. I wont be at all surprised if you find the VM95SH to be favourable to the Blue in just about every way. Well, I've still ran into a bit of distortion on vocals here and there. Reviewers have rated this affordable, high-performance cartridge as a best buy value. At the time, I could get a new one for very little money, so decided to buy it and make my own assessment. This suggests that Audio-Technica are not supplying bodies that test best after manufacture with their higher end styli as has been suggested. Denon PMA-1600NE Thanks for your feedback! And introduced the new VM95xx line where you can choose from a cheap carbon/conical to mono, EB, NE, to ML all the way to Shibata. . After doing some research, and deciding it would be wise to stay within the VM95 series due to its ideal match with that tonearm, I upgraded to the VM95SH. Tracking force is dependent on your cartridge. In addition, it is a budget player that could compete with even more expensive versions. However, the two cartridges are sonically quite different, with the AT-VM95E having a fuller, more dynamic sound, but lacking the charm of the AT95E. Thanks for your time ! I think the most important criteria for comparing and choosing audio gear is enjoyment. Im glad yours has improved given some time to break in, but you may want to re-check your alignment, tracking force and bias to get the best from it and any future stylus upgrade. AT quote a difference of 0.5MV. Audioengine A5 Plus AT95 series styli will not fit a VM95 cartridge body as standard, though it can be done if the plastic housing is trimmed with a pair of side cutters. In this sound test, I assessed the sound quality for the major parts. Luckily, the AT95E works well with capacitive loads way above the recommended range, otherwise it would not be such a successful cartridge. Not only that, but they have produced a budget model that is quite astounding for the outlay. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.With this said, our opinions are always our own and we do not recommend products we do not like.Recent PostsHow To Open a Null File Extension, Denon DL-110 Reviews Phono Cartridge Review. Id forgotten the need for some break in time ! by cats squirrel 26 Nov 2015 16:30, Post VERDICT: I was actually quite pleased with it. benstonebruce said: . sometimes a different vtf might actually sound better while still doing a great job of tracking. So, I can dismiss my historical notion that this cartridge is bass-light and bright. Pepper's. Although some records require a little more tracking force than others, the range should be based on the cartridge manufacturer's specifications. Ive found the Microline to produce a more enjoyable and more musically coherent performance overall, and have always felt it better at handling distractions from vinyl contaminants and surface noise. The AT100E is certainly more focused than the AT95E right across the frequency range, with a firmer bass and a sharper treble, uncovering noticeably more detail. It is simply a fact of vinyl playback that better groove tracking yields more top end information, which can appear as over-brightness. It features an aesthetically pleasing anti-resonance MDF (medium density fiberboard) plinth with simulated walnut wood veneer to limit low-frequency acoustical feedback and a sensor-monitored motor to ensure accurate platter rotation speeds at 33-1/3 and 45 RPM The . So, if you've been sticking to the recommended 2 grams on the AT95E, maybe try just a slight bit more weight and you might be really surprised. This cart is not really suited to low-mass arms. Excellent John. The elliptical diamond stylus is designed to track record grooves with high accuracy for outstanding audio reproduction. A distinction of the AT95E is that it is just about the cheapest cartridge on the market that has an elliptical stylus, with its main competitors (on price) having only conical/spherical styli. I would be most grateful for your comments sir. It is now replaced by the VM95E which has quite similar specifications and price. May the green king rest in peace, the successor has arrived to steal the throne. There was a particular texture to it that I really liked. I can confirm that the VM95 series styli will fit an AT95 cartridge body without modification, with the only aesthetic drawback being that the front of the cartridge body will overhang the stylus assembly. In the enjoyment department, I found it hard to pick one over the other in this particular comparison. Discussion in 'Turntables' started by Yamahaha, Apr 5, 2014. Greetings from Munich! Any amount is gratefully received! Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Audio Technica AT95E Cartridge, Belt Drive, Built-in Preamp, Adjustable Counterweight, High Mass MDF Wood Plinth - Piano Black. It's a great sounding record, so I kind of figured it must be something in my setup. The only downside is the slight but noticeable reduction in output level. High fidelity AT95E cartridge provides excellent channel separation and requires 2.0 gram tracking force. Turntables At 2.23 grams, it sounded much more natural. He recommended setting it so it just barely moved inward toward the label. Last up, the VM95SH Shibata. Based on your review Ive upgraded my VM95E to the ML stylus & am very happy. Midrange: The mid-band is not particularly remarkable and is, in my opinion, the cartridges weakest band. Highs had more of a presence than before. These two cartridges have very different personalities, and I do not think either one is a natural upgrade or replacement for the other. This is perfectly logical as it would significantly increase manufacturing time, labour and cost. Reviewers have rated this affordable, high-performance cartridge as a best buy value. However, in hindsight, I should have ended the tests with the midrange. However, the treble change all of that. It's usually better to be closer to the max of the manufacturer recommendation than the min though. Do I want to keep on listening to music? Its better from the end users perspective too, as it means all generators are manufactured to the same high standard and thus the body you purchase with a 30 VM95C will perform just as well with a VMN95HS stylus as the VM95SH cartridge would. Re: AT95E Tracking Force by cats squirrel 12 Jan 2017 02:06 tracking force 16.5 mN tracking weight 1.65g at sea level. Incidentally, Im pleased to report the LP Gear/Rega Carbon elliptical is still holding its own against the onslaught of VMs, Ortofons, Goldrings et al! Cartridge with Elliptical Stylus Klipsch The Fives If you enjoy the content on this site and want to help us stay online, please consider making a donation. Tracking too lightly is worse for a record if it causes mistracking -- i.e. To best enjoy it, the overall picture should be considered. Logged in to this thread on the last post wondering why a discussion on Shure cartridges in going on in a thread on the AT95 haha. The Audio Technica AT95E is quite the gem of budget bargains. For the price, it is a good buy. especially with 3rd party replacents, it can vary a lot. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Stylus Japanese developed aluminum cantilever and bonded elliptical diamond tip ensures the longevity of your stylus. It's made of high-quality material (dual magnets) and not cheaply made it all, even the smaller parts that make up the whole. The Audio Technica AT95E will not make up for or hide the inadequacies of your record. Considering the blend came in next. I did not manage to provoke sibilance or inner groove distortion worth mentioning from either the AT95E or the Ortofon 2M Red. Klipsch Heresy IV. Bass weight is not bad and low-frequency extension is reasonable, but this is not a cartridge that bathes the sound in deep bass. And the reason I quickly replaced it with a VM540ML on my AT-LP120 turntable. . You have entered an incorrect email address! Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Cartridge Specifications - Type: VM Stereo Dual Magnet - Playback frequency range: 20 ~ 22,000 Hz - Channel separation: 20 dB (1kHz) - Output channel balance: 2.0 dB (1kHz) - Output voltage: 4.0 mV (1kHz, 5 cm/sec.) Related to this, the tracking of sibilant vocals is at best mediocre. Given records in decent condition and a setup that is at least reasonable, these figures are conservative and likely based more on tests showing degradation in frequency response than reaching a point where the stylus will cause undue damage to vinyl. Cheers from Belgium. AIR FORCE 1; AIR MAX; JORDAN; BASKETBALL; The XP series delivers higher output voltage (5.5MV as opposed to 3.5MV) and its 3 interchangeable styli are of lower compliance and are thus optimised for manual cueing and back-cueing. D17: Generally you can expect pretty much any cartridge/needle to achieve its best tracking ability in the upper half of the suggested tracking force range. Distortion was gone. Very excellent and thorough review, thanks so much for sharing it ! The excellent moving magnet input of my Marantz PM-11S3 internal phono stage was used, which offers fixed loading at 47K Ohms, 100PF and is well matched to Audio-Technica cartridges. More like the Ortofon 2M Red. I am in no doubt that in 38 years time the VM95 will be every bit as revered and coveted as its predecessor. Tracking force: 1.5 to 2.5 g (2.0 g standard) Coil impedance: 2.8 k ohms (1 kHz) DC resistance: 410 ohms Recommended load impedance: 47 k ohms Recommended load capacitance: 100 to 200 pF Coil inductance: 400 mH (1 kHz) Static compliance: 20 10 Two quite different cartridges that I think will give your system quite different character. It is my theory that the small variances in compliance and tip mass are responsible for this, and in reality such a minor difference isnt going to be of any consequence as the difference is minor, and the output voltage is well within the margin for most if not all moving magnet preamplifiers. Hence, I expected no punch from the bass but I expected its presence at the very least. Having upgraded their mid and top end moving magnet cartridges, AT turned their attention to their budget models. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The average capacitive load range of phono cartridges is from 100 pF-220 pF. Double check the tracking force with a digital balance and play. Output level of the VM95C and VM95E is 4MV, while the rest of the range outputs 3.5MV at 1kHz, 5CM/sec. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO This is probably the best bang for buck in the range, and is likely the point where existing owners of the AT95, especially the AT95XE, will want to enter into the VM95 family. It should be compatible with any table out there. Before I flipped it to side B, I decided to add a bit more weight. I discovered, like you, that I could decrease the problem with a heavier tracking weight, but I could never eliminate it completely. I first wanted to identify the cause of the slightly higher output voltage of the conical and elliptical verses the other three profiles. It did seem to wane a little with time, perhaps I grew more tolerant of it or maybe that cartridge has an extended break-in period, maybe both. A check on Audio Technicas website will reveal that the Audio Technica AT95E has been discontinued for quite a while. Simon and Gary kindly loaned me a VM95 cartridge and complete set of styli, which will be available from them at ex-demo prices at the time of this publication (April 2019). The blue VM95C (.6 mil conical), green VM95E (.3 x .7 mil elliptical), orange VM95EN (.3 x .7 mil nude mounted elliptical), red VM95ML (2.2 x 0.12 mil Microline), brown VM95SH (2.7 x 0.26 mil Shibata) and grey VM95SP (3 mil 78). Forty-four years old, music lover, electronics engineer and home audio enthusiastsince my early teens. I wouldnt have thought such a small difference would be especially noticeable. The half-inch standard mount AT95E phonograph cartridge offers outstanding clarity and detail. The tracking force abilities with this cartridge sit right in the middle. I went through the online owner's manual of my pioneer pl-15d2 and saw no mention of it at all. Ted, c_s: The actual aim is a proper SRA/VTA, not that the arm is in horizontal position. A successful cartridge be every bit as revered and coveted as its predecessor range, otherwise it would not such! Just about every way of your stylus record, so I kind of figured it must be in... Would be most grateful for your comments sir Audio reproduction vary a lot do I want to keep on to... Is from 100 pF-220 pF not manage to provoke sibilance or inner groove distortion mentioning. Inward toward the label ran into a bit more weight that, but they have produced a player! A better experience I assessed the sound in deep bass at sea level for outstanding Audio reproduction cats squirrel Jan... 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