AUDIO TECHNICA AT-VM745 XML

The AT-VM745xML represents the latest evolution of Audio-Technica's moving magnet cartridges, unveiled at the High End Munich show in May 2025. This high-end phono cartridge is part of the AT-VMx series, the first major upgrade since 2016, and promises unprecedented sound quality in the history of Audio-Technica's VM cartridges. Featuring a Microlinear stylus mounted on a solid boron cantilever and a die-cast aluminum body, it delivers detailed, dynamic, and remarkably faithful music reproduction.

It is based on Audio-Technica's proprietary dual moving magnet (VM) technology, which faithfully replicates the configuration of the cutting heads used to produce vinyl records. This approach ensures optimal channel separation and an extended frequency response. The cartridge sports an elegant die-cast aluminum body with a gold finish that's more than just aesthetic: this high-density material significantly reduces parasitic vibrations and unwanted resonances, contributing to more precise and nuanced groove tracking.

The AT-VM745xML's Microlinear stylus is one of its key strengths. This precision-cut tip follows the record grooves with exceptional fidelity, delivering sound reproduction that elliptical or conical tips cannot match. Lighter than previous models, this stylus enables exceptionally precise groove tracking, dramatically reducing distortion and surface noise.

The 0.28 mm diameter solid boron cantilever represents a significant technical advance. This material transmits vibrations approximately 2.5 times faster than the aluminum used in previous models, ensuring more faithful reproduction of dynamic musical passages. The combination of this cantilever and the Microlinear stylus ensures complete, colorless transmission of the information engraved in the microgrooves.

Listeners will immediately appreciate the distinctive sonic character of the AT-VM745xML. It offers remarkable precision and definition in the high frequencies, revealing a multitude of details without ever being aggressive or fatiguing. The midrange, often overlooked by some cartridges, is particularly enhanced here: clear, open, and airy, it allows you to rediscover the harmonic richness of instruments and voices.

In the low frequencies, an area in which Audio-Technica has always excelled, this cartridge delivers perfectly controlled and articulated bass, combining impact and definition. Surface noise is remarkably low, allowing you to fully enjoy your music without distraction. The AT-VM745xML stands out for its ability to faithfully follow the grooves, even in the most complex or dynamic passages.

This balanced sound signature makes it a versatile cartridge, capable of enhancing any musical genre, from classical to jazz, from rock to electronica. It's the ideal choice for audiophiles who want to rediscover their record collection in a new light.

Specifications:
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 27 kHz
Output Voltage: 3.7 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
Channel Separation: 26 dB (1 kHz)
Output Balance: 1 dB (1 kHz)
Output Impedance: 3.2 kΩ (1 kHz)
AC Resistance: 750 ohms
Recommended Load Impedance: 47 kΩ
Recommended Load Capacitance: 150 to 250 pF
Coil Inductance: 480 mH (1 kHz)
Stylus: Integral Microlinear
Diamond Radius: 2.2 × 0.12 mil
Cantilever: Solid Boron, 0.28 mm diameter
Static Compliance: 20 × 10^-6 dyne/cm
Dynamic Compliance: 7 × 10^-6 dyne/cm (100 Hz)
Vertical support force: 1.8 to 2.2 g (2 g standard)
Vertical support angle: 20°
Thread insert: M2.6 × 2
Dimensions: 29 mm × 18.3 mm × 17.5 mm (H × W × D)
Weight: 8.8 g

Included accessories:
Two head mounting screws (M2.6) (10 mm × 2.8 mm × 2.5 mm)
Two washers
Demagnetized screwdriver
Brush

Replacement stylus (sold separately): AT-VMN45xML