Audio-Technica VM540ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red

This cartridge made a big difference. Better presence, better tracking and elimination of sibilance . Best cartridge Ive owned. Buying it with the shell made it super easy to install, or compare it with the old cartridge, which was also very good, but not this good. Music details are outrageous. I think this is it, my cartridge for a long time.

Well, I posted a review last week with pictures but its not here… I wonder why Amazon? Pictured is the first one that I received with a crooked stylus. They sent me a replacement that was straight, but its not as paralleled to the grooves. I have a AT-LP120XBT-USB turntable. I followed the instructions directly from an Audio Technica technician (which I had to end up contacting again later on). I also listened to the same album right before with the AT95E cartridge, as well as after with the VM540ML/H combo. For some reason, the album skips with the latter, but not with the AT95E—if that makes any sense… It doesn’t seem as loud as the former cheaper cartridge either. However, some background noise that was formerly present is now much quieter, other than the now present skips. I also tested out Audio Intelligence multi-step cleaner (with different brushes), VS. L’Art Du Son cleaner, on opposing sides of the same record. I must admit, I preferred L’Art Du Son’s one step over Audio Intelligence, but it’s not recommended for really dirty to soiled records by itself. It also has a pleasant smell. FYI do NOT buy Mofi record brushes (from Amazon OR directly from Mofi). They will flake all over the record when applying virtually no pressure. I should’ve listened to the reviews. I’ll stick to the Mofi sleeves but that’s it. It’s sad that people can’t trust the biggest brand names in contemporary audio solutions.

The Audio-Technica VM540ML/H was a breeze to install on my Audio-Technica LP1240 turntable. No adjustments were necessary, except to set the tracking force to 2 grams. The sound is outstanding - even better than my old Shure M97xE, which I needed to replace. The sound stage is extremely clear, detailed, and full-ranged. As others have noted, it really shines in the mid-tones without doing any disservice to the highs and lows. This is the best needle I have tried up to this point. I just played Carrie Underwoods latest LP My Savior, and I felt like I was right there on-stage with her and the band. I highly recommend this needle, despite the high cost.

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.

Its not often something lives up to a reputation. This did Its got a higher output and its also got better highs and lows but not overbearing. The Highs sound natural not like someone simply turned up the treble. The only thing I gave 4 stars was cost

Absolutely love this cartridge. Provides a lot of clarity to your vinyl and minimises most distortion.

Consigliatissimo. Molto equilibrata e ben suonante.

昔はグレース（品川無線）F8に音の幅で負けていましたが、今は無き名器のF8に勝る音質になりました。

FWIW: When counting pico-Farad (pF) loading, a MM cartridge manufacturer will recommend a range of pF the cart wants to see. Most people only think of the pF load the phono pre-amp presents by spec + their total phono cable capacitance in pF per foot. Whats forgotten is the capacitance of the internal wiring inside the turntable. This would be the pF load seen from the cartridge R or L channel push-on clips in the headshell on out. That internal wiring could add 100pF or more.

Ill never not have one these cartridges