Audio-Technica VM540ML/H Dual Moving Magnet Stereo Cartridge with Microlinear stylus and HS10 Headshell Red

This VM540MlL stylus is worth every penny it has improved my sound quality 100%

Bought this as an upgrade to the bog standard AT cartridge that came with my Technics SL -100C and what an incredible difference. I don’t understand why technics ship the SL100C with a conical stylus and the 540ML shows it up for the low quality output it delivered. One of the biggest issues I was having was IGD, but the 540 eliminates that, delivering consistency and fidelity all the way to the run out. I also noticed greater definition too and have picked out little details that I haven’t noticed before. Highly recommended

Clean, detailed sound

Feeling uninspired with the pre-installed AT95E and subsequent addition of the Cambridge Audio Alva Solo Pre-Amp on my Fluance RT81 I decided to splash out on this cartridge. The cartridge is perfectly aligned to the headshell and plays perfectly with ZERO siblance and ZERO inner groove distortion. Negatives are minor which are the price is a little high and because the stylus sits so deep in the groove more snap, crackle and pop can be heard. The sound quality and performance are amazing. Better than a CD with more punch and soundstage. Audio is crystal clear and simply beautiful. Just do it, you won't regret it.

If you are suffering from sibilance and IGD with your cartridge, especially if that cartridge is the Ortofon OM2 Red, then this is the upgrade you need. All the reviews and comments I read suggested that this would be the case, and indeed it is. No need to adjust the position of the cartridge on ths supplied headshell, as it was already the correct stylus distance for the Technics SL-1500C (compared side-by-side with the old cartridge). Fitted the new headshell, rebalanced the arm, set a tracking weight of 2.0g and the appropriate anti-skating setting, and then tried out a variety of albums and tracks that had been giving excessive sibilance with the Red. All gone. Some of my old records that I thought were beyond hope were sounding like new. It just sounds great and is well worth the money, although it would have been nice to get the stylus brush that is included among the accessories for the non-headshell version.

This was a replacement for an orfoton M2 bronze on an SME 3009 s2 improved arm. It's a darn sight easier and quicker to set up then the bronze and gives a much less clinical warmersound then the bronze. The only adjustment required between the two units was tracking weight. This unit weighs 2 grams more then the SME head shell with the bronze cartridge. 17gms to 15gms. Tracks perfectly at all levels using the original Shure Era 3 test record. Best cartridge I have had since my long lost Shure V15 mk3.Brought a smile to my face!

After plenty of reading and research I opted for this cartridge for recording vinyl to my computer. The sound is perfect for the task.The cart is fixed in at 52.5mm with a 1210 needing 52mm. I never bothered to move it 0.5mm and sounds just fine.Make sure the vinyl is brushed clean before playing as the needle will pick up every bit of fluff and you will hear it immediately.

Started out my new vinyl fetish 4 years ago with an Ortofon 2M blue, then bought a cheap AT cart as a spare, discovered I liked the sound of that more - so have now upgraded to this Microline cart. Distortion is minimised and a rich, full sound is my reward.My only warning- if you are putting this on a Technics turntable like I did, don’t spend the extra for the pre-mounted cart as it is not correctly mounted for the Technics overhang. I learned this the hard way and had to unscrew it and spend an hour adjusting it to fit. Otherwise; no complaints!