Review on 🎧 Red Audio-Technica VM740ML MicroLine Dual Moving Magnet Stereo Cartridge for Turntables by Crystal Drake

I gave 5 stars but my actual rating is 4.5, more on that below. So I've used several different quality cartridges over the years and this was one of the nicest I've come across. First, the Microline needle moves like a champ, digging deep into the grooves to pull out detail the elliptical simply can't reach. Internal groove distortions and sibilance are largely a thing of the past. The pickup also has amazing stereo separation thanks to its dual magnet design. At high frequencies there was a strong slant, but this settled down after the pickup had run in and is now very balanced. The disadvantages of this cartridge are mainly logistical. The biggest thing is the mounting material! The included nuts are too large to fit under the cartridge and must be placed on top, making alignment of this cart a real challenge and micro-adjustments nearly impossible. I don't know why they can't make a design like the VM95 with real mounting posts built into the cartridge. This pen requires careful alignment to get the most out of the micro line shape and too much effort to align it the way it is. I think that's really the only downside I can think of and that's why I'm giving it 4.5 stars. Another thing to note is that this cartridge has so much detail that it can actually introduce distortion in a poorly pressed or worn record. . Not a scam or hit the cart, but know that you need good, clean records that are well pressed. I'd recommend ordering an elliptical stylus to throw on your cart, or just keep an extra cart for less-than-ideal shots. Information about my setup for reference. Technics SL-5100 turntable, Cambridge Solo preamp, Pioneer SX-990 receiver (sometimes I use the preamp in the receiver) and Klipsch R-15m speakers. I am comparing to my other cars including Nagaoka MP-150, Ortifon 2m blue, AT-11e2, AT-95e and AT-91.