Audio Note IQ 1

The IQ 1 exists to offer a moving-magnet cartridge that is easy to install, compatible with sensible phono stages, and musically complete enough to build a system around. It does not rely on novelty. It is there to give vinyl replay a stable tonal centre and a believable sense of timing from the beginning.

In practice, the IQ 1 is balanced and straightforward. It tracks with assurance, keeps voices and instruments properly weighted, and does not demand an elaborate arm or phono stage to make sense. For an owner who wants a cartridge that can live in a system for a long time, the IQ 1 is a sensible and durable starting point.