AUDIO-TECHNICA VM510CB

Audio-Technica has released a new cartridge, the VM510CB, which has a conical stylus and dual magnets. Audio-Technica says the advantage of a conical stylus over the newer, more advanced stylus shapes is that it’s always naturally positioned in the exact centre of the groove, even if the stylus and/or tonearm are slightly misaligned, which will always result in less record wear and almost always in improved performance. Conical styli are also less susceptible to groove damage and thus can usually play worn records more successfully than other stylus shapes. They’re also more tolerant of dust particles, so sound quieter when playing dirty LPs. However they do cause more wear on the groove than more advanced shapes (when those cartridges are correctly mounted) and are thus less wellsuited for playing new LPs or LPs that are in excellent condition.

The VM510CB is the entry-level 500 Series model in Audio-Technica’s new VM cartridge line—a line that harks back to A-T’s early days when it only manufactured phono cartridges. As with all Audio-Technica cartridges bearing the letters VM, the VM510CB is equipped with dual magnets in order to improve channel separation (rated at 30dB at 1kHz for the VM510CB) and to extend frequency response further than one would expect for a conical stylus. Available now, the Audio-Technica VM510CB retails for $199 (RRP).