Audio-Technica AT-VM95E VM95 series Elliptical stereo cartridge Green

I couldn't justify spending much more when there's a high risk toddler hands might gain access to my player and potentially, it's at risk of suffering the same fate as the ADC K8 before it.I won't comment too much on it's sonic properties as other reviewers have done so eloquently, however, I will say it has offered a full-range improvement and serves my personal listening preferences perfectly.It's a high quality, great value, great sounding cartridge that if calibrated properly, will sound better than you'd likely expect for 40 or so quid and frankly, I believe knocks the socks off the ADC K8, even before it's untimely demise.I'm very happy with this cartridge.

I am no vinyl expert so I won't challenge any of the reviews that are available on YouTube etc.This cartridge arrived in smart and simple packaging. Installation and alignment of the cartridge in the headshell was easy due to the captive inserts in the cartridge. (Note: 2 pairs of different length screws are provided as are two plastic washers).The overall design of the cartridge is much more purposeful that the older AT95 design and looks reasonably 'high end' when mounted on the turntable. Print out an alignment protractor and align the cartridge using this; the straight edges of the cartridge make this a reasonably simple process helped by the captive inserts.I am no vinyl aficionado; I only went back to vinyl a few weeks ago as I cannot find anything that plays Dire Straits - Love Over Gold album with quite the warmth and feeling that comes from the record. This cartridge/stylus combination gave me everything back that had been missing. The quiet guitar passages are now smooth and soulful, the piano sounds like a piano (unlike in every digital version of this record) and the music of the louder passages joins together in a musical whole. The focus and presence of each instrument now feels that it has a position on the soundstage. The female vocals on other records are more detailed and energised using this stylus.This Cartridge is truly a great improvement over my old Ortofon VMS20E Mk2 and has set me off on a collecting spree of old records that I can enjoy again.

Nothing to dislike easy to fit comes with various screws.Sounds great

The media could not be loaded. Ok , I've had this cartridge for a week now , enough time to write a review . Firstly, it replaced an Ortofon OM 10 . The OM 10 was a good cartridge , punchy and bright and in your face , but this AT95e is a very different beast . Firstly , it is a quieter cartridge than the Ortofon , but it makes up for it in dynamics and sheer musicality . The differences between the loudest sounds and the quietest sound are much more prominent in the AT95e and that's a good thing . I'm always taken a little aback now and then when listening to it , because it reveals so much .It lacks a lot of bass but not too much ( also my headphones and amp influence this too ) but this is more than made up for in subtlety .. Once it is warmed up , it is so easy on the ears . To me, the greatest test of a good cartridge is if it makes you listen to a full side of a vinyl , especially if you don't care much for the tracks on it ..I find that I just tend to lie back and let full albums play with this little gem . I would say it's well worth the modest cost and will probably be my favourite cartridge for years to come . Why spend £100 for a better, more upmarket cartridge, when you can almost get it all for this price . Get it ..do it now ..and stop whining .

This cartridge should not sound as good as it does.It does not cost enough.I bought it as a spare because I broke a £150 cartridge trying to get the wires on the pins.That cartridge had those horrible columns you have to fit the bolts beside.This cartridge had threaded retainers, much better.It also sounds dynamic and clean.If you want a fine-sounding cartridge buy this.If you want to spend more and get poorer sound quality, don't buy this.It is just too good value for money.

Very good. A new revelation of sound to the system. Especially the higher frequencies.

I own a few high end carts in both MC and MM but unlike a lot of self proclaimed "audiophiles" who seem to spend all their time cleaning and looking at their records I actually play mine A LOT and stylus wear is a real issue for me, I simply can't justify the lay out of upwards of £400 on a stylus every few months to listen to my vinyl as do the dishes, browse the internet or write an Amazon review. So when I want to sit and listen to a record and really focus on the music of course I break out the high end carts with my twin motor belt drive TT and air bearing tonearm, but for general listening as I do other stuff I use a entry level cart on my DD Technics SL1210. I tried many over the years all around the same price point and settled on the good all round performance of the original AT95E so I was devastated when they discontinued it, but I needn't have been worried its successor the AT-VM95E is at least as good if not a little better. I always found myself having to lower the bass a little on some records with the original AT95E and some modern pressings that are mastered digitally didn't sound great with it but there is a subtle but notable improvement with the AT-VM95E. I did find that this cart is not as forgiving in its alignment as its predecessor and I had to adjust it a few times with my protractor to get the right balance but that is more than made up for by the built in threads, no more fiddling with those tiny nuts! So is this a high end audiophile grade component? no not even close and if you buy one expecting that kind of performance you will be disappointed, but it will give carts over twice the price like the Goldring e3 and the Ortofon 2m red a serious run for their money and if you are just getting into records the fact all the styli in the VM95 range are interchangeable means you can upgrade without breaking the bank.