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    • 26 June 2025    |    

    Audio-Technica VMx: A Fresh Take on a Moving Magnet Cartridge Favourite

    hero shot of the new audio-technica vm760xsl cartridge mounted on headshell with finger lift and turntable tonearm whilst playing a vinyl record, hi-fi from loud and clear glasgow, scotland, uk

    Audio-Technica VMx Series

    Audio-Technica have launched a newly updated VM cartridge lineup: the AT-VM700x/600x/500x series – collectively known as the AT-VMx series.

    Representing the first major update since 2016, the AT-VMx series delivers the best sound quality in the history of Audio-Technica’s VM cartridges, along with key usability improvements.

    This next-generation lineup offers a wide range of cartridges designed to suit every listener – from vinyl newcomers to seasoned audiophiles. With options at every price point, the AT-VMx series serves as a clear upgrade pathway, allowing users to progress through the lineup as their system and listening preferences evolve.

    At the core of the redesign is the introduction of PCUHD® (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) as the coil conductor across all models. This high-purity material delivers powerful low-frequency response and an expanded soundstage. Combined with a newly optimised coil structure that reduces the number of turns, each cartridge in the VMx series delivers rich, responsive, and highly musical sound reproduction.

    In addition, all VMx models have a center shielding plate to reduce crosstalk and maintain a solid stereo image.

    All models now also feature enhanced usability thanks to threaded inserts in the cartridge body for simplified mounting onto integrated tonearms. In addition, the flip-up stylus protector now features a V-cut to indicate the stylus tip position and serve as a guide when lowering the stylus onto the record.

    cut away image of audio-technica vmx moving magnet phono cartridge showing the new pure copper coils and centre shielding plate, turntable accessories from loud and clear hi-fi, glasgow, scotland, uk

    Two of our best-selling cartridges from the previous VM range were the VM740ML, with its Microlinear stylus, and the flagship VM760SLC, featuring the exquisite Special Line Contact stylus profile.

    So it made sense that the first models we brought in from the new VMx series were their direct successors: the VM745xSL and VM760xSL.

    One of the most exciting developments in the new VMx lineup is the return of boron cantilevers to most of the 700 series models. The Microlinear stylus now comes in two versions:

    VM740xML, which retains the aluminium cantilever, and

    VM745xML, which introduces a boron cantilever for greater responsiveness and detail — a spec also shared by the Flagship VM760xSL.

    box of the new audio-technica vm760xsl mm phono cartridge showing the outside and inside of the box and the cart within, turntable accessories from loud and clear hi-fi, glasgow, scotland, uk

    The Flagship VM760xSL – £519

    AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with special line contact stylus

    Special line contact stylus traces the record groove with extreme accuracy, delivering premium high-frequency response and detailed spatial expression

    Solid boron cantilever quickly transmits vibrations from the record groove, ensuring accurate reproduction of dynamic musical passages

    Die-cast aluminium body reduces vibrations and resonance

    Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency for enhanced channel separation, channel balance, and transient response

    PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils – and fewer coil turns – deliver highly responsive, three-dimensional sound reproduction with excellent transient response

    Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk for clear stereo sound

    Threaded inserts make cartridge easier to mount, especially to integrated tonearms

    V-cut in the flip-up stylus protector shows stylus position, serving as a guide for lowering the stylus onto a record

    VM745xML – £280

    AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with microlinear stylus

    Microlinear stylus tracks the record groove with incredible accuracy, providing more nuanced sound reproduction than elliptical and conical styli

    Significantly lighter stylus tip (compared to previous model) allows for more precise tracing of the record groove

    Solid boron cantilever quickly transmits vibrations from the record groove, ensuring accurate reproduction of dynamic musical passages

    Die-cast aluminium housing reduces vibrations and resonance

    Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency for enhanced channel separation, channel balance, and transient response

    PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils – and fewer coil turns – deliver highly responsive, three-dimensional sound reproduction with excellent transient response

    Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk for clear stereo sound

    Threaded inserts make cartridge easier to mount, especially to integrated tonearms

    V-cut in the flip-up stylus protector shows stylus position, serving as a guide for lowering the stylus onto a record

    box of the new audio-technica vm745xml mm phono cartridge showing the outside and inside of the box and the cart within, turntable accessories from loud and clear hi-fi, glasgow, scotland, uk

    The Full VMx Series Line-Up

    Stereo Cartridges

    AT-VM510xCB: The entry-level model, equipped with a bonded conical stylus for stable tracing performance.
    AT-VM520xEB: The standard model with a bonded elliptical stylus. Tracing distortion is reduced, allowing for more accurate information retrieval.
    AT-VM530xEN: A premium nude elliptical stylus model, equipped with a lightweight elliptical stylus to reduce the effective mass of the vibrating system, combined with revised suspension wire to enable improved musical expression.
    AT-VM740xML: The Microlinear stylus offers excellent detail and wide-range reproduction, while also delivering a rich soundstage and powerful mid-to-low frequency performance.
    AT-VM745xML: In addition to excellent wide-range reproduction, the combination with a boron cantilever enables detailed and immersive spatial representation.
    AT-VM750xSH: Equipped with a Shibata stylus, it excels not only in high frequencies but also in rich mid-to-low frequency reproduction. With clear and powerful soundstage positioning, it is adept at conveying the intensity of the performance.
    AT-VM760xSL: Equipped with a special line contact stylus that extracts all the information from record grooves. The precisely polished stylus tip delivers premium high-frequency response and detailed spatial expression.

    Monaural Cartridges

    AT-VM610xMONO: Equipped with a conical stylus that delivers stable tracing performance for replay of Monaural LPs and singles.
    AT-VM670xSP: Features a bonded conical stylus with a tip curvature radius of 3.0 mil. This fits the wide grooves of SP records, ensuring stable sound reproduction.

    Interchangeable Styli - Flexibility to Upgrade

    Using the AT-VMx cartridge body, replace or upgrade your VMx stylus (excluding mono models) with a number of interchangeable options including:

    AT-VMN10xCB (conical/bonded/aluminium cantilever)
    AT-VMN20xEB (elliptical/bonded/aluminium cantilever)
    AT-VMN30xEN (elliptical/nude/aluminium cantilever)
    AT-VMN40xML (microlinear/nude/aluminium cantilever)
    AT-VMN45xML (microlinear/nude/boron cantilever)
    AT-VMN50xSH (shibata/nude/boron cantilever)
    AT-VMN60xSL (specil line contact/nude/boron cantilever)

    These are all backwards compatible too, so you can upgrade you previous VM models too.

    collection of new audio-technica vmx moving magnet phono styli on white background, vinyl replay from loud and clear hi-fi, glasgow, scotland, uk

    Key Features

    Balanced Expressiveness and Dynamics: Carefully selected materials and refined manufacturing deliver a perfect balance between delicate musical detail and bold, dynamic sound.

    PCUHD® (2) Coil Conductor: Whilst also used in Audio-Technica’s high-end audio cables, PCUHD is used as a coil conductor for the first time. This ensures powerful low-end reproduction and a wide, immersive soundstage.

    Highly Responsive Sound: Coil turns of the generator have been reviewed in order to achieve an improved response and preserves musical nuances.

    Boron Cantilever: The quickness with which the hard boron cantilever transmits vibrations ensures accurate reproduction of dynamic musical passages. Additionally, the AT-VM740xML model features an aluminum tapered cantilever, offering a choice between the AT-VM740xML and the AT-VM745xML, with the same Microlinear stylus.

    Diverse Stylus Options: From bonded conical to advanced line contact stylus, the lineup supports various listening preferences and playback environments.

    Die-Cast Aluminum Alloy Housing: The upper body adopts a die-cast aluminum alloy housing. This suppresses unwanted resonance and further enhances the excellent sound quality of the high-performance line contact stylus.

    Centre Shield for Channel Separation: A central shield plate between left and right channel coils minimises electrical crosstalk, preserving accurate stereo imaging.

    A Cartridge Body with Monaural Wiring: By wiring the left and right channels of the stereo cartridge body, the unnecessary lateral groove components of the record are canceled for monaural playback. This results in clearer image localization and reduced surface noise in monaural playback.

    Paratoroidal Coil Construction: A seamless, efficient magnetic design maintains flux within a unified coil structure, enhancing linearity and energy efficiency.

    Improved Mounting and Visibility: Threaded cartridge bodies ease installation, and the new V-cut stylus guard assists with precise stylus placement.

    Reduced Plastic Packaging: A redesigned packaging which reduces the amount of plastic used whilst still ensuring safe and secure protection for the cartridges.

    Replacement Styli: A range of replacement styli is available from £49

    Cartridge Headshell Bundle: The VM520xEB/H, AT-VM740xML/H and AT-VM750xSH/H are available starting from £269