Audio Technica AT-VM520xEB Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge

In Stock	An In Stock item is available to ship normally within 24 business hours.
Preorder	A Preorder is an item that has not yet been released. Typically the label will set a projected release date (that is subject to change). If a projected release date is known, we will include this in the description in red. Other Preorders are set to release 'TBA.' This means that release date is yet 'To Be Announced'. The Preorder can be released anywhere between weeks, months or years from its initial announcement.
Backordered	An Out Of Stock item is an item that we normally have available to ship but we are temporarily out of. We do not have a specific date when it will be coming.
Awaiting Repress	Awaiting repress titles are in the process of being repressed by the label. No ETA is available at this time.
Expected On	When an item is Out Of Stock and we have an estimated date when our stock should arrive, we list that date on our website in the part's description. It is not guaranteed.
Special Order	A Special Order item is an item that we do not stock but can order from the manufacturer. Typical order times are located within the product description.

In Stock

An In Stock item is available to ship normally within 24 business hours.

Preorder

A Preorder is an item that has not yet been released. Typically the label will set a projected release date (that is subject to change). If a projected release date is known, we will include this in the description in red. Other Preorders are set to release 'TBA.' This means that release date is yet 'To Be Announced'. The Preorder can be released anywhere between weeks, months or years from its initial announcement.

Backordered

An Out Of Stock item is an item that we normally have available to ship but we are temporarily out of. We do not have a specific date when it will be coming.

Awaiting Repress

Awaiting repress titles are in the process of being repressed by the label. No ETA is available at this time.

Expected On

When an item is Out Of Stock and we have an estimated date when our stock should arrive, we list that date on our website in the part's description. It is not guaranteed.

Special Order

A Special Order item is an item that we do not stock but can order from the manufacturer. Typical order times are located within the product description.

Description

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 of Audio-Technica's 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 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 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus of the AT-VM520xEB tracks the record groove with accuracy for outstanding audio reproduction.

Audio-Technica has also added threaded inserts to the die-cast aluminum 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.

Easy to Install & Use

Each AT-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.

Premium PCUHD® (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) Coils: 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.

Interchangeable Styli

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

AT-VMN10xCB (conical/bonded/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN20xEB (elliptical/bonded/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN30xEN (elliptical/nude/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN40xML (microlinear/nude/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN45xML (microlinear/nude/boron cantilever)
AT-VMN50xSH (Shibata/nude/boron cantilever)
AT-VMN60xSL (special line contact/nude/boron cantilever)

* Excludes mono models

All in the Design

The Vertical Dual Magnet (VM) design closely mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master.

The standard cutter head (used to record the vinyl master) 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.

The 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.

Features

AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus
0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus tracks the record groove with accuracy for outstanding audio reproduction
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

Technical Specifications

Frequency Response	20 to 20,000 Hz
Channel Separation	24 dB (1 kHz)
Vertical Tracking Angle	20°
Tracking Force	1.8 to 2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
Stylus Construction	Elliptical bonded
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)
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), washer × 2
Threaded Hole	M2.6 × 2
Recommended Load Capacitance	150 to 250 pF
Replacement Stylus	AT-VMN20xEB*
Stylus Curvature Radius	0.3 × 0.7 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, Audio Technica offers replacement styli with different stylus tip structures and point shapes.

**Cartridge installation screws (5.0 mm [0.20"]) x 2 are used to secure the cartridge in the box at the time of purchase. Be sure to keep and not lose these after removing the cartridge from the box.

For product improvement, the product is subject to modification without notice.