Audio-Technica Phono Cartridges 2023
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- A ramble about my favorite AT phono carts and some things I've noticed while researching the entire AT line. Other vids you may like:
• Phono Cartridge Basics...
• Audio-Techinca ATVM95E...
• My Audio-Technica AT36... - Навчання та стиль
Great video, Joe, thanks. I'm going to check out the 95en
Great video Joe! I have the VM95EN and am very pleased with how well rounded it is for its price.
Thank you for your insight Joe; I am 77, have been an enthusiastic cartridge collector for 63 years, and agree with your thoughts. My current roster includes several of the cartridges you mentioned, some with modification. The reason I haven't sold them on is because they all have subtle and unique sonic differences. I am guessing few States enthusiasts have heard of a UK manufactured aluminium body called a RigB, which is milled from a solid block, but three of my eight carts are fitted with them, a VM540ML, a 3600L generator fitted with an xTc extra line contact stylus, and a Rega Carbon, fitted with an LP Gear Carbon elliptical stylus imported from the USA. The latter proves that even bonded styli can sound spectacular...the rest being a Goldring E3 and a 1042, a VM95ML, an AT-XP5, and finally a VM95C used for mono recordings. The RigB bodied 540ML has been described by other enthusiasts as "sounding better than the 740ML" but I have no way of proving this. It's my number 1. The E3 (£95 in the UK) is astonishing for the price, and my second favourite. Keep up the good work sir.
Owning both the VM540ML and the VM740ML, they are both similar in sound. The 740 due to the aluminum body has less resonance and sounds just a bit clearer than the 540. The appearance of brightness is probably due to loading. These cartridges require less than 150 uF capacitance load. This requirement is both difficult to achieve and seldom naturally available. Low Capacitance cables are not necessarily more expensive but not the more common cable type either provided by the table manufacturer or simply common RCA cables. I have also had the VM760SLC. It is very expensive and although I tried to hear an improvement, it did not yield this result. Tonally it is a bit different than the 740ML but to my ears and in my system did not outshine the 740ML.
❤ as usual excellent report Joe and I have this bright yellow cartridge stylus on my angels horn 002 record and it sounds superb and your right about 45 specially polystyrene 45 it's wonderful with them!!!
Great video! I've had great success using a VM540ML stylus on an older AT100E body, the combo sounds fantastic! But I also keep a 3600 on another headshell for older records and for the price, the 3600 is amazing!
Fun fact...my favourite cartridges are also the AT3600L and the ATVM95 EN 😂
Nice video. Found the late release of stereo records interesting.
Has an older guy , who has only just resurrected my old retro seperates after a long spell In the loft ,I'm really glad I discovered your channel, with all of your plain and down to earth knowledge of styli, I've decided to start my turntable journey with a AT vm95E ,but only to start with , hoping I've made the right decision though ?, delighted to have subbed .
My idea to give to Mick Smith is from one old guy to another I think as you are starting out again on your Vinyl journey & you have the AT-VM95E just go for the Stylus models as you go through the range from the Green to the Orange to the Red & then to the Brown which will give you the full range to have fun with as I have done.. But I have put each Stylus model on to my Linn K9 Cartridge body as you cannot buy the original K9 stylus anymore & this has improved my sound quality no end as fare as my ears can understand . so hope this will help you & anyone who is taking this type of music to the next level which suits their pocket..
Thanks for your suggestion. It's been along time since I ventured into the stylus world , and I need all the help I can get without trying to waste a bag full of money lol ..thanks again.
My advice; also as an 'older guy', would be to use the VM95E for a while, get used to the sound, and if you enjoy it, then stick with it - it is very revealing, and balanced. When it comes to replacing it after it's had a couple of years or so frequent use, then consider upgrading to the 'EN' nude version.... Let it 'wear-in' and then see if you prefer the extra detail that this one supposedly gives (I've not tried it yet, however, I did change the cartridge to the Ortofon 2M Red, which I love! When it comes to stylus replacement I may go for the 2M Blue nude upgrade).
Just use what you have and if you enjoy the sound, then there's no need to immediately jump to the next level, otherwise you'd soon jump to the 'ML' version too, and never get the real benefit of what you already have and enjoy! 😉
I do sometimes just put the VM95E back in, and still enjoy the different presentation of sound that it has, but for me, the Ortofon is more to my taste... 😃
As Joe says in the video, don't discount the AT3600/91 series either; set-up properly, it really can sound stunning - the Rega Carbon name-change variant found on Rega turntables is ridiculously good sounding; it matches that tight, superb arm wonderfully!! 👍
To michsmith , that's the little green one , excellent choice, as mentioned by other enthusiasts, one more thing is keeping your records clean, as you don't want to be playing dust and dirt , as this may taint your impression of the cart 😊.
Thanks Joe! I am running an AT-91 on an old Audio Technica SL-Q202 and am considering a cartridge upgrade. I think I'll go with the VM95EN. My old 95E is on a Fluance turntable and still doing a great job.
Please do a similar analysis on the ortofon 2m line, including the newer silver,
Absolutely fantastic discussion you have presented here Joe ! Have to say, seriously, I agree with all your thoughts on these AT cartridges. My comments: I wired to mono a AT91 FOR 50s-60s albums, just fantastic. I also have the AT mono cartridge and it sounds great but strangely the AT91 set up is better. I find being able to track heavier on older albums of that period really tends to match the pressing plates used back in the day and the AT91 assists that. The ML cartridge is just superb if you can afford the price hike, it blew me away especially with new pressings, so much detail. Finally, the Ortofon 2M red is shit and over-hyped, just my thoughts 😉. Great vid, in sub'd. Greetings from Australia mate :)
yes ! i bought the AT540ML and the 740ML and there is a difference. The 740 isn't quite as bright as the 540 which is OK if you want to sit back and relax into your music but I missed the amazing effect the 540 has on jazz (Blue Note era) drummers. You can hear that lovely HF cymbal work. the 540 is just a little more rhythmically adept than the 740 - to my ears anyway !
Hi Joe got the VM95SH 👍😊
I think a cartridge matched to the other parts of any system is important. With my JBL-L100 speakers, Nagaoka sounds best. Speakers with a soft sounding silk dome tweeter might sound better with AT cartridges.
Experimentation is the best way to choose the best sounding cartridge for your system.
Thank you for the great review!
I also sell and install quite a few AT85EP carts for p-mount tables. A shockingly good cart for the money.
I just got a Sony LX510 with that cartridge. It is pretty good.
I got a legacy AT95 body and put a third party nude-hyper-elliptical stylus on it.
It's not quite as good as my reference Shure V-15V but it's quite nice.
Back when I was a kid..I had a Stanton 681EEE and then an 881S stylus.
But once I upgraded to the Shure-V15V with the SME tonearm, I never looked back.
Hi Joe.. I would like to say that I have used all the AT-VM95 range Green -Orange -Red & Brown On my Linn K9 cartridge & find that there is a difference But.. not a difference where you should go out & spend all you £££s from the Green AT-VM95E up to the Brown AT-VM95SH until you have enjoyed what you can get until you understand how good you ears are.. meaning younger people making their way through this great music experience until you have the money to make the up step to the AT-VMSH which all have the same Cartridge body all the way through the range.
I have heard the VM series from Audio Technica on many different turntables. The whorst case is a direct drive Technics, Audio Technica DJ turntable with a caradic tonearm. Listen to the systems on a Lenco L75 with SME 3012r or a Graham tonearm. They are worlds apart
Cables make a big difference. :)
The AT91 and AT-3600L share the same body. The AT91 is still available from Amazon for $29.95, the ATN91 for $29. and the AT-91 pre-mounted in a black head shell for $44.79. The difference in the sound between the 2 carts is the stylus themselves. The different in the tracking weight is because of the stylus, not the cartridge body.
You are 100% correct 😊
Love the Audio-technica videos you do , YES i bought a VM740ML new and reduced price , and its a really good cart , i have 3 VM530EN/H , because i love that cart either with or without headshell, i do use the 530 stylus on my 740 gold aluminum body and it also sounds terrific, and looks stunning, orange with the gold , this is used on my technics sl 1200G , now here's the conundrum is it that the deck is so good its a bit more forgiving, or is it that the cart and stylus combo is good , i don't know, but what i can say is i have the vm95en /ml/sh , 3, 530s and another on its way and the vm740ml and for older lps a 3600L , i love Audio-technica carts, I've used lots of carts in the past but , for pure sound and value for money you would have to go along way to better Audio-technica mm carts , the only down side is they are very bland looking but once you've got your head around that they are wonderful performing carts . Keep up the good work and thank you 😊.
Use a stereo cart with the mono switch 'on' when you're playing a mono record. As my college roommate and I used to say in the early '70s, "press mono to eliminate the directional emphasis of the noise". If the cut is only lateral, you simply don't need any vertical pickup. If you press the mono switch, you've electrically eliminated all of the vertical pickup.
I have a Linn K9 from the 80s with a new VM05ML stylus. Sounds good to my old ears.
My best cart is a Rega Apheta 3 and the K9 does not disgrace itself in that company.
I have a vm95e cartridge. Should i upgrade to vm95en?? Would that make a big difference??
ATN3600L is a very involving warm sounding stylus, but it needs to track at 3.5 - 4g to sound best in my experience (otherwise inner grove sibilants can creep in if tracked lower), as far as I can see, the ATN91 stylus is designed to track at lower at around 2-2.5g. I love my 3600L, it reminds me of the sound I heard in the 70’s that got me hooked on audio, that was from a shure stylus back then and I think the 3600L sounds a lot like those old shures. I’ve just ordered an ATN91 to compare with the 3600L. Great video.
Hi Joe, great interesting vid, as you the know rega carbon is a 3600, I have bought 95 sh which I fit when the rega Elyis 2 wears out, on my p3, u also have Om5 in my Pro-ject primary e, regards mark
Hi Joe, I have been a fan of your videos for many years. I made quite a few comments on your videos over a decade ago when my account name included my first name (Seth). You even mentioned my name on a video about mono vinyl playback, which was nice. I have two questions: (1) Assuming records and stylus are kept clean, how long do you think a bonded conical stylus tracking at 3 grams would tend to last before it needs replacement, and (2) have you made a video on how to wire a cartridge for mono?
I ordered this Cart from LpGear. :LP Gear AT3600L NSS cartridge hoping for better sound out of my Gemini tt03 very short tonearm. Thx for the insight Nude and Conical points of view.
I'm using an AT-VM95EN. I agree on what you said about it, but for some reason I get distortion on the last tracks of some LP's, all of which are in immaculate condition or even new. Should I increase antiskate ? Could that be the reason ? I set it to position "2" as the turntable manufacturer recommends setting it to the same level as the tracking force.
Anti-skate won't cause that sort of problem. As long as you're tracking at 2 grams then the tone arm maker's recommended '2' setting should be just fine. You need to double check the alignment if you're hearing inner groove distortion. Get a good protractor. I like Baerwald. Proper alignment can make a big difference. :)
I sell and install a lot of VM95E carts at my store. There isn't a better sub $100 cart currently available.
First time viewer, I just found your channel. New subscriber! Great video. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
I have an old AT VM8 HII. Is it worth buying a needle for it? Would like to use it to listen to old albums from the 70’s that I found in storage that are not in perfect condition. If worth buying a stylus, can you recommend a model number? I can’t find a replacement in eBay. If not worth buying a stylus, which AT cartridge could I consider buying.
I also have a Shure V15 Type II, a Shure M95ED and an Empire 3000 III, all 3 cartridges still have their original stylus, but are in good condition as they were hardly used. I had them in storage with my old Technics SL-3300 turntable which amazingly still works perfectly!
Thanks in advance for your response.
EDIT 5/19/2024:
After watching several of your videos, which I really enjoyed, Ordered the AT3600L to use on my old albums, and the AT-VM95EN to use with my newer albums. Thanks again for the great videos and down to earth advice!
AT3600 with Analogis Black Diamond Nude Elliptical stylus sounds really good.
An even better upgrade from the AT-3600L from LP Gear would be the CFN3600LE which is a bonded elliptical stylus. I did upgrade turntables from the AT-LP60XBT to a Fluance RT83 which comes with the Ortofon 2M Red. Definitely an upgrade when it comes to channel separation and overall sound. I am thinking of getting the Audio-Technica ATVM95EN-H just to see what a nude stylus will do vs the 2M Red.
The one thing you get from using a microline or shibata stylus is better tracking with little to no sibilance. This is true even for the 95vm series. But if you do invest in a microline or shibata you may wan't a better cart.
The AT91's finally discontinued? Well, I guess that wraps it up for Rega's Carbon as well...
What I'd like to know is why there's a shortage of MicroLine styli for the VM95...If this goes on much longer, I'm going to have to get another Shibata...
The AT91 is the last retail version... They still make the cart and lots of them. They just don't sell them directly to the public. :)
Hi! Great video! I'm an ancien Dj from 74 to 2004. Now, as I have preserved almost all of my equipements, I'm at to rebuilding my Technic's 1200MkII to the brand new condition.
I was use ATP 3 cartriges and searching for new stylus. Seems no more available...
Have you an adress to find theses needles?? I was never have a better sound in my opinion!
A quick search came up blank for me as well. Too bad because those were some nice sounding carts! If you juts want to listen and you're not going to be back cueing you may want to try this: www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-VM95EN-Turntable-Headshell-Cartridge/dp/B07JLX1H4M/ref=sr_1_8?crid=FVHCNXD1JZYD&keywords=atvm59en+on+headshell&qid=1703100280&sprefix=atvm59en+on+headshell%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-8
So i have a fluance 81+ that has the ATVM95E, i was thinking of upgrading it to either the 95EN , 95ML or 95SL which would be better cartridge for my record player ?
It's just styuls upgrade. Get whichever stylus you want for that cart. I would recommend the ML if you can afford it and you're not going to be playing a lot of styrene 45s.:)
@@EzeeLinux thank you so much 🙏🏾
I have the 95ml and really enjoy it.
The worst buy on a cartridge for me is the 2M red
Totally agree, 2m red is a fatiguing listen , I bought a 2mm bronze, which is better , but I'd take a Audio-technica VM530EN any day over the 2mm bronze, I have lots of AT carts and headshells, and if I couldn't get hold of ATs any more, my next go to cart would have to be nagaoka.
Have you tried an at91 with an elliptical stylus? I wonder if it would be worth it
Yes, it doesn't make a huge difference. Turntableneedles sells a very nice eliptical.
Isnt that one listed by LPGear actually the Audio Technica ATN91R?
Nope. It's the AT3600 proper: www.lpgear.com/product/ATC17.html
I absolutely adore the Sound Smith cartridges however I can’t afford any of them but they are the best thing I found yet
My top choice would be the strain gauge system
All of the other cartridges ever made if you exclude the Stanton 881S everything else I have heard once or twice it distorted so that automatically discard it now I don’t have any cartridge to play my records on but I don’t want them distorting so I’ll wait until I have 11 grand so that I can purchase the string gauge with the preamp
It's great to have high standards but you are missing out. There are lots of good carts for way less money. Try a Hana Umami Red and a PS Stellar pre amp and your 1/2 the cost.
Hi thanks for the suggestion
but keep in mind that the cartridge will be only used for archival purposes only since I have a lot of records that I couldn’t find online
So any sujestion is greatly
Apreceate
Buy the metal rigB mod for the 500 series, then you can use nude elliptical or HE and that is practically a 740ML then
the first AT in yellow wasn´t black but grey(the stylus) and it sounded better ,this in 79 and i had one till 4 years ago new in the box and the sound was amazing, the one that came with the pioneer turntables was green with a brown cartridge was also very good sounding, don´t know the model now, they had very good arms with extreme quality , i should add that in the 70´s AT was considered by many the best brand in the world in acessories to turntables and the arms were also very ahed of other known brands like SME with strange shapes that the geometry would have to be installed in the perfect spot for it to read records with perfection, the shibatta is good if built perfect no doubt in that or nude , they had tom decrease their quality or a cheap stylus and cartridge like in late 70´s today it would sound better than most of the stylus from everybrand ,in early 80´s the OM from Ortofon sounded perfect ,installed in Dual turntables sometimes with dual on the side of the cartridge but today the OM´s from Orofon i don´t know a possible bad catridge to compare it ,what i know is that when needing to buy 3 cartridges i tried a lot of them in a hi-fi store from a friend of mine since early 80´s,gthe first day i made him assemble a lot of cartridges from old good brands and all sounded bad to me in the second day he was waiting for me and hada wooden Grado already installed and with a recent version of a SL-1200 he played the crime of the century by supertramp ,the only album i like from this band ,it came out in 76 ,i think and i heard tghe first two songs and said ,"see this is a good cartridge from Grado, it cost maybe 500€?" to which he replyed" add a zero " 5000€ for a sound that was the one we were used to listen everywhere, this is snake oil as we call it, the quntect black S mc type from ortofon is good but the price is.... don´t know how to call it ,i remenber Ortofon to be a good brand like with ortofon one couldn´t be wrong any of them cartridges and styles ,today they are expensive as hell and several ones are really bad. About the stereo image ,i remenber all having stereo systems but record companies still releasing in mono which is not bad sound but early stereo for some wasn´t good we could use two speakers and listen in mono ,the fact was there weren´t mono turntables or receivers being sold and all records would say stereo ,playable in mono only 4 channels in the recording, this video is efective by having good description of AT stylus as they sound and type of built
Any thoughts on the AT-VM95SH?
For me, great value for your money. No doubt. Compared to the green AT-VM95E it has a wider sound spectrum. Fuller and more open, maybe? On the other and a bit more critical with my older/slightly worn albums and needs a preciser allignment. Well, at least that's my experience. Had the 95E for years, the Shibata now since 2016, and i'll never go back to the greeny.
Joe, forgot to mention, I know a website where original, AT91 styli (yellow ones) can be purchased. I don't want to step on any toes though, so only with your permission, I'll share. I have no affiliation to the website other than being a customer. I'll share by your permission only.
And one more thing btw, the Goldring E Series recently came out with an upgrade to the line also. The E4 which is an upgrade from the bonded, super elliptical E3. The E4 is a nude elliptical. I plan on upgrading my E3 to an E4 as soon as I have some disposable cash. The E4 carts go for around 300.00 while replacement styli can be had for around 155.00. Just a heads-up for anyone interested.
Cheers!
Links get blocked automatically but feel free to share the name of the company and it shouldn't be too hard for folks to find. I have an E3 and I really like it though it isn't in service right now. The E4 will be an upgrade for sure... :)
microline is supposed to last 1000 hours while the E and EN are at 300 hours so it makes it worth the $50-60 more for the ML
You indicate that you got rid of your AT-VM530 because of its bright sound ("brighter than a cd"). However in your vid from 2 years ago comparing the Audio Technica AT-VM95EN and the 530 you indicated that your much prefer a brighter sound from LPs to one that is overly warm. In fact you now seem to prefer the cheaper, warmer-sounding AT-91 over the more expensive AT carts. Have you officially switched sides in the "lively" (bright) vs "musical" (warm) analog debate? Love all your audio-related videos btw, especially the ones about turntables/cartridges.
Good question. I still like a bright high end but after spending a lot of time with the VM530 and the VM540 as well I got tired of the strident sound they gave some records. The VM95E is bright but better balanced. The 91 is warm and rich but has good high frequency extension. The down side is that it will overload on super high modulation records so not perfect. I also have spent a lot of time with vintage Stanton carts and I just picked up a Shure from 1984 that is ruler flat. They have educated me somewhat I think so now I am a little more sensitive to a peak anywhere in the audio spectrum. :)
I never heard of fake mono before. I always thought mono was mono regardless if a stereo lathe was used or not.
👍👍👍👍👍👍🎶🎶🎶🎶
i ordered an Ortofon over the phone and they said: 'Ortophone?' and I said 'yes, I''m ordering over da phone' and they said: 'What are you ordering' and I said: 'Ortofon' and they said: "Ortophone?" and I said: "yes, over the phone' and they said: "what are you ordering?" and I said "Ortofon' and they said: "You mean Ortophone?" and I said: "Yes, over the phone, do I sound like an e-mail?" and they said: "What are you ordering?"
LOL
but who's on first base?
@@TheAgeOfAnalog Yes!
Completely disagree with your comment arount 23:30.
The VM750 is silk and the VM760 is way more natural than the 740. I've had a 540, a 740 and currently own the 760.
They're not on the same league, the 760 is deeper fuller, more natural. Great highs, good mids and lows. Miles better than the 740.