Specification

audio-technica phono cartridges guide - 2019/20 - 23
Analogue 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
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 (VM as V Mount, mounted in a shape of V)
ensures outstanding channel separation, extended frequency response
and superb tracking.
Importance of tension wire construction and material
Suspension wire (tension wire) has an important role as a fulcrum point
of the cantilever/stylus/magnets assembly.
Quality Audio-Technica MC cartridges use stainless suspension wire,
providing a mechanical stabilization optimizing auditory lateralization to
provide excellent expression of the high frequency range.
Audio-Technica VM Series cartridge models VM760SLC and VM750SH
are designed with a stainless suspension wire featuring a unique design
with selected materials. Other moving magnet Audio-Technica cartridge
models are designed with a moulded integrated suspension system.
Para-toroidal generating system delivers substantial
improvements
The new VM cartridges dier 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 eective 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.
Mono Body
For monaural operation, (unless a dedicated archiving phono-preamplifier
is used), left and right channels should be connected. Mono body on
which left and right terminals are connected internally improve signal-to-
noise ratio, minimizing surface noise.
Para-toroidal coil construction of VM Series cartridges
With the VM type dual magnet system & high-performance para-toroidal
generator coil system, Audio
-Technica’s VM stereo cartridges feature
a unique structure. The structure greatly improves electromagnetic
performances compared with non para-toroidal construction such as in
90 Series cartridges.
Additionally, the VM series cartridges adopt a lossless para-toroidal
generator coil system to their cartridge bodies that results in peak
generating eciency.
Stacking two cores makes further improvements to high frequency
characteristics by separating the right-and-left channels from the center
shield plate, resulting in reduced electrical cross talk.