Audio-Technica - AT-VM530xEN Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge

Where the VMx series turns serious — a nude elliptical stylus with lower moving mass for cleaner, more extended sound.

The AT-VM530xEN is built on Audio-Technica’s Vertical Dual Magnet design, with two magnets arranged in a V that closely mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master. Like the rest of the redesigned VMx series, it pairs a paratoroidal generator wound with PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) copper wire with reduced coil turns for improved transient response, plus a center shield plate between the channels to reduce crosstalk.

The step up here is the stylus: the new, lightweight 0.3 x 0.7 mil nude elliptical diamond reduces the mass of the vibration system, enabling better frequency response and less distortion than the bonded stylus found on the VM520xEB. It rides on an aluminum pipe cantilever inside a durable, low-resonance polymer housing with threaded inserts for easy two-screw mounting, and the body accepts most AT-VMx replacement styli for future upgrades.

Features

• 0.3 x 0.7 mil nude elliptical stylus lowers vibration-system mass for better frequency response and less distortion
• Vertical Dual Magnet design mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master
• Paratoroidal generator with PCUHD copper coils and reduced coil turns for improved transient response
• Center shield plate between channels reduces crosstalk
• Aluminum pipe cantilever and low-resonance polymer housing
• Threaded inserts for easy two-screw mounting on half-inch headshells
• V-cut stylus protector provides a visual alignment reference
• Compatible with most AT-VMx Series replacement styli

Specifications

• Type: VM dual moving magnet stereo cartridge
• Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil nude elliptical
• Cantilever: Aluminum pipe
• Coil Wire: PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability)
• Body: Durable low-resonance polymer
• Output Voltage: 3.2 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
• Frequency Response: 20–25,000 Hz
• Channel Separation: 25 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel Balance: 1.5 dB (1 kHz)
• Tracking Force: 1.8–2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
• Recommended Load: 47k ohms / 150–250 pF
• Coil Impedance: 3.2 k ohms (1 kHz)
• Coil Inductance: 480 mH (1 kHz)
• DC Resistance: 750 ohms
• Static Compliance: 23 x 10^-6 cm/dyne
• Dynamic Compliance: 7 x 10^-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
• Vertical Tracking Angle: 20 degrees
• Mount: Half-inch, threaded inserts
• Weight: 7.2 g
• Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN30xEN
• Included: M2.6 mounting screws (10.0 mm x 2, 8.0 mm x 2, 5.0 mm x 2) and two washers