Audio Technica At95e Phonograph Cartridge 1/2 Mount

Product Information

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. Rather than spending money on different styli, which may provide a solution but at a price, I'd suggest going for the AT120E instead. It is much, much better than the AT95E. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 26th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) The Audio Technica AT95E has a dynamic compliance of around 11.5 CU (at 10Hz). This leaves it at the lower side of medium mass when its compliance is considered. Due to this, you should be better off pairing it with medium mass arms or high mass arms. With the 100pF capacitance setting on my phono pre-amp, the AT91 sounded remarkably focused in the treble. Increasing the setting to 250pF, however, a little roughness crept into the high frequencies. I therefore preferred the sound at the lower capacitance setting.

VERDICT: I actually enjoyed the treble testing. For the price, it is a good buy. I rate it a 5.5 BASS Characteristics shared between all styli are a warm, full-bodied sound that is also quite punchy. There’s a lot of drive here, though the VM95 is not voiced such that standout bumps in frequency make it an unpleasant listen. Rather it has a bit of ‘oomf’ to use a technical term that makes it, if anything, great fun above all else. It sounds much like the predecessor, though with more evenhandedness and control than the AT95, which tends to sound dry and a bit dull in comparison. VM95C The VM95 Series suspension design and compliances of VM95 Series have been designed for optimum audiophile reproduction.

Measurements

The stylus is a shaped piece of industrial diamond that is affixed to the end of the cantilever. The shape is the point of differentiation. At the simplest level, it is a cone shaped tip that moves through the groove of the record responding to the information that is contained therein. By increasing the length of the tip and decreasing the width, it is possible to make the stylus sit deeper in the groove of the record and extract more information - the conical tip becomes an elliptical one. Finally, the bass was tested. Since I’d experienced two different qualities, I told myself to place my expectations in the middle. Hence, I expected no punch from the bass but I expected its presence at the very least. The Ortofon 2M Red, on the other hand, sounds noticeably more open and detailed, but it did never sound as pleasant as the AT95E. 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. Noticeable difference there. I measured each stylus in turn using the same body. I first wanted to identify the cause of the slightly higher output voltage of the conical and elliptical verses the other three profiles. AT quote a difference of 0.5MV. My tests showed The VM95C and VM95E output around 3.8MV, while the other still in the range were indeed on or slightly lower than the 3.5MV mark. It is my theory that the small variances in compliance and tip mass are responsible for this, and in reality such a minor difference isn’t 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.

However, the treble change all of that. I suspect that this was because, in comparison, the treble was amazing. However, in all fairness, some high-end models don’t do it so much better. There was a particular texture to it that I really liked. It was very clear and even though it got quite thin towards some points, I’d say that it is quite overlookable. After my first view of the Audio Technica AT95E, I had more hope than ever than it could actually be a good buy. From the first view, it gives no reason for one to think otherwise. Note that the above assumes a phono-cable capacitance of 125pF for the Technics SL1200 Mk5. This value may be higher (likely) or lower for other turntables. Typically, a value in the range 150-200pF is assumed. Comparison 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.Switching to the VM95EN - which doesn’t change the shape of the stylus, simply reduces the effective mass at the end of the cantilever by eliminating the shank, starts to make a little more sense of this demanding record. Complex passages gain a further clarity and rhythmic agility. The basic tonal balance of the 95EN doesn’t meaningfully alter from the 95E though. Given that the price doubles in this jump, it might be possible to argue that this is the step that is the hardest to justify. If you know you have a shelf full of demanding material though, you might find it worth it. Stepping a little further beyond the recommended range, the balance shifts towards neutral as the treble becomes more forward and crisper, with a general sweetening of the sound that may be preferable to some listeners. Other features include Aluminum pipe cantilever and Dual V Mount magnet configuration which delivers excellent channel separation and low distortion resulting in outstanding tonal quality. AT themselves never marketed any upgraded styli for the AT95 leaving other companies to take on the task including LP Gear, Jico and The Audio Files, who’s 95P Paratrace is considered by many the best of the bunch. The VM95 Range Elliptical diamond stylus follows the groove modulation with greater precision compared to a conical stylus, offering improved frequency and phase responses whilst reducing distortion. No use of nuts

By the time it was time to test the treble, I was a bit downtrodden and not looking forward to much. The midrange hadn’t given me what I was looking for and I was a bit disappointed The Audio Technica AT95E isn’t a beauty. If you are after it, be ready to classify it as a classic built mainly to perform and not sit pretty. I was pleased, however, that holding it didn’t give an air of fragility. Watching' the stylus in the groove, and even with the Shure's dynamic stabiliser not in use, the M97xE 'looked' more settled and stable, whereas the AT95E looked a little 'wobbly and shaky' (not very scientific, I know). I was almost right. Only that this time, it surpassed my expectations. The bass actually gave a little punch- definitely not the type that you feel in your guts but it was there and if it wasn’t, you would notice and miss it sorely. So while it was great, it did much better than the midrange. In the end there wasn't that much of a sonic difference with the only real difference noted was a somewhat 'warmer' sound from the M97xE, probably due to the increased output in the 30 to 60 Hz range combined with the slight upper treble roll off. All these things combined would probably give the M97xE a 'smoother' and a 'non fatiguing' sound for which it is 'renowned'. It the end, I guess it all comes down the listener preferences and equipment synergy. Regards, Felix aka catman.I have also compared the Ortofon 2M Red and the AT95E against the Ortofon 2M Blue and the VM540ML. You’ll find links to those articles towards the end. The dynamic compliance of the ATN91 stylus is ~11 cu (at 10Hz), which puts it at the low end of medium-compliance. Like the AT3600L, it is well matched to high-mass arms and the heavier end of medium-mass arms, although the AT91 performed well on the lighter SL1200 arm. Capacitive Load

Logically, I expected the sound of the AT-VM95E to be an extension and enhancement to that of the AT95E, but I was wrong.