Audio Technica AT-VM610xMono Moving Magnet Cartridge

About The Audio Technica AT-VM610xMono Moving Magnet Cartridge

The AT-VM610xMono Cartridge features a Conical stylus and is part of Audio-Technica’s AT-VMx 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. The AT-VMx series introduces material and design changes to further refine the sound, offering responsive playback that is especially sensitive to the dynamism of musical expression. Designed for playing modern mono records, the dual magnets in this cartridge are internally connected to reduce record noise and obtain a highly focused “centre” sound image that stereo cartridges can’t provide. The cartridge’s Aluminium cantilever and Bonded Conical 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.

Highly Efficient Generator: The paratoroidal coil construction of the cartridge’s generator – two PCUHD coils per channel, one stacked behind the other – greatly improves electromagnetic performance, while a slight reduction in coil turns (compared to VM series cartridges) enhances transient response for clean, lifelike sound.

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) records. However, its shape prevents it from making detailed contact with much of the record groove walls, resulting in less fidelity. The upside is that conical styli have incredible tracking ability and rarely miss a beat, even on torture records.

Our Review

The Audio-Technica AT-VM610xMono is a beautifully engineered mono cartridge that blends old-school charm with modern tech in a really satisfying way. It sports a bonded conical stylus and a dual-magnet setup that’s internally linked - great for reducing surface noise and locking in that perfectly centred mono sound that stereo carts just can’t match. Drawing inspiration from the original cutter head design, its paratoroidal coil system and efficient generator design deliver lifelike dynamics and smooth transient response, making your mono vinyl collection sound more alive than ever. It’s not flashy, but it’s incredibly reliable, tracks like a dream, and nails that sweet spot between vintage soul and contemporary clarity.

Main Features & Specifications

• Design: AT-VM610xMono Moving Magnet Cartridge with Bonded Conical Stylus
• Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN10xCB
• 0.6 mil Conical Bonded Stylus Tracks the Centre of the Record Groove for Reliable Performance and Excellent Fidelity
• Paratoroidal Coils Improve Generating Efficiency for Enhanced Transient Response
• PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) Coils – and Fewer Coil Turns – Deliver Highly Responsive, Three-Dimensional Sound Reproduction with Excellent Transient Response
• Threaded Inserts Make Cartridge Easier to Mount, Especially to Integrated Tonearms
• V-cut in the Flip-Up Stylus Protector Shows Stylus Position, Serving as a Guide For Lowering the Stylus Onto a Record
• Durable Low-Resonance Polymer Housing
• Aluminium Cantilever
• Mono Body Terminating Left and Right Channels Reduces Surface Noise
• Compatible With any Turntable Headshell That Accepts 1/2" Cartridges
• Stylus Construction: Round Shank Bonded Conical
• Stylus Size: 0.6 mil
• Cantilever: Aluminium Pipe
• Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
• Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
• Tracking Force: 1.8 to 2.2 g (2.0 g Standard)
• Recommended Load Impedance: 47,000 Ω
• Output Voltage: 5.0 mV (@ 1 kHz, 5cm/sec)
• Static Compliance: 23 x 10 – 6cm / dyne
• Dynamic Compliance: 7 × 10-6cm/dyne (100 Hz)
• Mounting: ½” Centres
• Recommended Load Capacitance: 150 - 250 pF
• Included Accessories: Cartridge Installation Screws (M2.6) 10.0mm × 2, 8.0mm × 2, 5.0mm × 2, Washers × 2
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 17.6 x 18.3 x 28mm
• Weight: 7.2 grams
• Manufacturer’s Warranty: 1 Year

Note: Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.