Audio-Technica VM540ML/H Dual Moving Magnet Stereo Cartridge with Microlinear stylus and HS10 Headshell Red

Bought this as an upgrade to the bog standard AT cartridge that came with my Technics SL -100C and what an incredible difference. I don’t understand why technics ship the SL100C with a conical stylus and the 540ML shows it up for the low quality output it delivered. One of the biggest issues I was having was IGD, but the 540 eliminates that, delivering consistency and fidelity all the way to the run out. I also noticed greater definition too and have picked out little details that I haven’t noticed before. Highly recommended

Feeling uninspired with the pre-installed AT95E and subsequent addition of the Cambridge Audio Alva Solo Pre-Amp on my Fluance RT81 I decided to splash out on this cartridge. The cartridge is perfectly aligned to the headshell and plays perfectly with ZERO siblance and ZERO inner groove distortion. Negatives are minor which are the price is a little high and because the stylus sits so deep in the groove more snap, crackle and pop can be heard. The sound quality and performance are amazing. Better than a CD with more punch and soundstage. Audio is crystal clear and simply beautiful. Just do it, you won't regret it.

If you are suffering from sibilance and IGD with your cartridge, especially if that cartridge is the Ortofon OM2 Red, then this is the upgrade you need. All the reviews and comments I read suggested that this would be the case, and indeed it is. No need to adjust the position of the cartridge on ths supplied headshell, as it was already the correct stylus distance for the Technics SL-1500C (compared side-by-side with the old cartridge). Fitted the new headshell, rebalanced the arm, set a tracking weight of 2.0g and the appropriate anti-skating setting, and then tried out a variety of albums and tracks that had been giving excessive sibilance with the Red. All gone. Some of my old records that I thought were beyond hope were sounding like new. It just sounds great and is well worth the money, although it would have been nice to get the stylus brush that is included among the accessories for the non-headshell version.

This VM540MlL stylus is worth every penny it has improved my sound quality 100%

After plenty of reading and research I opted for this cartridge for recording vinyl to my computer. The sound is perfect for the task. The cart is fixed in at 52.5mm with a 1210 needing 52mm. I never bothered to move it 0.5mm and sounds just fine. Make sure the vinyl is brushed clean before playing as the needle will pick up every bit of fluff and you will hear it immediately.

This was a replacement for an orfoton M2 bronze on an SME 3009 s2 improved arm. It's a darn sight easier and quicker to set up then the bronze and gives a much less clinical warmer sound then the bronze. The only adjustment required between the two units was tracking weight. This unit weighs 2 grams more then the SME head shell with the bronze cartridge. 17gms to 15gms. Tracks perfectly at all levels using the original Shure Era 3 test record. Best cartridge I have had since my long lost Shure V15 mk3. Brought a smile to my face!

Clean, detailed sound

Bought this to upgrade the existing cartridge on my Fluance record deck. Definately an improvement in sound, all in all a lot crisper and digs out a lot more info out of all them grooves. Well worth the upgrade! Down side is cost of new stylus when I need it. ( my initial searches showed approx £200.00) I will search again nearer the time, but if anyone Knows where they can get one considerably cheaper...please let me know!

Dość jasne detaliczne brzmienie ze wspaniałą przestrzenią. Warta zakupu

Be wary buying this product. I got mine...looked okay. But it was defective (or at least it seemed so to me). It made crackling broken voice sounds on the right channel. And, thumping noises. The AT AT95E sytlus that came with the TT was much better and quieter. I wanted to upgrade but it turned out to be an expensive downgrade. Returned to Amazon for a refund.

Arrivata premontata su testina. Montaggio quindi facile, non necessità di allineamento (almeno sul mio giradischi che ha solo la regolazione del peso). Nel mio sistema ha sostituito una AudioTechnica VNM95E con punta ellittica. Il risultato è stato sorprendente. La VM540ML ha rivelato dettagli mai apprezzati prima e un suono notevolmente più piacevole e definito. Ottima separazione dei canali; bassi e alti nitidi ma non aggressivi. Il risultato è molto buono per strumenti singoli (piano, chitarra classica, violino). Ottimo anche per jazz e musica da camera. Non ancora sufficiente a rivelare i dettagli e le sfumature nella musica sinfonica importante (grande orchesta, coro). Questo però può essere dovuto al mio giradischi/amplificatore/casse di qualità medio-alta, ma non eccellente. Consiglio vivamente questa cartuccia. Peccato che sostituire la punta costi quasi come acquistare la cartuccia completa. In conclusione, per l'alta fedeltà non capisco perché vengano montate cartucce inferiori a questa che è più che soddisfacente con molti diversi tipi di musica. Il costo può essere l'unica ragione.

- SOUND QUALITY: Detailed, but not fatiguing at all. More clarity and accuracy than the VM520EB. Probably because of the microline stylus. - EASE OF USE: I have the LP7 turntable, this is a great match for it and extremely easy to install. The fact that this cartridge arrives pre-aligned with the headshell is godsend. I verified the alignment and it was great. Although my experience with cartridges is limited, I think that this is one example of the sweetspot between price and quality (and roughly around the price range where the law of diminishing returns starts to really kick in).

Some hidden frequencies can be accessed by this stylus and brings out the best and most accurate reproduction of sound.