RT82 with VM540ML or VM95ML?

[Hwtactics]

Hey all. New Fluance RT82 owner. The effective tonearm mass is published at 21g.

I purchased and am testing both the AT VM540ML and VM95ML cartridges, both sound excellent but unsurprisingly the 540ML has that little something extra, despite being a very high compliance cart.

How is it possible that the VM540ML sounds better when it is widely documented that the VM95ML is a better match for a heavier tonearm? Am I causing problems unknowingly long term by keeping the 540ML? Calculators are putting the resonant frequency at 6.3Hz. No issues with skipping, boomy bass or anything else.

I'd like to trust my ears but I don't want to damage my speakers either if they're truly getting hammered by 6Hz resonance!

 

[CrSens]

The 21g specification is totally wrong. It is much less in reality. I successfully run Shure V15 III and high compliance vintage Grado's in that tonearm.

 

[arcorob]

I have the RT-85 - Put the Ortofon Blue in a box and am Running my AT-440ML...LOVE the AT sound with that table...Seems AT has ditched the 440ML for the 540ML , cut the price by 200 and both are microline, but I bet they cut more than that. ( I actually have an MLA, Amazon has the MLB for sale but its 449.

As to the tonearm, the 95, etc. The 95was and always will be a stock entry level AT cart.

 

[Hwtactics]

I'm putting the VM540ML back on and doing a needle drop fed into Audacity using a USB audio interface to see what the resonant frequency actually is today. I agree 21-22g seems oddly high, and would prefer to keep this VM540ML, the sound really is incredible!

 

[Hwtactics]

I checked the resonance on both cartridges, aaaand the results are....... exactly the same. 7Hz.

Looks like I'm returning the VM95ML. I agree the 21g seems off looking at this.

 

[knotscott]

Matching the arm weight is only one variable that impacts the overall sound. The coil structure is more advanced in the VM540, and a good system could certainly reveal that, plus it could be a better match for your phono section and overall system.

 

[Hwtactics]

Matching the arm weight is only one variable that impacts the overall sound. The coil structure is more advanced in the VM540, and a good system could certainly reveal that, plus it could be a better match for your phono section and overall system.

Good point, I feel like this is a pretty common setup for new components, preamp is a Schiit Mani 2 with around 90pF worth of RCA cables (made and measured myself) totaling 137pF input capacitance

Edit typo

 

[CrSens]

I recommend changing the original matt for something better, like Music Hall, or Pro-ject cork matt, makes a big difference.

 

[Hwtactics]

I recommend changing the original matt for something better, like Music Hall, or Pro-ject cork matt, makes a big difference.

Thanks, what kind of difference? I've only ever used rubber mats, coming from an old Sony PS-LX2

 

[CrSens]

Thanks, what kind of difference? I've only ever used rubber mats, coming from an old Sony PS-LX2

It's like changing a cartridge, more open, detailed and refined. But it depends also on your system, and your open-mindedness whether tou want to hear it .

 

[mr_petit]

I checked the resonance on both cartridges, aaaand the results are....... exactly the same. 7Hz.

In your measurements I see you've selected a very short piece of data, about 4 seconds.
Using the audacity method in that way is not accurate.
Record a piece of music from at least 30sec. (Have you recorded music or tapping sound on the plinth or so? (looking at the spectral data))
I usually record a whole song, select the whole song and do the spectral analysis. You get a message that only xx amount of seconds can be selected and will be used, but then with both cartridges you have exactly the same amount of data.
Also with analyzing the same music signal, you can get an idea of the damping properties of both cartridge suspensions, if you look at the height of the resoance peak in relation to the music signal peaks.

Not saying that you'll get different results (I think 7Hz is a realistic value for an arm that weighs about 21gr, as I suspect both cartrs to have a compliance of about 16mm/N, just like their predecessors had), but the results will be more reliable.
This is because if you used for example a tapping signal to record, the resonance frequency shown is dependant on the frequency of the supplied signal (the tapping).
And this also happens with very short pieces of music. But the longer the signal, the more all frequencies average out.

 

[Hwtactics]

In your measurements I see you've selected a very short piece of data, about 4 seconds.
Using the audacity method in that way is not accurate.
Record a piece of music from at least 30sec. (Have you recorded music or tapping sound on the plinth or so? (looking at the spectral data))
I usually record a whole song, select the whole song and do the spectral analysis. You get a message that only xx amount of seconds can be selected and will be used, but then with both cartridges you have exactly the same amount of data.
Also with analyzing the same music signal, you can get an idea of the damping properties of both cartridge suspensions, if you look at the height of the resoance peak in relation to the music signal peaks.

Not saying that you'll get different results (I think 7Hz is a realistic value for an arm that weighs about 21gr, as I suspect both cartrs to have a compliance of about 16mm/N, just like their predecessors had), but the results will be more reliable.
This is because if you used for example a tapping signal to record, the resonance frequency shown is dependant on the frequency of the supplied signal (the tapping).
And this also happens with very short pieces of music. But the longer the signal, the more all frequencies average out.

Wow thanks for the reply! I have the VM540ML mounted now and can/will run it through a full song and check that. I think I tapped the table inadvertently and selected 4-5 seconds in a lead in groove.

 

[oldman54]

I have an rt82 and use high compliance stylus in Shure cartridges with no issues. I am using lighter than stock headshells though.

 

[patient_ot]

I checked the resonance on both cartridges, aaaand the results are....... exactly the same. 7Hz.

Looks like I'm returning the VM95ML. I agree the 21g seems off looking at this.

Resonance should be different on those. You likely did something wrong if the resonance test came out the same for each model. I have tested both and resonance was not the same. Magazines and lab tests have also had different results on each cartridge. Some phono sections and phono preamps have weird subsonic/LF filtering built in and will affect the results. So will headshells of different weights. User error with software filtering and window sizing is also possible.

How exactly did you go about this test?