Audio-Technica VM540ML

I just bought an Audio Technica VM540ML to replace an Ortofon 2m red and the improvement was so huge I bought a second one the same day to replace a Rega Elys 2. The sound is so good it’s reinvigorated my love for vinyl. Everyone’s East is different but for me this is an incredible cart and makes vinyl fun again.

There is an improvement over my old at-120eb cartridge. I think the slight improvement is due to the microline stylus and not so much the cartridge. There does to seem to be a bit more clarity in vocals and other instruments like guitars in the mid range frequencies. Better channel separation too. I...

On your 70's vintage table with a medium-mass tone-arm, check out the Audio-Technica VM540ML. At $250, it would be hard to beat. I spin a lot of rock and blues myself, and this is a great cart.

I ordered the combo cartridge and head-shell - they came as separate packages. Some say this is better but it isn't - if it came premounted I would not have had to attach stubborn tiny wires and get tiny screws in place - a real pain. Yes I would have had to align the cartridge myself anyway but thi...

Denon vl12, audio technica vm540ml, lounge lcr, kimber/zu cables, rogue Sphinx v2, bluesound node 2, ifi itube, revel performa3, svs sb13, orange dog toy. I also own a graham slee reflex phono, but I found that while it does have slightly more detail it’s a little bright and lacks impact, at a third of the price the lounge is a showstopper. This was supposed to be a budget vinyl set up, but the audio technica cartridge is besting the sumiko blackbird and grado sonata I’ve got sitting in a drawer now.

I bought this AT cart to replace an Ortofon RED on my Pro-Ject DC Carbon. This seems to be a VERY common thing for people to do. Turns out to be a super combo, so quiet and clear. The RED is an awesome cartridge, super round and pleasing in the lows, mids. But it can get harsh in the highs and you c...

After looking at the serial number, I was able to determine that it was part of the last production of the model in 2010. I was using it with an Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge, which is still my go-to recommendation for an excellent sounding cartridge at a reasonable price. I have an MC capable phono stage, though, and wanted to try out an MC cartridge, so I picked up this AT-OC9ML/II at a good bit below MSRP. It sounds amazing!

I will second all of the reviewers on here touting the inner-groove distortion benefits of this cartridge and the stylus (VMN40ML red) combo. While it ameliorates most of the distortion there is still a pinch of it left, but it is a huge improvement. Like others have said, once you start hearing it ...

Current cart on my Acoustic Signature Primus is a Denon DL-103r and a Ortofon 2m Blue on my technical SL-1210GR. I also have a Denon DL-110, and a Audio Technica VM540ML.

I have an OG 1975 Thorens TD-145 with the TP-16 arm. This is a very heavy arm, which means it is a real pain in the neck to match up to a cart. Over the nearly 20 years I've had this 'table, I've tried a Grado Gold, a Grado Black, both which were horribly unstable in this arm. Then I found the AT 44...