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 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. 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. 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. 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

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 following is part of a review of a 95P equipped AT95 on an LP5 IPT (Rega arm, Direct Drive, Audiophile Turntable):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.

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 nutsThe VM95 Series suspension design and compliances of VM95 Series have been designed for optimum audiophile reproduction. 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 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 Flip the headshell over and locate the flanges that protrude from either side of the ATN95E’s green body. I know that this is possible by using an AT95E replacement stylus by trimming the plastic enclosure.

PLEASE NOTE: to avoid damage, do not touch the needle. Although not shown in the pictures, this process can also be performed with the stylus guard in place. No tools are required to replace the stylus.)

The VM95 Range

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. All the interesting technical details of construction, materials and stylus profile would be irrelevant unless the 95P performs significantly better than the standard stylus assembly. We’re here to tell you, that it does!