On the bench, these produce lower harmonic and intermodulation distortion figures than older generation shapes that I’ve tested, using the same test LPs Carlo used. This is consistent with measurements made in Audio, High Fidelity and Stereo Review magazines when the Micro Ridge (Line) first arrived in the 80s. In the measurements section, we will show direct comparison between the AT440MLa and the replacement VM540ML. The AT150MLx and Shure V15V/MR were put through the same series of tests creating a big picture view of the performance. You need to read the measurement section for more granularity on the differences. Although I already owned the CD, it excites me to be able to experience the same album in a different audio format. Plus, the size of a vinyl record album sleeve is so gratifying to own. Images are larger, text are bigger. When I compare the Ortofon 2M Blue with the VM540ML, I found the VM540ML to be smoother and more rolled off without sacrificing details or dynamics. 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. Key Features

When I compared the Blue with the Red (link below) I found that the Blue provided significantly more details and texture over the Red. The question is if you like that or if it gets too much. Too analytical. Too crisp. I guess the answer is down to personal preference and system matching.

One last comparison, this time with Yello: Toy also sounds fantastic as a LP. And even here, the 740ML has the disadvantage over the 540, which impressed with a much better structured bass, with which it is even the most highly accurate Moving up to a hurricane sized groove of 88um lateral, what happens to our little 4kHz groove? The IM distortion is now up to 25%. Yes, this is audible. It is especially unpleasant if you high-pass filter the 400Hz tone and listen only to the 4kHz tone. Note the fundamental level has dropped 6dB but the groove size is unchanged. Our 4kHz ship has gone under the sea. The 4kHz THD is up to 1.3%, but that is meaningless with the drop in level. THD for the wide groove at 400Hz is still 0.8% but we have lost 4kHz. This first figure is the most significant for the VM540ML reflecting an improvement over the predecessor AT440MLa. The AT440MLa had a rising high end starting at 2kHz and culmination in a 6dB peak above 10kHz. You only got that result if you terminated it at the low side of the recommended capacitive 100pf which is impossible to achieve unless your preamp allowed you to change the input capacitance. With a typical 250pf load, the peak became larger to about 15kHz when it started to roll off. The LRC resonance frequency was moving into the passband.

HFW is another one that used mystery gear. The chain they used is custom made and not something the average person can buy from a retailer. So their results won't apply at all to most people. My favourite combination is the VM500 with the Shibata stylus, I don’t think the extra mass of the VM700 is of great benefit to me, it just looks more garish! Stereo separation and precision up to the innermost grooves remained virtually unchanged with the VM540ML. These were very strong characteristics of the previous AT440MLa/b series and are accounted by the VM generator (unchanged between both families except the improvement of copper purity from PC-OCC to 6N-OFC) and by the mechanical parts (cantilever and ML tip unchanged as per specifications). Good alternatives on the cheaper side will be the AT-LP60 if you want to get into vinyl records as cheap as possible without the risk of buying something that will destroy your records. Another popular option is the Sony PS-LX310BT.The difference in sound quality is quite noticeable from the very second I lower the tonearm and the stylus meets the first groove.

In my experience, the VM540ML has a neutral sound balance. If anything, slightly on the bright side. But I would definitely not characterize it as either warm or bright. It sits pretty much right in middle in my opinion. I will also compare the LP120 to my more expensive Rega Planar 2 turntable to make it easier to evaluate the sonic performance of the LP120. The VM540ML is quite amazing. It is truly another class compared to my VM95ML, VM95SH and the VM95E. The Nagaoka MP200 are MI not MM as are Grado. I would avoid high output MC as they have a higher moving mass so no point in them IMO as the whole point of a MC is low moving mass and on top of that MM are now very low moving mass with modern magnets and MI always have been very very low moving mass. You have lots of options but want to clarify the effective mass of your arm and what turntable.And no, no MM or MI sounds like a Benz. Only a Benz sounds like a Benz. And Benz doesn't do MM or MI.

None better than when playing my venerable Donovan album, Catch The Wind. If I hadn’t had the VM760SLC for comparison, I would not have been aware that I could have more separation, more transparency, more detail and a broader frequency response.

The LP120 is definitely a good turntable for the price. I often talk about the LP120 as the best beginner turntable. It also has a huge following among seasoned record enthusiasts that have been true to the vinyl format for a long time. Para-toroidal coils improve generating efficiency and offers superb linearity, since leakage of magnetic flux in this continuous and unitised magnetic circuit is low. Permeability of the cores is also optimised through the use of laminated cores. Centre shield plate reduces crosstalk