Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge with Elliptical Bonded Stylus,Green

Product Information

Can't sleep, so just having fun with cost and stylus life. AT gives stylus life as "Around 500 hours for a Conical stylus, 300 hours for an Elliptical stylus, 1000 hours for a Microlinear stylus, and 800 hours for a Shibata stylus." Assuming that's accurate, a typical 2-hour listening session for me would have a stylus life cost (rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent) of: If you want a brighter sound than the 95EN, then the 540, 740, 750, and 760 will deliver that. You could also just turn up the treble control if you have one. The VM95ML Microlinear gave a reasonably bright tonal balance with delicious retrieval of fine high frequency detail that came across with firm confidence. With Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Couldn’t Stand the Weather (45rpm LP 180gm re-master) his guitar strings cut out with speed, there was no muddle when the mix got complex. This quality remained right through to inner grooves where on Time to Say Goodbye (Two Countries One Heart, 180gm, 33rpm) singers Cheryl Porter and Roselle Caporale were kept well apart, as only this tip and the Shibata could do. https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?action=search2&advanced=1&search=vm95&searchtype=1&userspec= Audio Technica told me the VM95 body has a simpler generator assembly comprising two coils (left and right channel) with no magnetic screen between them; the more expensive VM700s have four coils, plus screen. Also, they have a cast aluminium body and better (tapered) cantilevers.

Indicates whether MUID is transferred to ANID, a cookie used for advertising. Clarity doesn't use ANID and so this is always set to 0. The budget VM95C conical stylus (blue) measured -2dB down at 10kHz, the VM95E (green) -1dB giving a slightly brighter sound balance. The VM95EN had no loss at 10kHz, plus less on inner grooves. The VM-95 body is an example of Audio-Technica’s dual-magnet design and in the 95E is partnered with a bonded elliptical stylus that is mounted on an aluminium pipe-style cantilever. This borrows from the special EX version of the AT-95 that comes fitted as standard to the company’s LP5 turntable ( HFC 405). The body has been designed to reduce resonance and feels a whole lot more substantial than the original AT-95E.The VM95EN nude elliptical had plenty of body and drive with Alison Goldfrap’s Lovely to CU, making the ripping synth sound big and meaty. There was some softening of images across the sound stage and a de-focussed effect was apparent, especially on inner grooves with the Trondheim Soloists behind Marianne Thorsen; here the ML and SH kept them all well separated but the EN introduced blur. All the same the ‘95EN survived all the test LPs and gave a lively sound with good tonal balance. Bottom line, based on the sum of my investigations, advanced diamond stylus life is estimated to be near 500 hours, and probably much lower for spherical and elliptical tip shapes as noted by JICO. Play above 800 hours risks progressive and permanent damage to vinyl records, so it is critical to get an advanced stylus tip examined at near 500 hours of use, much sooner for a spherical or elliptical tip. With proper care and careful examination, you will learn for yourself how long a stylus will last." https://thevinylpress.com/the-finish-line-for-your-phonograph-stylus/ Perhaps Hanpin improved newer gen LP120s, but I doubt it is in the same league as Technics or Rega.

Elliptical diamond stylus follows the groove modulation with greater precision compared to a conical stylus, offering improved frequency and phase responses whilst reducing distortion. Preassembled With AT-HS6BK Headshell

Sonics

Recent AT95 styli are more musical than those of a few years ago. They look different with minimal adhesive used and a thinner cantilever (seemed to coincide with AT opened a new manufacturing facility in Japan). http://www.turntableneedles.com/Audio-Technica-ATN95E-ATN3400-Type-JICO-Shibata-Stylus--our-Needle-710-DSH_p_3721.html The better tips progressively improve high frequency retrieval and imaging, especially on inner grooves, but they don’t alter basic presentation: look to tapered aluminium pipe cantilevers of AT’s more expensive moving magnets (AT530 upward) for a punchier and less bland lower midrange. Jico Shibata also has an audio 'hardness' but also the high frequencies seem to perceptively lag behind the rest of the music.