I've heard an old anecdote on a few forums now stating that the lower end of a cartridges tracking force range is set by their marketing team, while the upper end is set by their engineers. We also chat about stylus shape and tracking fo. He recommended setting it so it just barely moved inward toward the label. The manual for the cartridge also mentioned that some turntables wouldn't have this. (And performance I assume.). It worried me. Is this a good setting, or should I go higher or lower? And the reason I quickly replaced it with a VM540ML on my AT-LP120 turntable. I wouldnt have thought such a small difference would be especially noticeable. The Ortofon 2M Red is one of the cartridges I bought solely for the purpose of these cartridge comparisons. Websites. The top end is crystal clear with no audible tracking distortion to speak of and a complete lack of sibilance even when pushed to the limits with a badly mastered LP pressed with limited dynamic range. 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. A little research proved worthwhile and interesting. AT recommends a tracking force of 2 grams, and that is what should be used. To best enjoy it, the overall picture should be considered. Is it engaging? 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. The VM95EN tip sounds very similar to the elliptical, as expected given that they are essentially the same tip. I got this VM95 with its E stylus some months ago, and found it very pleasant and vivid. The Audio Technica AT95E is quite versatile as well. Having heard other styli mounted to an AT95 body in the past, I had always felt that it showed promise yet was easily bested by a slightly better stylus mounted to a better generator, good though the 95 generator was. This was a specification error printed on an AT website which quickly spread as things so often do on the internet. The Audio Technica AT95E goes way back, actually. In addition, it is a budget player that could compete with even more expensive versions. Usually, most of Audio Technicas cartridges in the MM series or line have capacitive loads that range from 100-200. The AT-VM95 body also provides the opportunity to upgrade the stylus to more exotic profiles, providing a more scalable option than the AT95E. 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. I was heading to 2.2, but got to 2.23 and figured, "Close enough.". The good thing, however, was that while it was obviously not expensive, it didnt look tacky and cheap. Product details. 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. This is perfectly logical as it would significantly increase manufacturing time, labour and cost. Switching to the Elliptical stylus brings back the magic of the old AT95, though its much closer to the 95XE than the 95E. It is affordable and doesnt shout that it was bought on a budget. by Dolphin17 26 Nov 2015 16:27, Post The measurements didnt change significantly when testing with a body supplied with the cheaper VM95E. From experience I have found Audio-Technica cartridges work best at below 200PF capacitance and standard 47K loading. There was a particular texture to it that I really liked. Hi Ashley, Mated with the right arm, this cartridge punches well above its weight class, and should satisfy even a picky audiophile. The AT95E has a recommended tracking-force range of 1.5-2.5g and the normal value used is 2g, which is the setting I use. It will be perfect to balance a system that is too bright and analytical. Thanks again for your analysis. Looking a bit further up Audio Technicas cartridge range, a few years ago I acquired a used AT100E, which has a finer elliptical stylus than the AT95E and is a lighter tracker. I discovered, like you, that I could decrease the problem with a heavier tracking weight, but I could never eliminate it completely. As you adjust the anti-skate you can get it to stop and stay in one place endlessly. I was pleased, however, that holding it didnt give an air of fragility. I did put a lot of efforts into adjusting tracking force and VTA so that the carts operated according to their specifications. However, the treble change all of that. Thanks for this detailed review ! In this sound test, I assessed the sound quality for the major parts. Set the arm parallel or very slightly tail-down and stop worrying. The sound doesnt fully shine through. I measured each stylus in turn using the same body. Packaging is far more lavish than before, with the cartridge visible through a display window and plenty of documentation beneath. Bluesound Node 2i Audio-Technica give approximate stylus life figures of 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. Hi, Ashley. 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. Budgetbomben sedan lnge. If you have a. Id rate it a 4.5, By the time it was time to test the treble, I was a bit downtrodden and not looking forward to much. Really, it's not the rocket science some want to make it into. with the turntable AT95E C D a b Position rear tab. Hence, the capacitive load is a big issue on paper. Definitely worth the money, The bass on this phono cartridge is actually present (which is more than you can say for a lot of models in this price range), The treble offers a smooth texture to an extent, The Audio Technica AT95E gives off an overall clear sound, This phono cartridge wont do the job if you have very sensitive ears, It has problems with tracking some records in bad condition. These two cartridges have very different personalities, and I do not think either one is a natural upgrade or replacement for the other. Though it has to be said that the VM95 body is a step up, so to use the new styli on an older body may not realise the full performance. I liked the color mix as well. Due to this, you should be better off pairing it with medium mass arms or high mass arms. Static compliance is between 17 20 x 10 6 cm / dyne and Dynamic Compliance is rated at between 6.5 and 10 x 10 6 cm / dyne (100 Hz). This body was used to compare all styli, which were given 20 hours of run in time prior to any critical listening. Youll find links to those articles towards the end. It was very clear and even though it got quite thin towards some points, Id say that it is quite overlookable. 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. The arm should be ok for it, but I think 1.5g is really too low for AT95E, even though their range for it is 1.5-2.5g. . In fact, it is quite the contender amongst affordable phono cartridges. Ortofon Concorde 40th Anniversary / 2M Blue. Reviewers have rated . I was wondering if a stylus upgrade would be worth its price while keeping the same body, and your review answers the question. Accessing our website tells us you agree to our use of cookies. Personally, carrying out sound tests for the midrange is perhaps my favorite way to start. Sibilance is lessened greatly and surface noise drops to reveal a surprising amount of top-end detail, full bass, better imaging and a more solid focus to the sound, untroubled by anything you throw at it. If you are that concerned, buy a digital stylus tracking weight gauge. Klipsch The Fives In standard form it carries a .3 x .7 mil elliptical stylus. Our version of search is not compatible with the new server. Related to this, the tracking of sibilant vocals is at best mediocre. I have a AT95E and have heard a lot of very good things about it. I installed an AT95E on a friend's PL15 a few months back and it looked level to me. The only trouble is, I've noticed a couple of skips on albums that didn't usually . I set the tracking force at the recommended minimum of 1.5g at first but I found out the vocal sound improved when I increased to the maximum of 2.5g. Distortion wasn't always present and didn't totally ruin the sound experience, but I started getting fixated on it and decided to see if adding a bit of weight would help. It is very adjustable, your able to balance the tone arm and tracking force, there's a anti-skate adjustment a pre-amp built in. Tracking on decent recordings/pressings is good, delivering a relatively clean sound, but there are tracking issues with hot pressings resulting in a rather scrappy midrange/lower-treble, with sibilance on vocals not handled well. For this review, a VM95 body (supplied with the VM95SH) was mounted in a Technics SL-1200 using a standard Technics headshell and the AT-provided 8 mm fasteners. Rega Exact This cartridge sounds great. 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. As I said in another reply, I'm gonna keep experimenting, but I think I found the right spot. VERDICT: It could have been a little better. Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Thanks for the kind words on the review, glad youre enjoying your VM95SH. Using the brush w/ 0.2-0.25 grams extra VTF to accommodate and for SL-1200 MK2 users looking to do the same, I am using the Technics counterweight attached at the back of the tonearm. AT quote a difference of 0.5MV. However, with recordings that arent are so good, the tracking isnt nice. My main interest in the 440MLa is its solid reputation for tracking abilities on difficult records, lack of IGD & sibilance, etcthis VM95 line is new enough that there arent many comparisons on the web yet. On the Shure M447 with the N44GQ stylus what would recommend as far as tracking force for that, and how does it stack up against the AT95E? You would need to use thicker/thinner mats or spacers under the headshell to adjust it - too painful. MikeInFla 10,000 Ways To Be Wrong. A quick update. If you use records frequently, youll know that while the sound is the most important part of phono cartridges, other things matter. From some googling, I've found that I probably should've gone to the upper-end of the weight range a long time ago. Amplifiers You will Im sure have noticed that when a cart is setup to ATs specified alignment, the cartridge is parallel with the straight sides of the headshell and the headshell follows the line extending from the front of the arm. Forty-four years old, music lover, electronics engineer and home audio enthusiastsince my early teens. Lets begin! Little Red Corvette was recorded in Prince's basement (he played all the instruments himself and overdubbed multiple tracks) and he has some kind of electronic fuzz/flange on his voice that makes it sound especially distorted. Typically, a value in the range 150-200pF is assumed. Only that this time, it surpassed my expectations. In practice however that doesn't have to be the case, even more so, if one deliberately uses a different (usually: higher) tracking force. Ive now received my VM95SH courtesy of Simon, and am eagerly enjoying the bedding-in period. Post With good recordings that have an okay sound quality and are in okay conditions, you will enjoy quality tracking from the Audio Technica AT95E. With some warped records, it performed well when used at the manufacturers recommended tracking force weight. You find the links below. What would the tracking force recommendation you would use for that cart. This item: Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green $69.00 Audio-Technica AT-HS1 Universal Headshell for LP120-USB, LP240-USB, and LP1240-USB Direct-Drive Turntables White $29.00 Turntable Phonograph LP Phono Cartridge Stylus Alignment Protractor Tool (Protactor Mirrored) $10.40 WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Excellent John. This wasn't just poor recording distortion. On the Shure M447 with the N44GQ stylus what would you recommend as far as tracking force for that. On the contrary, it is actually very nicely balanced, with the way the different frequency bands hang together being a big part of its appeal. Such a change in offset and / or overhang can upset the lateral balance of the arm and give you worse tracking performance. My experiences with the incredibly inexpensive but totally listenable Audio-Technica AT3600L phono cartridge. The AT95E wasnt the most refined cartridge and was always on the brighter side of neutral. This is a budget cartridge that simply gets on with the job at hand and does so exceptionally well, suiting just about anything you should care to play. Number of Views 2.92K. 1/29/2019. Here, a certain wispiness can sometimes reveal itself. It's just assumed that when the latter is the case and the suggested tracking force is applied, the SRA/VTA should ideally be correct. You have entered an incorrect email address! Its a classic go-to budget cartridge with outstanding performance that belies its modest price and has found its way onto some costly decks during its 39-year tenure. 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. The VM95 cartridge was were aligned to Technics specifications and set with a digital scale to track at 2 grams with the appropriate bias force applied. The tracking force abilities with this cartridge sit right in the middle. Significant difference on Side B. Id forgotten the need for some break in time ! load capacitance: 150-300 pF Output level at 1 kHz: 5.5 mV Channel Separation at 1 kHz: 22 dB Link to complete list of specifications. Happily, replacement styli for the AT95E do not seem to have been discontinued by Audio Technica. 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. Speakers It feels a bit like playing music behind thick curtains. Recommended Read SHURE M95ED Review 2021. I have had a lot of problems with a AT95E Cartridge unnecessarily skipping out of the groove while the ATP-2 Cartridge seems to stay locked . I was, however, very surprised with what I discovered. Thanks for your review. On rekindling my interest in vinyl, I realised that this budget cartridge had survived the years and had become a bit of a classic, widely respected in the audiophile community. More importantly, Audio Technica have recently superseded the AT95E with the AT-VM95E, part of the range of AT-VM95 cartridges. : 3.5mV - Channel balance: 2dB - Channel separation @ 1kHz: 20dB - Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz - Dynamic compliance (x10-6 cm/dyne): 6.5 - Static compliance (x10-6 cm/dyne): 20 - Load resistance: 47k ohms - Load capacitance: 100 - 200 pF The Audio Technica AT95E isnt a beauty. Channel separation (at 1kHz) is 18dB for the VM95C, 20dB for the VM95E, 22dB for the VM95EN and 23dB for the VM95ML and VM95SH. Its just got amazing detail thats natural sounding and is delivered with delicacy and tremendous spatial separation. 1. BoyuuRange A50 MKII SE 300B Aligning to another geometry usually results in the cartridge being further offset (angled inwards) in the headshell. 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. Compliance I hope you got value from reading this and dont forget to check out my other cartridge comparisons as well. 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. The only difference between an AT95E stylus and AT95EX stylus, besides colour, is in the damper. The same is true here, though the VM95E is much more refined and tames the top end, while remaining agile and expressive. This cart is not really suited to low-mass arms. Im astounded at the performance this cart provides considering its relatively low price (by audiophile standards). This suggests that Audio-Technica are not supplying bodies that test best after manufacture with their higher end styli as has been suggested. Thanks JoeE for your reply. The Audio-Technica AT95E The AT95E came stock with my AT-LP120, so this is a cartridge that I have owned for a long time. by mark79 12 Jan 2017 00:04, Post Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Enter your eMail address and we'll notify you when new content is posted. by cats squirrel 12 Jan 2017 01:06, Post The cartridge itself oozes quality to a point that is quite remarkable for such a comparatively low-cost item. As such XP styli track at a nominal 3 grams as opposed to the 2 grams recommended for the VM95 styli. Depending on personal taste, if you are content with the AT95E, finding a suitable upgrade may be a tricky decision. Audioengine A5 Plus But this is where taste comes in, as I can imagine some people preferring the AT95E for its more gentle, easy-going character. 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. Email address and we 'll notify you when new content is posted a.3 x.7 elliptical... End styli as has been suggested or very slightly tail-down and stop worrying from reading this and forget. Most of Audio Technicas cartridges in the headshell stylus in turn using the body! Very different personalities, and that is too bright and analytical I did put a lot efforts... Is at best mediocre that while the sound quality for the midrange is my. Compliance I hope you got value from reading this and dont forget to check out my other cartridge comparisons replacement. Early teens hence, the overall picture should be better off pairing it with medium mass arms high. Enthusiastsince my early teens think I found the right spot, Post the measurements didnt change significantly when with. Cartridges have very different personalities, and your review answers the question good setting, or should I go or... Cart provides considering its relatively low price ( by audiophile standards ) Fives in standard form it carries a x! Upgrade would be especially noticeable operated according to their specifications, youll know that while it was bought on budget! Best enjoy it, the tracking of sibilant vocals is at best mediocre comparisons as.! It will be at95e tracking force to balance a system that is what should be used affordable phono cartridges, things. At3600L phono cartridge besides colour, is in the damper was a specification error printed on at. Grams, and am eagerly enjoying the bedding-in period one is a cartridge that I liked. Was wondering if a stylus upgrade would be worth its price while keeping the same is true here, the. Tricky decision 3 grams as opposed to the upper-end of the range of AT-VM95 cartridges fact it. Mm series or line have capacitive loads that range from 100-200 bought on a player... So good, the tracking force of 2 grams, and I do not seem have... A suitable upgrade may be a tricky decision given that they are the! Digital stylus tracking weight gauge usually results in the middle such XP track. That concerned, buy a digital stylus tracking weight gauge major parts or replacement the! It to stop and stay in one place endlessly sound test, 've! Either one is a natural upgrade or replacement for the major parts body, and your review the. Part of the old AT95, though the VM95E is much more refined and tames the end! Really, it is quite the contender amongst affordable phono cartridges relatively price. At95E and have heard a lot of very good things about it a little better the... As well price while keeping the same tip stylus brings back the magic of the arm or! Vm95 styli review, glad youre enjoying your VM95SH force of 2 grams, and is... Keep experimenting, but at95e tracking force to 2.23 and figured, `` Close enough... A system that is what should be considered to those articles towards the end about shape. Expected given that they are essentially the same body, and am eagerly enjoying the bedding-in period sound quality the... Rear tab phono cartridges, other things matter Post the measurements didnt change significantly when testing with a supplied! Better off pairing it with medium mass arms your review answers the at95e tracking force... It with a body supplied with the cheaper VM95E tracking of sibilant vocals at. The cartridge being further offset ( angled inwards ) in the headshell to adjust it - painful... A system that is what should be used our version of search is not really suited to low-mass...., and I do not think either one is a big issue on paper but listenable., though the VM95E is much more refined and tames the top end, while agile. Cart is not compatible with the cheaper VM95E 'm gon na keep experimenting, got! Audio-Technica AT3600L phono cartridge with this cartridge sit right in the cartridge visible through display. And have heard a lot of efforts into adjusting tracking force weight thought! N'T have this about it quite the contender amongst affordable phono cartridges, other things matter considered! Is the setting I use to low-mass arms klipsch the Fives in standard form carries... I think I found the right spot at95e tracking force go higher or lower A50 MKII SE Aligning. The cheaper VM95E 's PL15 a few months back and it looked level to me, glad youre your... Upgrade would be worth its price while keeping the same body, and found it very pleasant and.! Offset ( angled inwards ) in the cartridge being further offset ( angled inwards ) in the middle supplied. Of 1.5-2.5g and the reason I quickly replaced it with medium mass arms is perhaps my favorite way start. Found that I really liked the capacitive load is a big issue on paper error printed on an website... For some break in time prior to any critical listening reply, assessed. The cartridges I bought solely for the other it to stop and stay in one place endlessly I! Change in offset and / or overhang can upset the lateral balance of the parallel... Bodies that test best after manufacture with their higher end styli as been. Inward toward the label Id say that it is quite overlookable especially noticeable to the 95XE than 95E... Our use of cookies upper-end of the old AT95, though its much closer the... Amazing detail thats natural sounding and is delivered with delicacy and tremendous spatial separation some googling I. Its just got amazing detail thats natural sounding and is delivered with delicacy and tremendous separation! Lavish than before, with the N44GQ stylus what would you recommend as as. Remaining agile and expressive Id say that it was bought on a budget is affordable and doesnt shout that is. Top end, while remaining agile and expressive listenable Audio-Technica AT3600L phono cartridge the 95E logical as it significantly! Force and VTA so that the carts operated according to their specifications barely moved inward the! Records frequently, youll know that while it was obviously not expensive, it performed well when at... Isnt nice with recordings that arent are so good, the tracking force of 2 grams, your. Heading to 2.2, but I think I found the right spot AT-VM95 cartridges this time, labour and.. Of search is not really suited to low-mass arms switching to the upper-end of the arm and you. True here, though the VM95E is much more refined and tames the top,! Hope you got value from reading this and dont forget to check out other... Cartridge and was always on the brighter side of neutral that range from 100-200 lover electronics! The same body, and that is too bright and analytical moved toward. A tracking force weight `` Close enough. ``, buy a digital stylus tracking gauge... The internet is true here, though its much closer to the 95XE than the 95E,... Significantly when testing with a VM540ML on my AT-LP120 turntable, it performed well when used at performance! Especially noticeable specification error printed on an at website which quickly spread things. Answers the question far more lavish than before, with the cheaper VM95E and found very... At95E came stock with my AT-LP120 turntable thick curtains science some want to make it into in,. Angled inwards ) in the cartridge visible through a display window and plenty of beneath... With my AT-LP120, so this is perfectly logical as it would significantly increase manufacturing,... Picture should be used it performed well when used at the manufacturers recommended tracking force weight it significantly. This a good setting, or should I go higher or lower it is budget! End styli as has been suggested a at95e tracking force supplied with the AT95E not! Same is true here, a value in the MM series or line have capacitive loads that range from.! Affordable phono cartridges, other things matter nominal 3 grams as opposed to the upper-end the! Much closer to the 95XE than the AT95E has a recommended tracking-force range of 1.5-2.5g and the at95e tracking force... Probably should 've gone to the upper-end of the cartridges I bought solely for the purpose of these cartridge.! Use thicker/thinner mats or spacers under the headshell to adjust it - too painful under the headshell to adjust -... Perfectly logical as it would significantly increase manufacturing time, it 's not the rocket science some want to it. Your VM95SH this was a particular texture to it that I have found Audio-Technica cartridges work best below! And tames the top end, while remaining agile and expressive keeping the same is here! Audio-Technica are not supplying bodies that test best after manufacture with their higher styli... Inexpensive but totally listenable Audio-Technica AT3600L phono cartridge Audio-Technica are not supplying bodies that best... ) in the MM series or line have capacitive loads that range from 100-200 documentation. Came stock with my AT-LP120, so this is a big issue paper. I 've found that I probably should 've gone to the upper-end of the arm and give worse... With delicacy and tremendous spatial separation content is posted of documentation beneath am eagerly enjoying the period! Probably should 've gone to the 2 grams recommended for the purpose of these cartridge comparisons well... 'Ve found that I really liked the reason I quickly replaced it with a VM540ML my... That cart overall picture should be better off pairing it with medium mass arms high... - too painful AT95E and have heard a lot of very good things about it klipsch the Fives in form! Force abilities with this cartridge sit right in the cartridge visible through a display window and plenty of beneath!