Vinyl Lovers-- Cartridges!!!! Do you have a daily driver?

If I was buying a new TT, or Cartridge, and wanted to go MM, (not MC yet or ever), this is only $299, an excellent sounding cartridge with the longest lasting MicroLine stylus tip on tapered aluminum, tracks 2.0g.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/vm540ml-h

just make sure the TT’s tonearm has a removable headshell.

At least compare other’s separation/balance imaging specs to it before you decide.

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edit, just happened across this review on Amazon mentioning both the AT540ml and his intentions to try AT33PTG/II

"

Richard

5.0 out of 5 stars Best MM Cart to Date on My System

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024

Style: VMN40ML MicroLine NudePattern Name: TurntableVerified Purchase

I'm running the 540ML on a Technics SL-1210GR through the phono pre of a Yamaha A-S1100 and out to Harbeth P3ESRs. Comparable carts I also own are the Nagaoka MP-200, Ortofon 2M Bronze, and an original KAB ProS40 with an advanced Ortofon Fritz Geiger stylus. I also have the VM95ML. The 540ML has the best balance to my ears out of all of them. It's more open and detailed sounding than the VM95ML likely due to the better engine with four coils vs two on the 95ML. The 540ML also has better channel separation at 28 dB vs 23 dB on the 95ML. Some say the 540ML can sound bright, but it does not on my system at all. That said if you are sensitive to brightness you might be happier with the 95ML or better yet the VM750SH or VMN50SH on VM540 body. Note the engines between the VM540ML and VM740ML are identical. The only difference is the body and weight, so you'll want to factor which is a better match for your tonearm. If your tonearm supports both, then it's up to which you prefer the looks of. The Ortofons above sound great but they are a little more sensitive to pops and clicks. The Nagaoka MP-200 is a wonderfully lush sounding cart, while the 540ML is more neutral. They are tied imo, so which you prefer is just a matter of taste. That said, the 540ML is my all around favorite. Next stop for me will be the MC AT-PTG33/2."

My daily driver is a Shure V15 Type IV with Jico sas b stylus with boron cantilever.  I prefer it to my more expensive moving coil cartridges and my other MM cartridges.  

I find you can get excellent imaging and wonderful sound, new, for below $1k, and I also take chances on used Vintage cartridges, both MC and MM.

I asked advice here years ago, and finally chose a SUT FRT-4 and my 1st MC

AT33/PTG/II $460. new ebay

It’s my daily driver which I keep on my 12.5" long arm with fixed head. Based on hours played, I sent it to AT, they said worn but still good but suggested I trade it for a new one at half price, I will probably keep doing that, it sounds so good to me (and all my friends) that I didn’t consider anything else.

Very wide separation combined with tight channel balance gives excellent Imaging; it tracks at what I consider heavy at 2.0g, and it needs screws with nuts, I wish it had integral threaded holes.

I encourage acquiring the few inexpensive tools and practice enough so that mounting, aligning, calibrating tonearms/cartridges becomes an accomplished skill, frees you from dependency on others, which opens the door to further options. One tonearm with a removable headshell for a small collection of alternate cartridges (preferably two tonearms which I finally put together age 72).

Once you tie down a terrific phono stage, assuming one darn good cartridge that helps you do that, then you can truly compare alternate cartridges, I try to think ’preferred’ rather than ’better’, or ’alternate’ i.e. if you have 3 that are tough to choose which is best, just enjoy all 3 while dividing the wear.

My short 3rd arm is my best MONO (AT33PTG/II Mono with advanced tip on boron by Steve at VAS) ready to go, also fixed head. I can also use/compare to my Grado Elliptical Mono on my 2nd arm.

My 2nd arm is my removable headshell, easiest tool free VTA on the fly height adjustment (Acos Lustre GST-801) for actively changing pre-mounted cartridges from my small collection which typically are chosen for rare light/stiff cantilever materials, and light tracking, several track at 1.25g. Headshells allowing azimuth adjustment are desirable.

Prior Vintage in rotation: Sumiko Talisman S Sapphire Tube Line Contact ; Shure MM V15Vxmr body with new Jico SAS on Boron, undamped brush up or down; Shure MM 97xe rebuilt by VAS with advanced tip on Boron with Shure’s damped brush up or down; AT440ml MM MicroLine on aluminum; AT14Sa MM shibata on tapered aluminum; ATTR485U MM Shibata.

My latest and greatest used Vintage: AT160ml (on 150e Body) is the lightest/stiffest beryllium cantilever with MicroLine Stylus: combo yields light 1.25g tracking, largest contact surface, longest life, least wear, it’s a win/win/win that sounds closest to real than anything else I own. I just bid and won another on Yahoo auctions using aleado to bid for me because as soon as I fell in love with it, I realized like your post’s subject, it has a life span, and even if some expert tries to put a new tip, the beryllium cantilever might shatter if you look sideways at it.

@lewm ​​​​@dogberry , thanks for the vote of confident on the Nagaoka!!!  

@awise1961 I'll check out that grado. Haven't owned one in 20 years!

@billstevenson I love VAS.  I had Soundsmsith tell me they couldn't do anything with a couple of carts and VAS jumped right on them and the results were great. No offense to SS--I know he knows what he's doing.

If you want to minimize use of an expensive MC that needs to go to the factory or to a re-tipper or to be discarded apparently, when the stylus is worn out, then it seems to me you want as a daily driver a cartridge that has a user-replaceable stylus. That means either MI or MM. Seems to me the OP is already on the right track with the MP500. IMO, you cannot do much better than that, in fact. But also remarkable to me is that the OP seems to be buying a new MC every time his stylus wears out (the criteria for which judgement are not stated), when in fact the cartridge can go back to its maker or to any good retipper for restoration, at a lower cost compared to buying an entirely new cartridge. Seems to me this is a tempest in a teapot.

Wow, you flip a lot of albums. That's like 8 sides a day. 

I had a Van den Hull Frog that I am sure I had 2,000 hours on. He advertised they would run twice as long as your typical cartridge... which the rule of thumb is 1,200... so 2,400. 

Stylast is used before play of each side at my house.  A very light brush or two is all it takes. It extends the life of a stylus by at least 50% when used as directed.  Another mitigating factor for me is that in my main system there are two TTs, mono and stereo.  You might also consider SoundSmith because their retipping service is very cost effective.  VAS is good too.  Finally, as you have experienced already with your Ortofon 2M, there is nothing wrong with the better MM cartridges on the market.  Audio Technica has some good ones too.

If you liked the ART9, I'd look at this:

Audio-Technica AT-ART7 cartridge

It's the 1st gen, $500 less than latest.

Subjectively, maybe more refined sound quality. Air core construction as some big buck $$ carts.

Presently satisfied with my backup Soundsmith Otello that I purchased when they were $399. Now $599-still a good deal for what you'll be hearing IMO.

If you comfortable buying used you can find 1st gen ART9 for less than 1/2. Used Soundsmith whatever will be a good buy since you can send them back to SS for nominal cost.

My daily driver is a Grado Aeon 3 mounted to an Ekos arm on my modern Linn LP12. 

Among the data for cartridge life span that are bandied about with no supporting evidence, 1000 hours seems pretty good. Usually it’s a subjective judgement unless you are using a microscope for visual evidence of wear. You will like the MP500, and the stylus is replaceable in the comfort of your own home. Other than that, maybe you can develop another hobby or force yourself to listen to your other sources more often to reduce the rate of cartridge decline. Cars and photography are fun.

I also bought an MP-500 to spare my London Decca Reference, as at the time, it was unclear whether anyone would take over John Wright's business. I ended up buying a second turntable, then adding a second tonearm to each, as many of the candidates I tried were worth keeping in rotation. Having just re-installed the NuVista Vinyl, I'm finding that the Sussurro has become my daily driver as it sounds so good with it.