Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge with 0.6mil Conical Stylus

2020-01-02T19:00:00

Sounds best at 1.5 grams tracking force and 1 gram anti-skate. Use included aluminum screws as they sound better than hex-head stainless steel I compared. It really sings after about 18 hours of break-in. I have also tried just the stylus on the older AT95E body as well as Linn K5 & K9 bodies. It looks and sounds great there as well. The increased output of 4mv (compared to older 3.5mv) is noticeable in that it reduces amp noise. This cartridge sounds better than most models quadruple its' price.

Ron

Originally posted at

2019-03-06T19:00:00

I ordereed a VM95C (conical 0.6) directly from AT, with the headshell. It was well protected, and arrived in just a few days. The packaging was very nice! I do like the headshell design BTW. It has a little more mass than some others, and seems like it would be quite rigid. My main curiosity was how the 0.6 conical VM95 would stack-up to the Shure 0.7 conical M44-G (the lighter tracking version of the M44-7). I have some new, still in the packages M44-G styli to compare with. My understanding is, those are unfortunately now out of production. First impressions... Without break-in of either stylus, I compared some old favorite vinyl. An original pressing of "Crosby Stills and Nash" (the first album) went on the Technics SP-15 TT with an AT arm first. This album has been abused a bit. Tracked many many times on GE VRII Broadcast cartridges, which are not very compliant, and track around 4 grams, as well as a variety Stanton 500A's and Shure M44-7's. All of which are 0.7 mil. It was clear that this new 0.6 mil AT was finding some cleaner, less damaged vinyl to play for me. The over-all sound of the AT VM95c was somewhat more forward in the upper mid-range than the Shure. Not enough to be annoying, but still noticeable. I was tracking both at 2 grams, which is the upper end of the Shure, but the middle of the (narrow) recommended range for the VM95c. On fresh, clean, not abused vinyl, the Shure seemed to hold a slight advantage in trackablity, but this was slight. To make the comparison more fair, I increased the VTF on the VM95c to it's max. With the VM95c at 2.2 grams, the two seemed to track nearly identically on hotly mastered LP's and 45's. The suspension in the VM95c seems to have no problem running up at 2.2 grams. It shows no signs of collapsing into it's grip. No cueing damage was noted on styrene 45's btw at 2.2g. A very impressive cartridge for it's price!

daveobieone

Originally posted at

2019-03-06T19:00:00

I play lots of 45 RPM, mono, and early Stereo discs. I am a physically challenged Stereophile, and broadcast engineer. I always need a good, reliable, rugged, .6 or .7 mil conical stylus equipped cartridge for use at home, and on the air. I need plenty of output, very high sound quality and well balanced without emphasis over 20-20,000 Hertz range. I need consistent every time. And I prefer a range of stylus options to go with it. And I must respect a budget. I own multiple turntables and tonearms. I also repair turntables, and always asked to recommend the best for the least cash outlay. Your brand new Audio-Technica AT-VM 95 series gives me all the above, and at a great price. It is one of the best phono products you fine folks ever made (your old ATP series tonearms a product which I still use many years later and your other tonearms are also equally superb)

Kent

Originally posted at

2018-12-21T19:00:00

This is a lot of cartridge, for not a lot of money. This will sound superb, lively, and make music on any good average medium mass tonearm commonly found on today's turntables. Better than the old AT-95e, can be upgraded to amazing levels. A budget cartridge which sounds nice even on much better equipment than it's commonly seen on. An upgrade for many turntables. Better than budget has a right to sound. Clean bass, accurate midrange, nice sweet high treble without fatigue, plenty of detail. Musical. What budget audiophiles need, and even nice against many 3x as expensive options. Audio-Technica, you outdid yourself again. Made the AT-95e obsolete, and improved upon it even at the cheapest level, and gave Ortofon2M, and Nagaokas reason to be afraid. Keep up this relentless effort to improve phono playback for the budget customer. I repair turntables and tone arms, you'll be recommended to my clientele and all who ask about good for not a lot of money. A winner, folks!!!!

Kent T.

Originally posted at