Audio-Technica - AT-VM670xSP Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge

Purpose-built for 78s — a 3.0 mil stylus and true mono wiring that bring shellac-era records back to life.

The AT-VM670xSP is Audio-Technica’s dedicated 78 RPM cartridge from the redesigned VMx series, built on the Vertical Dual Magnet design that mirrors the original cutter head configuration. Because 78s are monaural, the dual magnets are internally connected — the left and right channels are terminated together — to reduce the surface noise inherent to older records and produce a highly focused center sound image.

Its 3.0 mil conical bonded stylus is sized specifically for the wide grooves of 78 RPM records, which a standard microgroove LP stylus cannot track properly, and it rides on an aluminum pipe cantilever at a 4.5–5.5 g tracking force suited to shellac playback. The x-series generator uses paratoroidal coils wound with PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) copper wire with reduced coil turns for improved transient response, all housed in a durable, low-resonance polymer body with threaded inserts for easy two-screw mounting. Made in Japan.

Features

• 3.0 mil conical bonded stylus sized for 78 RPM record grooves
• Mono design with internally connected magnets reduces surface noise
• Highly focused center sound image from monaural records
• Paratoroidal generator with PCUHD copper coils and reduced coil turns for improved transient response
• Aluminum pipe cantilever and low-resonance polymer housing
• Threaded M2.6 inserts for easy two-screw mounting on half-inch headshells
• Flip-up stylus protector with V-cut alignment reference
• Made in Japan

Specifications

• Type: VM dual moving magnet cartridge for 78 RPM (SP) records
• Stylus: 3.0 mil conical, bonded
• Cantilever: Aluminum pipe
• Coil Wire: PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability)
• Body: Durable low-resonance polymer, mono-terminated
• Output Voltage: 4.7 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
• Frequency Response: 20–20,000 Hz
• Tracking Force: 4.5–5.5 g (5.0 g standard)
• Recommended Load: 47k ohms / 150–250 pF
• Coil Impedance: 1.6 k ohms (1 kHz)
• Coil Inductance: 240 mH (1 kHz)
• DC Resistance: 375 ohms
• Static Compliance: 23 x 10^-6 cm/dyne
• Vertical Tracking Angle: 20 degrees
• Mount: Half-inch, threaded inserts
• Weight: 7.2 g
• Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN70xSP
• Included: M2.6 mounting screws (10.0 mm x 2, 8.0 mm x 2, 5.0 mm x 2) and two washers
• Important: For shellac 78s only. The 3.0 mil tip is far too large for microgroove LPs and 45s, and the tonearm must be rebalanced to the higher tracking force before use.