Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[USER]

Audio Technica AT VM745xML

I was really hoping AT did something useful with the boron cantilever on this one. Sadly, it's principally a 540/740 with a bit more output, a lot more weight, and an extended peak rather than a rolled-off one. Loading guidance for flattest response is principally the same as the 540/740: as low on C as you can get and about 36k.

VTF was at the recommended 2g. I didn't bother optimizing azimuth but it looks like a bit better than -30dB at 1kHz should be easily achievable.

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Great measurement of the AT-VM745xML (repeating the name to maximize webcrawler exposure). You are helping make this a destination thread for vinyl lovers. But yeah, goes to show that there has been zero "innovation" of this medium in 40 years despite what the marketing says. However $329 is not unreasonable for an ML cartridge in 2025. My only complaint is that most people can't load it optimally at 105pF total.

Thank you!

 

[JP]

Audio-Technica VMN45xML

Here are some comparisons of the VMN45xML stylus in the 700 and 150 bodies. For each typical OEM loading factors were used: 47k with variable capacitance for the 150, and 105pF with variable resistance for the 700.

 

[Balle Clorin]

“The AT-VMx series brings new warmth….”
Seems like VMX745 will sound warmer than VM740 , and brighter than 150…at least for the population that have hearing range 20-10khz. Not so sure I need more warmth at 64..

Will next comparison be VM stylus in VM and VMX body?

So this means VMx styli are interchangeable between VM and VMx bodies ?

 

[JP]

Will next comparison be VM stylus in VM and VMX body?

I don’t intend to. The impetus for these was because people with 150 bodies may think the 45xML is similar to the 150MLX in that body. I did the 700 body as people with those may consider the VMx styli an “upgrade”. I don’t think many people are going to run a legacy stylus on a VMx body.

I may do some comparison laybacks of the 740 and 745 to help people navigate the “it has to be better because boron” nonsense.

 

[Balle Clorin]

The x740 vs x745 would be very interesting yes,

 

[DSJR]

Shure M55E with Jico nude elliptical stylus
View attachment 451175

• Turntable: Technics SL-1200 Mk.2
• VTF: 1.5g
• Phonostage: Darlington Labs MM6B
  • 47kΩ / 100pF / +35dB
  • No SUT
• Cable capacitance: 120pF
• ADC: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen. 3
• Test record: CBS STR-130

Here's another older cart with a new Jico stylus. The Shure M55E was introduced in 1964, the same year as the Pickering V-15 and Shure's premium offering, the V15 type I. I've read that the M55E is internally the same as the V15 type I, except that it was not subject to the same level of quality control. Other things the M55E has in common with the Pickering V-15 are a healthy output at 6.2 mV and 4.4 mV, respectively, the fact that they both remained in production for decades, were a common choice at radio stations, and became popular with turntablists.

Shure long ago ceased producing styli, and in my experience, NOS styli not only tend to be expensive but are also a total crapshoot. So, how does the M55E measure with a quality aftermarket stylus?

It's not bad, I'd say, and very similar to the Pickering V-15 with a Jico stylus. One difference is that the Shure can track well with a lower VTF. It was able to track the "torture" bias setting track on my Hi-Fi News Test Record at 1.5 g VTF and anti-skate set at 1, with only a hint of distortion in both channels. This is good for any cartridge. I've seen some simply jump the groove on this track.

The Jico stylus costs $150 (both the stylus and cartridge are on loan from a friend). I can't say what the value proposition is on this. If you could find an M55E body for $50 (for a total of $200), buying a worse new cartridge at the same price is certainly possible. But maybe you could do better, I couldn't say, not being familiar with everything on the market. I do find it interesting that two ubiquitous carts that never got much love from audiophiles measure respectably, and in some cases arguably better, than pricier, highly-regarded carts.

The M55E also has a certain "old-school cool" look about it that I like, but obviously, that's subjective.

View attachment 451180

That's interesting, as I remember the 55E having the usual mid kHz suckout followed by a 15kHz or so peak (Shure fixed this in their models sharing the laminated pole pieces) Whatever they're doing, Jico really don't seem to want to recreate the originals accurately, although the usually far superior diamond grinding and polishing is much welcomed. I have an M55E with fifteen year or so old low-hours Ed Saunders stylus on it (so Swiss sourced?) and it sounds fine, with a subjectively 'thickened' bass-lower midrange region. A good AT110E (deemed the next level up from the AT95E) sounds similar, but with slightly better clarity.

 

[JP]

The x740 vs x745 would be very interesting yes,

I don't have an "x740", and have no intention to buy more of these. This 745x will be going back within the return window.

 

[narud]

Audio-Technica VMN45xML

Here are some comparisons of the VMN45xML stylus in the 700 and 150 bodies. For each typical OEM loading factors were used: 47k with variable capacitance for the 150, and 105pF with variable resistance for the 740.

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if im interpreting the graphs correctly, at the same capacitance, the new boron stylus would be a little more neutral on a 540 body than the vmn40ml with the peak being pushed out further? i should have just tested mine but i already packed it up and requested a return with AT.

 

[JP]

Yes, it looks that way.

 

[narud]

Audio Technica vm745xml

might as well add my measurement. using the modded art djpre with the 0pf setting. this is a more of a high end peak than i was hoping for at this low of capacitance so im sending it back. looks like ill be picking up a 45xml stylus though. i obviously put zero thought into getting azimuth correct since i was interested in seeing the frequency response.

 

[mackat]

Just got mine - to me, it's a definite improvement over the previous series in terms of frequency response.

The resonance peak has been pushed higher in the frequency range, I assume due to the boron cantilever.

At stock loading, this gives it a frequency response very similar to the OC9XML.

With custom loading, it is possible to get it noticeably flatter than the previous series.

One thing I'm not so impressed with: on my example, the cantilever is not perfectly aligned to the cartridge body. I think this is unacceptable on a $329 phono cartridge.

With 2 grams tracking force and antiskate, distortion is kicking in at the 70 μm band of the Ortofon test tecord. At 2.2 grams tracking and 2.5 grams antiskate, it kicks in at 80 μm. I will have to see if perfecting alignment makes a difference here.

Edit: I was able to correct the cantilever alignment by gently nudging it/the suspension with my finger

 

[mackat]

The VMN45xML works superbly on a VM5XX body when loaded at 36k - perhaps even a little flatter than on the VM7XXx body, though that's likely statistically insignificant.

Can't say I see a need to upgrade if you already have the cartridge body, unless you don't want to deal with the nuts. Just buy the new stylus, and you're all set:

The new VM7XXx body with a VMN40ML stylus is less than impressive. I do wonder how the new VMN40xML fares in comparison:

I did order another VMN45xML stylus, in the hopes that it will track better than the one I received yesterday. One will be going back.

 

[watchnerd]

Please humor this not at all veiled attempt at asking purchasing advice, but I would rather inquire here and then provide useful data.

Carts in consideration:
ART9XA
AT33SA
VM760SLC
Hana SL mk1 or mk2

Open to other ideas in this price range that measurements are needed for from designs/companies that have a good track record. Two notes are I am looking to achieve near flat FR, and this will be going through a CA duo and then most likely a Darlington Labs MP7b. Of course, I'll get CBR measurements from both if it is worth it. I don't have any actual testing equipment.

I have both the ART9XA and the AY33SA.

What would you like to know ?

 

[VinyLuke]

I have both the ART9XA and the AY33SA.

What would you like to know ?

Could you measure them and post the results here?

 

[watchnerd]

Could you measure them and post the results here?

The ART9XA graphs already on this site are from mine.

 

[VinyLuke]

The ART9XA graphs already on this site are from mine.

can you share a link? I dont see it on INDEX.

 

[watchnerd]

can you share a link? I dont see it on INDEX.

They were in an older thread that pre-dates this one by a few years.

They should probably get ported over to the index.

MM vs MI vs MC

www.audiosciencereview.com

I was taking the measurements, @JP drew the graphs from the data files.

 

[watchnerd]

Nagaoka MP500 Measurements 2 (and 3)
Click to increase size

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Notes

• These were kindly done by @djwkyoto last year
• The plan is to revisit them as we want to figure out the cause of the dip
  • My guess was test record warping or some sort of set-up issue
    • Perhaps even tonearm mismatch as was brought up
• Regardless, we still see the same flat response until 15k or so!
• The stylus has between 100-200 hours on it
• Distortion is again a bit disappointing for the price
  • But it could also be test record related
• Glad to see a linear cartridge after the great disappointment of the Ortofon Black
  • Is this it these days?

My wager is that there was a production change at some point. One of the earliest measurements on this site is of a MP500 done by @watchnerd and it was in agreement with the "professional" measurements of the time. As mentioned, the slope is consistent even though loading seems to be different.
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Based upon the static issue mentioned that others also describe, you may want to avoid it if your home runs dry in the winter.



Also if one puts some sort of fluid prior to playback to avoid this issue any sort of weight added to the cantilever will alter the frequency response.

FWIW, I just swapped styli on the MP-500, so the one measured above is sitting in a box on a spare MP-300/500 body.

 

[JP]

They were in an older thread that pre-dates this one by a few years.

They should probably get ported over to the index.

MM vs MI vs MC

www.audiosciencereview.com

I was taking the measurements, @JP drew the graphs from the data files.

I don't have the file to be able to re-plot since the tool was expanded.

 

[watchnerd]

I don't have the file to be able to re-plot since the tool was expanded.

I'm looking in my Google Drive and not finding the file, either, sadly