(I am currently between houses and temporarily live in a medium-size hotel room so bringing in my speakers wasnt really a valid option anyway). In addition, it is a budget player that could compete with even more expensive versions. After deciding to look into the budget category, I stumbled upon this model. From experience I have found Audio-Technica cartridges work best at below 200PF capacitance and standard 47K loading. Noticeable difference there. The AT95E wasnt the most refined cartridge and was always on the brighter side of neutral. Not sure why this is such a heavily debated topic. Only that this time, it surpassed my expectations. Theres no doubt Ill consider buying a MicroLine stylus in the future ! by mark79 12 Jan 2017 00:28, Post The AT95E is great if you want an affordable cartridge that is pleasant and laid back. When I swapped back and forth between the Ortofon 2M Red and the AT95E, I found it very hard to pick a favorite. It could be better. 0.3 x 0.7 elliptical replacement stylus for these cartridges: AT95E Audioengine A5 Plus Hi Ashley; I ended up tracking it around 2.35grms for the best sound. Feliks Audio Arioso 300B (Ordered) http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartr 3f8dbeaf5/. I dont think I ever expected a cartridge at this kind of budget to be so appealing. It will be very close and will look level so there is no need at this point to worry about arm height. However you can change your cookie settings at any time. SKU:SA8317695. I am in no doubt that in 38 years time the VM95 will be every bit as revered and coveted as its predecessor. You will need to read the manual for your cartridge or otherwise Google its specifications. Ive now received my VM95SH courtesy of Simon, and am eagerly enjoying the bedding-in period. The T.P. Is it engaging? I think the most important criteria for comparing and choosing audio gear is enjoyment. Dolphin17, If you are using an AT95E cartridge, and the platter mat is still the original one, then you're good to go. - Tracking force: 2.0 g - Internal impedance @ 1kHz: 670 ohms - Internal inductance: 270 mH - Recommended load resistance: 47 kOhm . NEW A T AT95E C + L: E saigonauth.com. Post I got one pretty easily and had no problems at all with the delivery. The plastic body, upon which many manufacturers have attempted to improve over the years, mounts with tiny, fiddly screws and round nuts. 0.75 to 1.25 grams is the tracking force range without using the brush. This is important as many a record-lover has labored by their system for hours due to stubborn phono cartridges. The tracking force abilities with this cartridge sit right in the middle. Audio Technicas recommended capacitive load for this cartridge (and most of their MM cartridges) is 100-200pF. In the enjoyment department, I found it hard to pick one over the other in this particular comparison. I discovered, like you, that I could decrease the problem with a heavier tracking weight, but I could never eliminate it completely. 1.87dB for The VM95C, 1.64dB for the VM95E, 1.61dB for the VM95EN, 1.29dB for the VM95ML and a very impressive 1.22dB for the VM95SH. currently listening with: Lenco 75, Rega 250 + Iceni c/w, Linn K18 with (BD stylus) cartridge. The result is dry and less than desirable. He recommended setting it so it just barely moved inward toward the label. Price: US $249.99. Hence, I expected no punch from the bass but I expected its presence at the very least. The VM540 is the replacement for the 440MLA / 440MLB, of which there is a review coming very soon. Ludovic. Significant difference on Side B. The Technics is fitted with a fully rebuild and re-wired tonearm terminating in a low capacitance OFC cable. If you arent really picky, go for this. Last week I got Audio Technica LP120 and I'm really happy with it. This means yet more top end detail retrieval, but with improvements throughout the frequency spectrum. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Rather it has a bit of oomf to use a technical term that makes it, if anything, great fun above all else. This review has been made possible by Simon and Gary of The Audio Files, specialists in the Linn LP12, Audio-Technica stockists and creators of the LP5 IPT more on that in future. 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. Although some records require a little more tracking force than others, the range should be based on the cartridge manufacturer's specifications. Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Have a search through Jico and LP Gear sites. RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Audio Technica AT95E. The Microline stylus is an advanced line contact shape, narrower and longer than an elliptical and thus able to sit deeper in the groove with greater contact to the groove wall. Always use the recommended force and above -- heavy tracking won't hurt your records it's time to dispel this misconception. NEW A T AT95E C + L: E saigonauth.com. Class A discrete SMD transistor phono amplifier covered with shungite 2 x stereo Cambridge Audio 640Av2 Usher 604 floor standers The biggest downside with the AT95E is that it can sound a bit boring and boxed-in, whereas the Ortofon 2M Red might become slightly fatiguing in the long run, especially if you have a bright system. V15 Type IV tracking force. I set the capacitance on my phono pre-amp to 150pF, resulting in a total capacitive load of ~275pF (after adding in 125pF cable capacitance). In theory, it is suited to medium-mass and high-mass arms. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. I went through the online owner's manual of my pioneer pl-15d2 and saw no mention of it at all. I went to 2.16 grams and also started to notice that it was improving the bass as well. Reviewers have rated this affordable, high-performance cartridge as a best buy value. by Roberto C2H3 26 Nov 2015 16:09, Post I find 2.25-2.5 grams works best for my bouncy wooden floor. 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. 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. Frequency response is 20-20,000Hz for the VM95C, 20-22,000Hz for the VM95E, 20-23,000Hz for the VM95EN and 20-25,000Hz for the VM95ML and VM95SH. I was pleased, however, that holding it didnt give an air of fragility. The difference in output level (3.5 mV for the AT95E and 5.5 mV for the Ortofon 2M Red) is big enough to make the Ortofon 2M Red play with significantly higher music volume. Rec. I have a AT95E and have heard a lot of very good things about it. We also chat about stylus shape and tracking fo. by mark79 12 Jan 2017 00:41, Post I rate it a 5.5. AT95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge, Phonograph Cartridge, Record Player Stylus, . I bumped the tracking force up to 2.4, adjusted anti-skate to match, and moved the speakers a bit further away from the . The AT95E has all the warmth and smoothness you can ask for, but it unfortunately sounds too boxed-in to get a perfect score from me. The good thing, however, was that while it was obviously not expensive, it didnt look tacky and cheap. Stereo imaging is greatly improved as is the texture of instruments and their placement within the stereo field. Repeating that same success will be no mean feat, and to attempt such is certainly a bold move on Audio-Technicas part. Distortion was gone. Having spent most of my vinyl life using mid-priced Thanks. Jackpot. The Ortofon 2M Red is one of the cartridges I bought solely for the purpose of these cartridge comparisons. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The AT95E came stock with my AT-LP120, so this is a cartridge that I have owned for a long time. I used audiophile-graded headphones instead of speakers to make for a more isolated listening experience without background noise and negative effects arising from less than ideal listening room acoustics. The Audio Technica AT95E is quite versatile as well. The measurements didnt change significantly when testing with a body supplied with the cheaper VM95E. 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. The VM95 styli are also compatible with the AT-XP series DJ cartridges and vice versa. Audio-Technica AT95E Best Phono Cartridge The Audio-Technica phono cartridge is an affordable and high-performance cartridge that delivers clear sound (including bass) and good stereo separation. The midrange hadnt given me what I was looking for and I was a bit disappointed. While it is always interesting to look at measured figures, it is important to remember that the sonics should ultimately dictate how any two cartridges, or indeed any two components, compare to one another. ALL MY VINYL AND HI-FI GEAR Characteristics shared between all styli are a warm, full-bodied sound that is also quite punchy. Vinyl Restart is reader supported. Forty-four years old, music lover, electronics engineer and home audio enthusiastsince my early teens. For Everything Record Related. With cartridges, I am a firm believer that first impressions are extremely important. Hello All: I like to compare cartridges. How does it stack up against the Shure M447 with a N44GQ and what you recommend the tracking force be on the N44GQ. If arm height is not adjustable, don't worry about it. I've tried multiple carts including the AT95E but maybe I'll try again. I feel they could have done worse than my green, black, and white mix. The tracking force information is between 1.5 to 2.5 grams. It has a narrow horizontal contact surface and larger vertical contact surface which is not only best suited to tracking high frequencies way beyond audibility but also causes less record wear. Both profiles will find favour with different listeners, and the fact that AT can offer a choice of two exotic styli on their most budget-conscious line of cartridges is both commendable and really quite remarkable. If you decide to make use of the Audio Technica AT95E during a sound test for a record, you would have to take into deep consideration the quality of the cartridge that you are using. Gives off a clear and balanced overall sound. A Black Diamond AT95E I . In standard form it carries a .3 x .7 mil elliptical stylus. Its level of detail and subtlety however are unquestionable, and I am in no doubt that listeners will forget that the generator in use is the same as that supplied with a 30 budget conical stylus. All other aspects of cartridge setup mentioned in the at95e manual have been completed with the exception of arm height. 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. 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. Hi-Fi system. 3000 Series Wireless In-Ear Monitor System. I've always set my VTF somewhere between half way and the upper limit. With ideal operating conditions, these cartridges should not give major sibilance or IGD headaches. cartridges with nude elliptical styli, I didnt really expect to appreciate a I had the performance of that reference setup in the back of my head when I did the reviews and comparisons. 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). unlike macnoob, I would suggest getting the arm/cart to play as horizontally as possible, as is accepted practice by most on here. Sure, it has problems with the sound quality and although it tracks better than its mates, one could want more. The stock VM95E is really a very decent cartridge.even on the impressive side for an entry level cart. Denon PMA-1600NE However, if you have sensitive ears, you might want to look somewhere else. I agree! Based on your review Ive upgraded my VM95E to the ML stylus & am very happy. The two-point protractor will produce the same result assuming that the geometry of the protractor is the same, though the arc is easier to align. 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