Audio-Technica VM540ML

I just bought an Audio Technica VM540ML to replace an Ortofon 2m red and the improvement was so huge I bought a second one the same day to replace a Rega Elys 2. The sound is so good it’s reinvigorated my love for vinyl. Everyone’s East is different but for me this is an incredible cart and makes vinyl fun again.

On your 70's vintage table with a medium-mass tone-arm, check out the Audio-Technica VM540ML. At $250, it would be hard to beat. I spin a lot of rock and blues myself, and this is a great cart.

Denon vl12, audio technica vm540ml, lounge lcr, kimber/zu cables, rogue Sphinx v2, bluesound node 2, ifi itube, revel performa3, svs sb13, orange dog toy. I also own a graham slee reflex phono, but I found that while it does have slightly more detail it’s a little bright and lacks impact, at a third of the price the lounge is a showstopper. This was supposed to be a budget vinyl set up, but the audio technica cartridge is besting the sumiko blackbird and grado sonata I’ve got sitting in a drawer now.

After looking at the serial number, I was able to determine that it was part of the last production of the model in 2010. I was using it with an Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge, which is still my go-to recommendation for an excellent sounding cartridge at a reasonable price. I have an MC capable phono stage, though, and wanted to try out an MC cartridge, so I picked up this AT-OC9ML/II at a good bit below MSRP. It sounds amazing!