Audio-Technica VM540ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red

Purchased an Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB 2 years ago (by the way, I highly recommend this turntable for anyone starting out in vinyl or getting back into it) and started to listen to my vinyl collection from many years ago. This turntable came with a AT-VM95E Dual Magnet phono cartridge. This turntable and needle brought my vinyl collection back to life. The cartridge that came with the turntable was very good but the sound didn't quite have the dimensions that take you away to another place (it was a little flat, but not in a bad way). Then I started reading about possible upgrades to the cartridge. Did a lot of research and everyone praised this cartridge for the sound, price and simplicity to upgrade the turntable I have. So, I took the plunge and couldn't be happier. Like I said, the cartridge that came with the turntable was very good, but this cartridge adds many layers to the sound coming from my stereo. You get enveloped in sound and I hear things from some of my old albums that I never heard before or knew existed on the vinyl. The installation was simple, and a quick recalibration of the tonearm balance and tracking force and I am taken back. I hear that after about a 20-hour break-in period, this cartridge really comes to life. I have only a few hours, so looking forward to some of the additional magic that this cartridge will bring to my vinyl. I was very hesitant to buy a new cartridge, especially one that was more than the turntable, but I am so glad I listened to all the reviews and upgraded. It not only reinvigorated my vinyl collection, but turned a midrange turntable into something that would cost 2-3 times what I paid for it. If you get this cartridge, you won't regret it and with 1,000 hours of playing life, this may be the best bang for your bucks cartridges out there.

This is finally the cartridge I’ve been looking for. I bought a cheap turntable to see if my dad’s old records still worked. When I found they sounded better than I’d expected, and I realized that the turntable I bought was super basic and had a conical stylus, I upgraded to a basic elliptical stylus. It sounded better, but there was a lot of turntable noise for my liking (I could hear the motor). I upgraded to the Fluance RT-85. It apparently is still not below audiophile level, but it was a huge step up. Some of these old, badly cared for records of my dads that had been languishing in piles of dirt under boxes sounded quite good! I bought a lot of new recent releases. They sounded nice, but I was irritated by the inner groove distortion on most of them. The only ones that I couldn’t tell there was distortion on were records from the 80s which were mastered specifically for vinyl, or 45 RPM records. My research led me to realize I needed a micro line or shibata stylus. I was about to buy the Ortofon 2M black, but decided to take a chance on this one instead. I’m glad I did. Perhaps the black sounds better - I don’t know. I just know that this stylus sounds a whole lot better than the 2M Blue. Its completely eliminated the Inner Groover Distortion on all my records. I wouldn’t say they sound like CDs -that’s cliched. I would say they sound smoother, clearer, crisper and more alive. There’s more depth of base (only on records with deep base), and the treble extends far beyond my ears can hear (i’m in my 40s and I can hear around 14KHz max).I haven’t even broken in the stylus yet.I bought it with the head shell - it took literally seconds to plug it in.I’ll use the Ortofon 2M blue as a backup, I suppose. There aren’t really any records that sound better with the blue.

Some may say it's crazy to put a $280 cartridge on a $350 turntable, but that is exactly what I did. I put this cartridge on my Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB, and the improvement in sound quality was immediately audiable. Not even close to the stock cartridge that came with the turntable. All types of distortion including inner track distortion are completely gone, and the sound is much more vivid and more importantly, musical.I purchased the combo kit, so putting that on a Audio Technica turntable was easy and it didn't require any major adjustment other than tonearm weight.Strongly recommended for AT LP120 users. This upgrade mattered more than the purchase of Cambridge Audio phono preamp, which also improved the sound quality immensely.Come to think of it, I've spent $470 for the cartridge and the preamp on the $350 turntable, but I have no regrets about the upgrades. It sounds like top notch turntable as a result, and my albums never sounded better.

I love this cartridge! Replaced a well used stock cartridge on my AT-LP120USB. Definitely an upgrade that was well worth it for the improved sound with more clarity and detail according to my ears.

This cartridge sounds excellent. Everything sounds clearer and the overall sound stage is more detailed. Like as if a veil was removed from the music. The RT81 has a Audio Technica AT95E, which is a great cartridge for the price.I am using a Schiit Mani Phono Preamp, connected to a Onkyo A/V receiver. I can really hear the improved sound through my Meze 99 Classics.This included headshell fit perfectly on the Fluance RT81, but is quite a bit heavier than the stock headshell. I was still able to adjust the tonearm to 2g tracking, which is the spec. I also aligned with a Hudson Hi-Fi Cartridge Stylus Alignment Protractor.

Did my research and based on various recommendations, went for this upgrade. Picked an album to listen to pre-upgrade and post. Very noticeable improvements in sound quality, deepness, less groove vibration, smoother tracking. Wish I had not waited so long to upgrade from the stock cartridge!