Audio Technica AT-VM750xSH

With the VMx series, Audio-Technica updates its range of dual moving magnet cartridges with a thorough redesign of the generator and materials. The AT-VM750xSH sits at the top of this line, combining a nude Shibata diamond with a solid boron cantilever. It succeeds the VM750SH by bringing substantial changes: a new high-purity copper coil wire, a reduced number of turns, and simplified mounting via threaded inserts.

A redesigned generator built around PCUHD copper

The motor of the AT-VM750xSH retains Audio-Technica’s proprietary vertical dual-magnet (VM) architecture, which positions two magnets at a 90° angle mirroring the geometry of the cutting head used to engrave vinyl masters. This arrangement naturally favors stereo separation and extended frequency response.

The VMx series, however, introduces a major evolution in the coils. They now use a paratoroidal structure, with two windings per channel stacked one behind the other. This configuration improves electromagnetic efficiency while reducing flux leakage. The wire used is now PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability), a material obtained by an electrolytic process with a purity greater than 99.99%. Audio-Technica has also slightly reduced the number of coil turns, which results in better transient response and an increased ability to reproduce fast dynamic variations.

A central shielding plate physically separates the left and right channels to limit crosstalk. This electrical isolation contributes to the precision of the stereo image, with a measured separation of 26 dB at 1 kHz.

The Shibata diamond, a legacy of quadraphonic sound

The Shibata diamond is named after engineer Norio Shibata, who developed it at JVC in the early 1970s to meet the demands of CD-4 quadraphonic records. These required reliable tracing of signals up to 45 kHz, which no existing stylus profile could achieve at the time without excessive wear.

The Shibata profile features two distinct radii of curvature, similar to an elliptical stylus, but with an asymmetrical geometry that greatly extends the vertical contact area with the groove. This line-contact approach allows more high-frequency information to be retrieved while spreading pressure over a larger area, reducing wear on both the record and the stylus itself.

On the AT-VM750xSH, the Shibata diamond is a nude type, meaning it is cut from a single diamond block rather than bonded to a metal shank. This design reduces mass at the end of the cantilever and improves vibration transmission. The curvature radius is 2.7 × 0.26 mil.

A boron cantilever for rapid transmission

Audio-Technica reserves the solid boron cantilever for the three top models in the VMx series: the AT-VM760x, AT-VM750x and AT-VM745x. This material offers a particularly favorable stiffness-to-weight ratio. According to the manufacturer, boron transmits vibrations about 2.5 times faster than the aluminum tube used in the previous generation.

This increased speed is most evident in dynamic musical passages, where amplitude variations are abrupt. Percussion attacks, string pizzicatos and piano transients gain in definition and naturalness. The cantilever is 0.28 mm in diameter.

Construction and easy installation

The cartridge body is made from die-cast aluminum, a choice aimed at damping unwanted vibrations and providing natural electrical shielding against interference. The total weight is 8.8 g, which remains compatible with most low- to medium-mass tonearms.

The VMx series makes installation noticeably easier by integrating M2.6 threaded inserts directly into the cartridge body. Whereas previous models required handling screws and nuts in a confined space, you now only need two screws to secure the cartridge to the headshell, with no special tools required. The supplied kit includes two 10 mm screws, two washers, a demagnetized screwdriver and a cleaning brush.

The stylus guard has also been redesigned. It incorporates a V-shaped notch that reveals the exact position of the tip, making cueing onto the record easier.

Setup parameters and compatibility

The recommended tracking force is 2 g, with an acceptable range from 1.8 to 2.2 g. The dynamic compliance of 7 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne at 100 Hz makes this cartridge suitable for low- to medium-mass tonearms. On a tonearm that is too heavy, the resonance frequency could drop into a range where record warps become audible.

On the preamplification side, the AT-VM750xSH delivers an output voltage of 3.7 mV, sufficient to drive a standard MM phono stage directly. The recommended load impedance is 47 kΩ, an almost universal value. Load capacitance, however, deserves attention: Audio-Technica recommends a range of 150 to 250 pF, including cables. A phono preamp offering capacitance adjustment or short, low-capacitance interconnects will allow full exploitation of the extended high-frequency response.

Stylus interchangeability within the range

One of the strengths of the VM platform is stylus compatibility. All cartridges in the VM and VMx series share the same body and stylus coupling system. It is therefore possible to fit any VMNx or VMN replacement stylus (except mono models) on the AT-VM750xSH.

This modularity opens up interesting options. For example, you can purchase the cartridge with its Shibata stylus for everyday listening, then add an entry-level elliptical stylus for worn records whose grooves would not tolerate an overly fine profile. Conversely, you can upgrade to the Special Line Contact stylus of the AT-VMN60xSL to gain even greater tracing finesse.

The specific replacement stylus for this model bears the reference AT-VMN50xSH.

Technical specifications

Audio specifications

• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 27 kHz
• Channel separation: 26 dB (1 kHz)
• Output voltage: 3.7 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Output balance: 1 dB (1 kHz)

Electrical specifications

• Recommended load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Coil impedance: 3.2 kΩ (1 kHz)
• DC resistance: 750 Ω
• Coil inductance: 480 mH (1 kHz)
• Recommended load capacitance: 150 to 250 pF

Mechanical specifications

• Tracking force: 1.8 to 2.2 g (2 g standard)
• Vertical tracking angle: 20°
• Cantilever: solid boron, 0.28 mm diameter
• Static compliance: 20 × 10-6 dyne/cm
• Dynamic compliance: 7 × 10-6 dyne/cm (100 Hz)

Stylus

• Mounting type: nude Shibata
• Curvature radius: 2.7 × 0.26 mil
• Replacement stylus: AT-VMN50xSH (sold separately)

Physical specifications

• Dimensions: 29 mm × 18.3 mm × 17.5 mm (H × W × D)
• Threaded hole: M2.6 × 2

Accessories and general information

• Included accessories: two M2.6 mounting screws (10 mm × 2.8 mm × 2.5 mm), two washers, demagnetized screwdriver, brush
• Cartridge type: VM