Features & Mechanism
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 the 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 ensures outstanding channel separation, extended frequency response and superb tracking.
- Basic structure of the cutter head
- Basic structure of the VM cartridges
Paratoroidal generating system delivers substantial improvements
The new VM cartridges differ in their styli design, but all share the basic construction of their generating systems (cartridge engine). On the paratoroidal generating system, since leakage of magnetic flux in this continuous and unitized magnetic circuit is low, a superb linearity can be obtained. Permeability of the cores is also optimized through the use of laminated cores.
Center shield plate between stereo channels
A permalloy center shield plate enables the effective separation of left and right channels, suppressing electrical crosstalk to below 40 dB. 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, left and right channels should be connected. A mono body on which left and right terminals are connected internally reduces record noise which is primarily in the vertical direction and obtains a highly focused "center" sound image compared with stereo bodies.