Audio Technica VM520xEB MM Cartridge

The AT-VMx series brings new warmth and realism to Audio-Technica’s premium dual moving magnet (MM) cartridge line, delivering an expansive soundstage that’s alive with musical detail.

The new 'x' variant of this ever popular range brings tweaks to the materials and design. The result, claim Audio Technica, is to further refine the sound whilst offering responsive playback that is especially sensitive to the dynamism of musical expression. They are also easier to fit with the threaded inserts in the body, no messing around with nuts that disappear off until a hoover unearths them.  And a new V-cut in the stylus’s flip-up protector provides quick reference of the stylus position, serving as a guide when lowering the stylus onto a record.

All VMx cartridges feature a generator with paratoroidal coil construction: two coils per channel – one stacked behind the other – for greatly improved efficiency. A center shield plate separates the left and right channels to reduce crosstalk and maintain a clear stereo image. The copper wire used for the coils has been upgraded to PCUHD® (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability), resulting in richer, more nuanced audio reproduction. The number of coil turns has also been slightly reduced to improve transient response, allowing the cartridge to react more quickly to signal changes for stunningly clean music with lifelike immediacy. 

The 'E' part of the model number refers to the Elliptical stylus, which here is a 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded diamond tip, offering improved detail retrieval whilst also lower tracing distortion over the entry level conical tipped version

The cartridge body is compatible with all of the other models of stylus in the range, so you can upgrade or downgrade as desired very easily. 

SPECIFICATIONS:
Frequency Response    20 to 20,000 Hz
Channel Separation    24 dB (1 kHz)
Vertical Tracking Angle    20°
Vertical Tracking Force    1.8 to 2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
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    5.0 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.)
Output Balance    1.5 dB (1 kHz)
Cantilever    Aluminium pipe
Static Compliance    23 × 10-6 cm/dyne
Dynamic Compliance    7 × 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Dimensions    28.0 mm (1.1”) × 18.3 mm (0.72”) × 17.6 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
Threaded Hole    M2.6 × 2
Recommended Load Capacitance    150 to 250 pF
Replacement Stylus    AT-VMN20xCB (sold separately)*
Stylus Curvature Radius    0.3 x 0.7 mil
Type    VM
Weight    7.2 g (0.25 oz)
Notes    
**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.