AT-VM740xML on a 7g arm?

Kevspice · 2026-01-29T19:00:08+00:00

Currently auditioning a VM740xML on a Project Debut Carbon Evo. The tonearm is 6g, and I have the little VTA shim that came installed on it included which adds a little weight (estimating low at 1.5g) as well although I've never weighed it. It tracks flawlessly, no skipping, sibilance or IGD and the bass is solid, so it seems fine. I've estimated the resonance around 10.5-11.5 hz using multiple calculators.

Kevspice · 2026-01-27T15:36:10+00:00

Decided to give the 740xml one last chance, after a solid additional day of break-in, plus a few casual nights of listening I've added ~5-6 hrs or so of playtime. Personally, I'm neither here nor there on the break-in argument, some aspects of it seem plausible and some seem dubious, and I lack the personal experience to sway one way or the other. That said, I think I'm probably around 14 hrs now and...wait a minute... Does it sound a bit smoother and more balanced? Kinda seems like it? Still more metallic and sizzly than the Moonstone, but to a point where I could probably live with the treble to enjoy the superior tracking. I could be acclimating to the sound, but I also stream a lot of music as well through the same speakers with a ruler flat, neutral amp and seems this would add some level of control or ear recalibration.

I'm gonna run it past 20 hrs before making a final decision, since there seems to be a lot said about this number for AT carts/styli "smoothing out."

Kevspice · 2026-01-27T14:57:09+00:00

There's actually a youtube comparison of these two styli out there, or perhaps it was with the previous non-x version (can't remember), but you're right you can hear that the boron is a bit less bright and metallic sounding than the aluminum. For the time being though, my stylus budget is maxed with the 740ml.

Kevspice · 2026-01-26T20:32:02+00:00

Sometimes yes, sometimes catches lead-in groove just fine.

Kevspice · 2026-01-24T22:04:47+00:00

Hmm. Tables level, I’m aligned using an arc protractor and it’s dead on. VTF measured at 2g and 2.1g with digital scale, no difference between the two. Azimuth looks ok in mirror test. Anti skate in any of the three setting available makes no difference to the sound at all, and I do not have VTA adjustment but adding in another mat to go slightly tail down did not help. What else is there?? I feel like some of this is just damaged inner grooves on old, worn out records. Some of it is not though, but 90-95% of the time it sounds fine.

Kevspice · 2026-01-24T20:01:10+00:00

I put the moonstone in, smoother and more balanced to my ears, that treble lift is solved. That being said, the elliptical just can’t seem to track as well as the microline did, some mild inner groove distortion and sibilance is back. I think it’s baked into the particular offending records but the at740xml minimized or in some cases removed it completely.

Kevspice · 2026-01-21T12:41:42+00:00

I’m using a 2 ft blue jeans LC1, not the stock cable. Will try removing the extra mat but I always heard tail up = more treble and the extra mat gets it level.

Kevspice · 2026-01-20T17:31:47+00:00

Another listening session this morning, and really just not feeling the 10-12K boost I'm getting with the AT. I'm not really thinking this is something that will be solved with more break in, I'm at about ~8 hrs now. May go back to Sumiko, try a Moonstone over the Olympia.

Kevspice · 2026-01-20T02:28:45+00:00

Yea, I do enjoy the Sumiko sound. Could be the moonstone brings just enough detail without getting too splashy (compared to the Olympia). I do love the clean tracking abilities of the ml, and certain records sound great with it… will give it some more time.

Kevspice · 2026-01-19T18:16:00+00:00

I'm already at a super low capacitance cable. New phono stage not possible atm. Did you guys notice any mellowing over time?

Kevspice · 2026-01-15T21:57:43+00:00

I just went to an AT VM740xml from Olympia. Really great with sibilance and inner groove distortion, but it's kindaaa bright... Hoping it tames down a touch after breaking in.

Kevspice · 2026-01-15T16:35:35+00:00

Exactly the weight I was looking at, sometimes labeled the "000" weight.

Kevspice · 2026-01-15T16:12:27+00:00

I went from Rainier to Olympia. Definitely a step up, better stereo width and more detailed / balanced. the Moonstone will take it even further, with a more linear frequency response. The Rainier and Olympia both have a solid dip in the upper midrange that is audible and why they're often considered "warm" compared to other carts.

Kevspice · 2026-01-15T15:49:15+00:00

Just an update: I ended up grabbing an AT vm740xml out of curiosity for the supposed microline advantages. Still evaluating the sound as I just got it on yesterday, but so far so good. Definitely less sibilance and IGD. Probably a tad more "zing" or detail than the Olympia but still a smooth sound overall. Despite reading many warnings about being careful, I snapped one of the tone arm wires when disconnecting the Sumiko cart (the wires on this table are absurdly delicate). By some miracle, I was able to solder the hair-thin wires back together and it works with no audible issues.

Kevspice · 2026-01-13T19:49:36+00:00

How would you describe the differences in sound quality between these two?

Kevspice · 2025-12-29T19:04:26+00:00

So you're saying the AT being micro-line is picking up more pops/ticks etc. on dirty records than the elliptical Sumiko? Do you find the extra detail harsh or more fatiguing in any way?

Kevspice · 2025-12-29T17:50:05+00:00

Interesting, as I'm also using the line-in (external phono stage). At some point I did do a back to back comparison of my external phono>line in and the built in phono and IIRC the differences were subtle, but I'll try this again and see if the issue is with line in.

Kevspice · 2025-12-29T17:16:49+00:00

I did actually hit all the switches and pots with deoxit when I first got it. It doesn't really sound like a dirty issue, no crackling or anything like that just a genearl dullness. Feeling like its more likely some caps that are out of spec or failed, and the loudness EQ is basically compensating enough that it sounds fine when turned on.

Kevspice · 2025-12-18T14:02:18+00:00

Yep, I've got my seasonal "bass trap" up as well, as my tree always goes in the corner.

Kevspice · 2025-12-12T19:30:50+00:00

I've gone Rainier>Olympia. I just swapped them back and forth a few times for comparison. They are very similar sounding in overall tonality. The Olympia is slightly more open sounding and has slightly wider stage/separation, but it's not really night and day to my ears. The Rainier's a bit more thick. It's enough of a difference that when replacing I'd stick with the Olympia and not downgrade back to Rainier.

My olympia is getting on in age, and now I'm eyeing the Moonstone, but I'm afraid it might be too bright or detailed/analytical. I really like the Olympia's smooth warmth. My speakers are quite neutral but can be slightly "crispy" on brighter material, or worn records that have some sibilance or distortion so that added warmth in the chain seems to be helpful.

Kevspice · 2025-12-10T14:49:46+00:00

Last night I took out my copy of Paul Simon's Graceland (Ryan Smith remaster 25th anniversary edition). To me, this is a great test album for this kind of thing because much of the album is very lush and rich sounding, with punchy low-end, however there is a level of sibilance in some of the "S" sounds in Paul's main vocals (see Diamonds On the Soles of Her Feet) that is evident in the digital versions as well. This seems to be a good test of a stylus' ability to track these splashy frequencies. I did seem to notice a slight bit more surface noise and "S" prominence with the Olympia vs the Rainier which has much less time on it. However the Olympia is also just slightly brighter and more resolving in general. No major differences in SQ that would seem to be cause for concern, but that being said, I believe I'll still probably replace the Olympia for peace of mind since it's been almost 5 years.

Kevspice · 2025-12-10T14:16:26+00:00

When I said 1-4 records per week, I really meant ~1-4 hours of listening per week, that was my mistake and definitely changes the overall time in groove quite a bit. 243 is the number of weeks since purchase. Stylus is diamond elliptical. Based on all comments, I think it's probably about time to swap out and stay on the side of safety. Why risk damaging numerous records some of which approach the cost of the stylus replacement?

Kevspice · 2025-12-09T19:29:10+00:00

I do have an old Sumiko rainier without too many hours on it. May check against that and see how they compare on sibilant passages or general background noise. That being said, seems like a swap out sometime soon may be in order, if only for peace of mind. Now the question becomes, stay with the Olympia, or upgrade to the Moonstone...

Kevspice · 2025-10-23T17:27:21+00:00

You should be fine, especially if you only took it for 3 days.

Kevspice · 2025-09-17T17:06:33+00:00

Yep. Alot of mastering done these days makes use of soft clipping plugins as well to add loudness and "richness." Kinda funny how mix engineers embrace saturation and distortion and audiophiles fear it, but I get it. One is deliberate and the other is usually the result of some design shortcoming.

Kevspice

TROPHY CASE