AT-VM510xCB / Dual Moving Magnet 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.

Like all our MM cartridges, this updated design closely mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master. It utilizes two magnets, positioned to match the left and right channels in the stereo record groove for outstanding channel separation and extended frequency response. But the new VMx series also introduces material and design changes to further refine the sound, offering responsive playback that is especially sensitive to the dynamism of musical expression.

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 0.6 mil conical bonded stylus of the AT-VM510xCB tracks the center of the record groove for reliable performance and durability.

We’ve also added threaded inserts to the body of each VMx cartridge, making it easier to mount (just two screws required), especially to the integrated tonearms common on high-end turntables. 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.

Features:

• AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with 0.6 mil conical bonded stylus
• Conical stylus tracks the center of the record groove for reliable performance and durability
• 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
• Durable low-resonance polymer housing
• Aluminum cantilever
• Compatible with any turntable headshell that accepts 1/2" cartridges
• Compatible with most AT-VMx series replacement styli,* offering a wide choice of options for every budget and application

*Excludes mono models

All in the Design

The Vertical Dual Magnet (MM) design closely mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master. The cutter head uses two transducer coils, mounted perpendicular to each other at 45° from horizontal, to cut the channel: one in each wall of the 90° record groove. AT-VMx cartridges use the same 90° V-Shape configuration as the cutter head. This way, the cartridge achieves accurate tracking, excellent channel separation, high definition of the stereo image and extreme clarity over the entire audio spectrum.

Easy to Install & Use

Each VMx cartridge body has threaded inserts, enabling it to be mounted to a headshell with just two screws – no nuts required. And the redesigned stylus protector now includes a V-cut for easy reference of the stylus’s position when lowering it onto a record.

Interchangeable Styli

Since all AT-VMx series cartridges share the same body design and have a removable stylus, you can use almost any AT-VMx replacement stylus* with any VMx cartridge for easy experimentation with sound characteristics.

*Excludes mono models

Highly Efficient Generator

The paratoroidal coil construction of the cartridge’s generator – two PCUHD coils per channel, one stacked behind the other – greatly improves electromagnetic performance, while a slight reduction in coil turns* enhances transient response for clean, lifelike sound.

*Compared to VM series cartridges.

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: Aluminum 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)
• Threaded Hole: M2.6 × 2
• Recommended Load Capacitance: 150 to 250 pF
• Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN10xCB (sold separately)*
• Stylus Curvature Radius: 0.6 mil
• Type: VM
• Weight: 7.2 g (0.25 oz)

*The replacement stylus of this product is used for AT-VMx series products. In this series, we offer replacement styli with different stylus tip structures and point shapes.

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),