Audio Technica VM510CB Moving Magnet Cartridge
The VM510CB conical stylus cartridge is the entry-level 500 Series model in Audio-Technica's VM cartridge line – a line that harks back to A-T's early days as a manufacturer primarily of high-end phono cartridges, while also incorporating today's advanced technology. Like all VM cartridges, the VM510CB is equipped with dual magnets that are positioned to match the left and right channels in the stereo record groove for outstanding channel separation and extended frequency response. The cartridge's 0.6 mil conical bonded stylus tracks the centre of the record groove for reliable performance and excellent fidelity.
Analogous to the Cutter Head: A cutter head carves out the record grooves. The modulations in the groove are 'analogue' mechanical equivalents of the original audio signals. To 'read' these modulations, Audio-Technica developed the internationally-patented Dual Magnet design which duplicates the structure of cutter head.
Instead of using a single, large magnet, the two magnets are arranged in the shape of a 'V'. The two magnets are positioned precisely to match the positions of the left and right channels in the stereo groove walls.
Consequently, the VM design ensures outstanding channel separation, extended frequency response and superb tracking.
Para-Toroidal Generating System Delivers Substantial Improvements: The new VM cartridges differ in their styli design, but all share the basic construction of their generating systems (cartridge engine).
On the Para-toroidal generating system, since leakage of magnetic flux in this continuous and unitised magnetic circuit is low, a superb linearity can be obtained. Permeability of the cores is also optimised through the use of laminated cores.
Centre Shield Plate between Stereo Channels: A permalloy centre shield plate enables the effective separation of left and right channels, suppressing electrical crosstalk to below 40dB. This is similar to the actual crosstalk value found in the grooves of the record itself.
6N-OFC Coil Wire: OFC - Oxygen Free Copper - is electronically refined to reduce the level of oxygen. 6N-OFC is more than 99.99997% pure oxygen free copper. This highly sophisticated coil wire material enables the cartridges to pick up an enormous amount of information from the vinyl grooves and provide high resolution audio with a powerful sound image.
Interchangeable Styli: All VM models have removable styli and the same body design, enabling vinyl enthusiasts to interchange and upgrade any VM cartridge with any VM stylus type.
Universally Compatible: All VM cartridges are compatible with any turntable headshell that accepts ½" cartridges.
What Shape Styli to Choose? The purpose of a stylus is to ride along the record groove capturing movement, which is then transferred into an electrical signal within the cartridge. Audio-Technica produces styli in five different shapes (Conical, Elliptical, Microlinear, Shibata, and Special Line Contact) that make contact with the record groove and capture movement in different ways, creating unique sound characteristics.
Conical Stylus: The conical stylus is the simplest and most widely used stylus. Its spherical tip normally touches the centre of the record groove walls. A conical stylus works best for low- to moderately-priced turntables and audio setups. It is also ideal for mono (vinyl with one channel) and older 78 RPM records. However, its shape prevents it from making detailed contact with much of the record groove walls, resulting in less fidelity.
Elliptical Stylus: The elliptical stylus has two radii, the front radius being wider than the side radius. The front radius rides in the centre of the groove like the conical, while the smaller side radius makes more contact with the groove walls. More contact with the record groove walls delivers a higher level of fidelity.
Microlinear Stylus: The Microlinear stylus almost exactly duplicates the shape of the cutting stylus that produces the original master disc (the disc used to create the pressed vinyl record). This likeness enables the Microlinear stylus to track portions of the groove other styli cannot reach, resulting in extremely accurate tracing of high-frequency passages and a flat frequency response within the audible range. The unique multilevel shape also wears more evenly, greatly extending record and stylus life.
Shibata Stylus: The Shibata stylus was originally developed to play four-channel (quadraphonic) vinyl records. The Shibata stylus has two radii, similar to an elliptical stylus. However, the radii of a Shibata stylus allow for more surface contact and effective pickup of ultra-high frequencies with less groove stress and distortion.
Special Line Contact Stylus: The special line contact stylus is shaped to track the record groove with the highest level of precision, resulting in excellent high-frequency response, low distortion and minimum abrasion. The special line contact stylus makes more surface contact than any other stylus shape. It should be noted that due to its high-fidelity, the line contact stylus may produce more noise on heavily worn records. The line contact tip is used on our higher-end cartridges.
Round or Square Shank? The stylus shank is the piece that connects the tip to the cantilever. A round shank can be more difficult to align when it is affixed to the cantilever. Proper alignment is needed in order to position the stylus tip precisely in the record groove.
Square shank styli cost more to make than round shank styli, but mounting them in laser-cut square holes in the cantilever locks them in precise alignment with the record groove.
Bonded or Nude? In a bonded (or jointed) stylus, a diamond tip is glued on a metal shank that is itself glued into the hole of the cantilever. While less expensive to manufacture, this construction may increase the mass of the overall tip and affect transient response compared with a nude stylus where the tip and shank are constructed from a single piece of diamond.
Nude styli, shaped from whole diamonds, are more costly than bonded styli. Their lower mass allows nude styli to track more accurately. Also, since our nude styli are grain-oriented, with their longest-wearing faces touching the record surface, they last longer.
About Audio Technica
Inspired by the depth of emotion he witnessed at vinyl listening sessions organised during his tenure at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Hideo Matsushita was determined to enable more people to experience the warmth of analogue listening. In a small Shinjuku apartment, he established Audio Technica and began developing cartridges. His first two products, the AT-1 and AT-3, achieved success and enabled Hideo to expand his business. He opened a larger headquarters in Machida, where the company still operates today.
Building on a shared passion for listening, Audio Technica have designed many critically acclaimed headphones, turntables and microphones whilst remaining a family business and with the firm belief that high-quality audio should be accessible to all.
Audio Technica believe that sound should be natural and so they strive to reproduce true, accurate, representations of audio. They start every product with the pure vibration created when sound is captured, using this analogue transducer technology to create products that transcend everyday sensory experiences. The quest to create pure, natural, audio is perpetual - it never stops, never ends.
Audio Technica headphones, turntables and microphone systems are used across the globe in a wide variety of applications, from live concert tours and recording studios to theatres, educational facilities, and houses of worship. There are also millions of music enthusiasts, gamers and content creators who use Audio Technica products every day.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Moving Magnet Cartridge with Conical Stylus
- Model: VM510CB
- Replacement Stylus: VMN10CB
- Aluminium Cantilever
- Para-Toroidal Coils improve generating efficiency
- Centre Shield Plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk
- Durable low resonance Polymer Housing
- Compatible with any VMN Replacement Stylus
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: 25 dB (1 kHz)
- Vertical Tracking Angle: 23°
- Vertical Tracking Force: 1.8 to 2.2g (2.0g standard)
- Stylus Construction: Bonded Round Shank
- Recommended Load Impedance: 47,000 Ω
- Coil Impedance: 2.7 kΩ (1 kHz)
- Output Voltage: 5.0 mV (@ 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
- Output Channel Balance: 1.5 dB (1 kHz)
- Stylus Shape: Conical Bonded
- Cantilever: Aluminium Pipe
- Static Compliance: 35 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne
- Dynamic Compliance: 8 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne (100 Hz)
- Mounting: ½" Centres
- Recommended Load Capacitance: 100-200 pF
- Stylus Size: 0.6 mil
- Type: VM Stereo Dual Magnet
- Included Accessories: Cartridge Installation Screws: 2 x 5 mm, 2 x 10 mm, 2 x Washers, 2 x Hexagon Nuts
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 17 x 17.3 x 28.2 mm
- Weight: 6.4 grams
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.