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To get more info direct from Audio Technica (and buy in the U.S.), click https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/ca ... m95-series.
I am starting this thread as I piqued some interest on the "Playground" thread. Fredrik Lejonklou suggested this topic needs it's own thread. He's wrong, it deserves an entire forum.
I will start the second post with some of my experiences along the way. My time here is erratic, so I may not make additions right away. If impatient, you could just buy this cheap gem and post your thoughts, photos, and audio comparisons.
For starters, the new AT-VMN95 styli are all retrofittable to older AT95E bodies as well as the Linns. This is good as the old ATN95E styli look terrible in a K5 or K9. It's a hideous bright green monstrosity. I believe Audio technica knows how many K9s are out there and made an effort to combine new product with stylus sales for existing models.
Older ATN95E styli will not physically fit in the new AT-VM95 body. This is understandable as the new bodies (with recessed nuts and higher output) sound better than the older bodies for only $10. If you are on a tight budget, buy just a new stylus.
If you remember the Linn Basik III (which was a giant killer at $50 in the '80s), the current version is the AT-VM95C (at $30!!!). It is the biggest surprise of the bunch. I like it the most. It offers better tune-following abilities than the Basik III and equal to the new ”E” version. I may buy a Rega Carbon to compare as I believe that is based on the Basik III. I'm sure I'll be disappointed.
Then there is the "E" version. It offers nothing over the "conical" stylus except less splashy cymbals. In fact, the conical stylus has better stereo separation and depth.
How about the "EN" version? Hmmmm. Very good. But see the bottom paragraph concerning stylus life and value.
Micro Line* you ask? Mega Shit is more like it.
AT-VM95SH Shibata? I already used the poop word above and was thinking this one is just plain $H1T. How about IWMDMB; for I Want My Damn Money Back? This stylus profile has a little more detail than the Micro Line and the stereo separation is wider than the conical. The music just falls apart though.
tokenbrit asked a really good question about tracking force on the "Playground" thread. The new AT-VM95 carts all sound/track best at 1.5 grams and anti-skate at 1-1.1, so why does Audio Technica recommend 1.8-2.0 grams? The answer is that gives the best longevity, not sound quality. That can knock 20% off a needles' life.
The worst stylus I ever owned was the after-market AT95 Shibata. First of all, it sounded pretty mediocre at any tracking/anti-skate force. But worse than that, it lasted less than 125 hours because of running it at the best sounding tracking weight.
Current published Audio Technica specifications, price/max hours/per record cost:
$21 Conical 500 3.5¢
$29 Elliptical 300 8¢
$99 Nude Elliptical 300 27.5¢
$149 Micro Line 1000 12.4¢
$179 Shibata 800 18.6¢
I purchased all the above styli this past year for comparison and destroyed my first “E” after 200 hours because of a cocktail or three. I bought another for further comparison. This still puts me at less than $500 for about 3600 hours of listening.
My advice is buy the Conical version and enjoy it. It will take you several months to recuperate from your mind being blown. In that time, you will come up with a better game plan.
All my listening has been done on a 1984 rosewood plinth Linn LP12/Cirkus/LVX with Akurate Radikal through Naim MM stage/NAC42/mono NAP110 amps into 1988 Isobariks.
Ron The Mon