Audio-Technica VM540ML vs Denon DL-110

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.

I've been wanting to upgrade to an MC cartridge for awhile and the opportunity recently presented itself via a NIB Denon DL-110 from Japan at an affordable price. My fears that my Musical Fidelity V90-LPS would have insufficient gain to drive it were immediately proven to be unfounded as I'm able to obtain a comfortable listening level at about 11 o'clock on the dial on my Cambridge Audio 640A amplifier. First impressions are very good, considering that the cart hasn't even begun to break in yet. It's already an improvement over my 2M Blue and Nagaoka MP-110 which were my top MM carts in my collection

I've been inside a few 40 year old Technics turntables and they've been well built, and still going strong to this day. In terms of cartridges, I've recently replaced my Ortofon 2M Blue with an Audio-Technica VM540ML. I'd say the AT is an improvement over the 2M Blue. The Blue sounded a bit forward in the midrange recessed in the treble where as the 540ML sounded much more even throughout the whole range

The popping went away in Phono, so I figured no big deal, swapped to Phono and: Issue 2: So. Much. Treble. If I were to graph it: 2/10 on bass, 0/10 on mid, 11/10 on treble

So I played around with impedance and capacitance settings on my preamplifier and discovered this cartridge seems to produce better high-end at 100pF. After all this tinkering, I am a bit disappointed, there is just very little if any noticeable improvement in sound quality for a cartridge costing $70 more than the AT-120 (replaced by VM530). It *IS* a nice sounding cartridge, it just isn't much better for the price. Oh and as for the stylus replacement option, do not take the bait

I used this cartridge in the latest Rega RP3, NAD 350, HD650, very clear but with a harsh edge. I am now using a Grado Reference Platinum 2, which is as clear as the Denon but smoother. The Denon is very good but a bit aggressive. My preference is the Grado

I don't write many reviews, but I felt compelled to write one after trying out this cartridge. I have a vintage Marantz 6200 turntable and had a Shure cartridge on it. I replaced the Shure with the VM540ML and it's a night and day difference. I'm not going to attempt to use fancy "audiophile" verbiage, but I will say my records have a much fuller and more dynamic sound

My Blue Point slurred the S's and the Audio Technica cartridge on my Technics SL-1700 also was very sibilant. The Denon reproduces the S's very sharply with no overt sibilance. Dropping the needle on Micheal Jackson's Billy Jean from "Thriller", another track that give cartridges issues, played very well. The sound stage width is very nice, too