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Audio-Technica AT-VM740xML Dual Moving Magnet CartridgeThe AT-VMx series adds greater warmth and realism to Audio-Technica’s premium dual moving magnet (MM) cartridge lineup, producing a wide soundstage filled with vivid musical detail.
Like all of Audio-Technica's MM cartridges, this updated design closely reflects the cutter head used to create the vinyl master. It uses two magnets positioned to align with the left and right channels of the stereo record groove for excellent channel separation and extended frequency response. The new VMx series also brings material and design refinements that further polish the sound, resulting in responsive playback that is especially attentive to the nuance and energy of musical expression.
Every VMx cartridge uses a generator with paratoroidal coil construction, employing two coils per channel stacked one behind the other for significantly improved efficiency. A center shield plate divides the left and right channels to help reduce crosstalk and preserve a clean stereo image. The coil wire has also been upgraded to PCUHD® (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability), contributing to richer and more detailed audio reproduction. The number of coil turns has been slightly reduced as well to improve transient response, allowing the cartridge to respond more quickly to signal changes for exceptionally clean sound with a lifelike sense of immediacy. The AT-VM740xML’s lightweight MicroLine stylus tracks the record groove with remarkable precision, delivering nuanced playback that elliptical and conical styli cannot equal. Threaded inserts have also been added to the die-cast aluminum body of each VMx cartridge, making installation easier with just two screws, especially on the integrated tonearms often found on high-end turntables. A new V-cut in the stylus flip-up protector also offers a quick visual reference for stylus position, helping guide placement when lowering the stylus onto a record. Every VMx cartridge uses a generator with paratoroidal coil construction, employing two coils per channel stacked one behind the other for significantly improved efficiency. A center shield plate divides the left and right channels to help reduce crosstalk and preserve a clean stereo image. The coil wire has also been upgraded to PCUHD® (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability), contributing to richer and more detailed audio reproduction. The number of coil turns has been slightly reduced as well to improve transient response, allowing the cartridge to respond more quickly to signal changes for exceptionally clean sound with a lifelike sense of immediacy. The AT-VM740xML’s lightweight MicroLine stylus tracks the record groove with remarkable precision, delivering nuanced playback that elliptical and conical styli cannot equal.
This product is sold brand new. A manufacturer warranty applies only when the manufacturer provides one for this item.
Return requests must be submitted within 14 days of delivery and approved by our RMA department before the item is shipped back. Non-defective returns may be subject to a minimum 25% restocking fee and return shipping charges. Unauthorized returns are not eligible for credit or refund. Read the full return policy.
Threaded inserts have also been added to the die-cast aluminum body of each VMx cartridge, making installation easier with just two screws, especially on the integrated tonearms often found on high-end turntables. A new V-cut in the stylus flip-up protector also offers a quick visual reference for stylus position, helping guide placement when lowering the stylus onto a record.
Easy to Install & UseEach AT-VMx cartridge body includes threaded inserts, allowing it to be mounted to a headshell using just two screws with no nuts needed. The redesigned stylus protector also features a V-cut, making it easier to see the stylus position when lowering it onto a record.
Moving MagnetNude Microlinear Made in JapanNude Microlinear Premium PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability Coils)The cartridge generator uses paratoroidal coil construction, with two PCUHD coils per channel stacked one behind the other to significantly improve electromagnetic performance. A slight reduction in coil turns* also sharpens transient response for clean, lifelike sound.
*Compared to VM series cartridges.
All in the DesignVertical Dual Magnet DesignThe Vertical Dual Magnet (VM) design is modeled closely after the cutter head used to create the vinyl master.
Structure of Vinyl Master Cutter HeadThe standard cutter head used to create the vinyl master employs two transducer coils positioned perpendicular to one another at a 45° angle from horizontal to cut the channels, with one coil shaping each wall of the 90° record groove.
Structure of AT-VMx CartridgeThe AT-VMx cartridges use the same 90° V-Shape configuration as the cutter head.
What Styli Shape to Choose?The purpose of a stylus is to ride along the record groove capturing movement, which is then transferred into an electrical signal within the cartridge. Audio-Technica produces styli in five different shapes (Conical, Elliptical, Microlinear, Shibata, and Special Line Contact) that make contact with the record groove and capture movement in different ways, creating unique sound characteristics.
Conical StyliThe conical stylus is the simplest and most widely used stylus. Its spherical tip normally touches the center of the record groove walls. A conical stylus works best for low- to moderately-priced turntables and audio setups. It is also ideal for mono (vinyl with one channel) and older 78 RPM records. However, its shape prevents it from making detailed contact with much of the record groove walls, resulting in less fidelity.
Elliptical StyliThe elliptical stylus has two radii, the front radius being wider than the side radius. The front radius rides in the center of the groove like the conical, while the smaller side radius makes more contact with the groove walls. More contact with the record groove walls delivers a higher level of fidelity.
Microlinear StyliThe conical stylus is the simplest and most widely used stylus. Its spherical tip normally touches the center of the record groove walls. A conical stylus works best for low- to moderately-priced turntables and audio setups. It is also ideal for mono (vinyl with one channel) and older 78 RPM records. However, its shape prevents it from making detailed contact with much of the record groove walls, resulting in less fidelity.
Shibata StyliThe Shibata stylus was originally developed to play four-channel (quadraphonic) vinyl records. The Shibata stylus has two radii, similar to an elliptical stylus. However, the radii of a Shibata stylus allow for more surface contact and effective pickup of ultra-high frequencies with less groove stress and distortion.
Special Line Contact StyliThe special line contact stylus is shaped to track the record groove with the highest level of precision, resulting in excellent high-frequency response, low distortion and minimum abrasion. The special line contact stylus makes more surface contact than any other stylus shape.It should be noted that due to its high-fidelity, the line contact stylus may produce more noise on heavily worn records. The line contact tip is used on our higher-end cartridges.
Round or Square Shank?The stylus shank is the piece that connects the tip to the cantilever. A round shank can be more difficult to align when it is affixed to the cantilever. Proper alignment is needed in order to position the stylus tip precisely in the record groove.
Square shank styli cost more to make than round shank styli, but mounting them in laser-cut square holes in the cantilever locks them in precise alignment with the record groove.
Bonded or Nude?In a bonded (or jointed) stylus, a diamond tip is glued on a metal shank that is itself glued into the hole of the cantilever. While less expensive to manufacture, this construction may increase the mass of the overall tip and affect transient response compared with a nude stylus where the tip and shank are constructed from a single piece of diamond.
Nude styli, shaped from whole diamonds, are more costly than bonded styli. Their lower mass allows nude styli to track more accurately. Also, since our nude styli are grain-oriented, with their longest-wearing faces touching the record surface, they last longer.
FeaturesAT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge equipped with a microlinear stylus Microlinear stylus follows the record groove with exceptional precision for more detailed sound than elliptical and conical styli Paratoroidal coils boost generating efficiency for better channel separation, improved channel balance, and stronger transient response PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils, combined with fewer coil turns, produce highly responsive, three-dimensional sound with excellent transient performance Center shield plate between the left and right channels helps reduce crosstalk for a cleaner stereo imageDie-cast aluminum housing helps minimize vibrations and unwanted resonanceThreaded inserts make the cartridge easier to install, particularly on integrated tonearmsV-cut in the flip-up stylus protector makes stylus position easier to see when lowering it onto a recordAluminum tapered cantilever lowers mass near the stylus tip for faster signal transferWorks with any turntable headshell designed for 1/2" cartridges Compatible with most AT-VMx series replacement styli,* giving you a broad range of options for different budgets and applications
Specifications
Frequency Response: 20 to 25,000 Hz Channel Separation: 25 dB (1 kHz) Vertical Tracking Angle: 20° Tracking Force: 1.8 to 2.2 g (2.0 g standard) Stylus Construction: Nude Microlinear Recommended Load Impedance: 47 k ohms Coil Impedance: 3.2 k ohms (1 kHz) DC Resistance: 750 ohms Coil Inductance: 480 mH (1 kHz) Output Voltage: 3.2 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.) Output Balance: 1.0 dB (1 kHz) Cantilever: Aluminum tapered pipe Static Compliance: 20 × 10-6 cm/dyne Dynamic Compliance: 7 × 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz) Dimensions: 29.0 mm (1.1”) × 18.3 mm (0.72”) × 17.5 mm (0.69”) (H × W × D)
Accessories Included: Cartridge installation screws** (M2.6) (10.0 mm (0.39”) × 2, 8.0 mm (0.31”) × 2, 5.0 mm (0.20”) × 2), washer × 2, Non-magnetic screwdriver, Brush Threaded Hole: M2.6 × 2 Recommended Load Capacitance: 150 to 250 pF Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN40xML* (sold separately) Stylus Curvature Radius: 2.2 × 0.12 mil Type: VM Weight: 8.8 g (0.31 oz) Notes *The replacement stylus of this product is used for AT-VMx series products. In this series, we offer replacement styli with different stylus tip structures and point shapes. **Cartridge installation screws (5.0 mm (0.20”)) x 2 are used to secure the cartridge in the box at the time of purchase. Be sure to keep and not lose these after removing the cartridge from the box. For product improvement, the product is subject to modification without notice.
This product is sold brand new. A manufacturer warranty applies only when the manufacturer provides one for this item.
Return requests must be submitted within 14 days of delivery and approved by our RMA department before the item is shipped back. Non-defective returns may be subject to a minimum 25% restocking fee and return shipping charges. Unauthorized returns are not eligible for credit or refund. Read the full return policy.