Ortofon 2M Blue / Bronze vs AT-VM95ML / AT-VM95SH

[Connor1a]

I recently purchased the Fluance RT85 w/ the Ortofon 2M Blue cart. I have it running into a Schiit Mani 2. Reasonably happy. Speakers will be next year.

I have a couple AT-HS6 headshells currently setup with VM95C and VM95EN styli and I have budget for either a VM95ML or VM95SH cart.

Wondering what you guys think of the Ortofon Bronze vs AT’s VM95ML or VM95SH. Are they in the same performance league? Price wise, they’re in slightly different neighborhoods (the Bronze is twice the price). My music is punk / alternative / old rock and then jazz / blues. I was thinking the VM95ML might be nice on the jazz / blues side, but don’t want to mess with VTF every time I swap a headshell. The AT kit is a couple g heavier than the Fluance I believe. If the AT styli perform at the same level (ish) as the Ortofon Bronze, I may sell the Blue and just run AT kit. What do you think? Otherwise, I may sell the AT kit and buy the Bronze. Though at the price I may as well just buy speakers - KEF Q350s were on my short list (to replace my Sonos Fives).

Thanks much!

 

[Curupira]

We still haven't an Ortofon Bronze on the measurement library (just the Quintet, that AFAIK is a MC so not comparable), but we can compare the Audio Technicas to the Ortofon Black expecting a "superb" case scenario on the Bronze. In short, I think the ATs are better, both performance wise and economically.

Inside the Audio Technica line, we don't have measurements for the Shibata, but I wouldn't stress it too much, just go for whatever ticks your fancy, be it by folklore (shibata being tamer, warmer and microline more analytical) or price. The measurements for the 95ml themselves tell us the more or less same story: relative low distortion and a flat FR with a little emphasis on around 10khz, likely due to distortion. Crosstalk is good for when it matters (above bass):

Spoiler

Regarding the Ortofon line, from red to black they also follow more or less the same signature: flat with an incremental increase on the higher frequencies, most likely due to to the also linearly increasing distortion and crosstalk profile.

Spoiler

All in all they're all great cartridges, but the AT line is hard to compete with. Just make sure you're using short and quality cables and have the lowest capacitance setting on your Mani 2, as the ML line tends to get bright with higher capacitance loads.

 

[Verig]

You have a nice source now. I'd buy the speakers next. Most differences between carts are in the upper region where Sonos style speakers don't do that well. Much more fruitful to compare carts later when you have speakers sorted.

 

[USER]

I agree with both responses. You are better off with Audio-Technica all things being equal and assuming that the cartridges are compatible with your tonearm. I'll add that the ML diamond is superior to the Shibata (cheaper too) as its shape means it will wear out "better" providing you with more consistent frequency response and less distortion down the line. The frequency response difference is not significant between those options. That said, speakers are the most important component of a sound system and you will get a lot more out of updating them that the cartridge so if you can hold off on the cartridge you can potentially have a better system much, much sooner with good speakers.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Some sound comparisons here.

Vinyl Translators

The sights and sounds of vintage phono cartridges

youtube.com

Lowbeats.de has compared measurements and sound files for AT and Ortofon.

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