I've still got a lot of time for MM cartridges - low cost, higher output / less phono gain required...

The choice between a low cost Moving Coil & a high quality Moving Magnet, is not one which too many punters weigh up.

If you were to consider the additonal cost of a good quality MC phono stage & the sonic penalty of the extra 24-30dB of active gain circuitry or SUT,... then many should seriously consider a good MM instead.

AUDIO TECHNICA (together with ORTOFON of course) know more than most about MM cartridges.

In AT's current range, the top MM 'VM' 500/700 series incorporate the twin-magnet, 'V' coil-yoke config (like a record cutting head) & inter-channel coil shield:



With 'below 40dB' crosstalk spec (most cartridges achieve only 20-30dB), you'd expect stereo reproduction (soundstage, width. depth) to be pretty good.


The difference between the 500 & 700 series in in the polymer plastic (500 series) or cast aluminium (700 series) bodies.
They are available in a range of Elliptical or Line Contact, from NZ$400 - 1500.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

In this recent Audio Appraisal review,, the reviewer usefully describes the sonic effect of moving up through the range of different stylii, with both the VM500 & VM700 bodies.

The Special Line Contact (SLC) stylus in particular (the most costly), elicits these comments:

" The SLC takes the VM700 body and turns it into one of the finest moving magnet cartridges available at any price. Imaging is on point, with a massive sound stage and oodles of detail. It’s a fairly neutral sound from top to bottom with a startling absence of groove noise or noise caused by vinyl imperfections. There’s not a hint of harshness nor sibilance, only a top-end that extends far beyond the frequencies etched into the groove. This is one of the most accurate and most musically satisfying styli I have ever heard... "

Something that I've noticed in the past, is that certain stylus profiles (not necessarily the most costly) have the property of not emphasising, or even 'de-emphasising', record noise & imperfections. (And other stylus profiles, the opposite effect.) Some say that it is becaise these stylii profiles sit lower in the groove & tend to avoid some of the debris, damage and/or imperfections near the record surface.


(VM760SLC)


(VM540ML - note the 'aluminium tapered pipe' cantilevers on the above cartridges.)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

This 2017 Home Theatre Hi-Fi review of the above AT540ML on a Technics SL-120oMK6 TT, may not raise too many audiophile eyebrows & I've not seem such (tediously) in-depth cartridge measurements like this in any other recent publications.

But in particular, the LF Resonance testing & the mention of a KAB Fluid Damper for SL-1200s, caught my eye because of some LF instability I've encountered on the SL-1210MK2 recently.
(See Technics SL-1200 / 1210 thread.)

" With album after album, not once did the VM540ML turn out a disappointing performance. So enjoyable was it to listen to. Its balanced frequency response and dimensional rendering ability make this cartridge an appealing go-to choice, if you want superior sound for a relatively modest investment... "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

See also earlier thread AUDIO TECHNICA VM540ML + VM760SLC + GRADO Prestige Black2

" While none of these pickups is going to displace the (US$4,000 Ortofon) Windfeld as my reference, the Audio-Technica VM760SLC now easily joins it as an alternative due its remarkable flatness from the bottom all the way through the lower highs and its extraordinary composure with demanding sources. "

(Paul Seydor, The Absolute Sound)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

It's been a year of appraising a really varied selection of MM carts and I have to say the one I've kept going back to is an Audio Technica VM35F. It's just lovely to listen to and so even.

For comparison's sake, the others are:
ADC-XLM
Grado Gold
Ortofon OM with Garrott FGS stylus
Grace F9 with Pioneer 600a stylus (only just started reusing this)
Shure V15iii

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