and 12AU7 valves to deliver precise control, a wide frequency range, and low distortion. Compared to the entry-level ATC-3, it offers enhanced performance and output voltage while leaving the high-powered driver role to the ATM series.
ATM-1S
- Positioning: The stereo power amplifier built to deliver dependable and balanced performance.
- Description: Uses a traditional Mullard phase inversion circuit with 6CA7 valves and robust Hashimoto transformers to achieve 36W per channel with solid headroom. Compared to the flagship mono BLOCK ATM-3211 and the preamp line (ATC-7 and ATC-3), it strikes a balance in cost and power.
ATM-3211
- Positioning: The high-end mono power amplifier engineered for maximum power delivery.
- Description: Uses a five-year developed 211 triode push-pull circuit that produces 120W output with a wide frequency response and premium hand-picked components. Compared to the stereo ATM-1S and the preamp ATC series, it offers higher output power and superior build quality.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
5
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
256
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
31
Founding Year
1986
Our take on the brand
Air Tight is a Japanese hifi brand founded by former Luxman engineer Atsushi Miura that maintains traditional tube sound technology, delivering the warm, natural sound of vacuum tubes through PCB-free point-to-point wiring. Their products are handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, featuring a design philosophy rooted in Japanese simplicity and precision, and are particularly noted for their ability to deliver dynamic realism and rich soundstage even at lower volumes.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
Used
A&M
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
No items found.
Questions? Ask the brand's dealers.
All Dealers
How to buy
Turntable Cartridges
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
