Wich Audio Technica ATN...

[renaudrenaud]

Gentlemen, I have this choice for a SL1200Mk7:

Wich one is "the best" to your knowledge?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Edit: I use the Fosi X5 or Audio Technica solo / duo.

 

[staticV3]

Take a look at the cartridge library:

Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

Skip to the index. After years of development we are finally launching our phono cartridge measurement library. These measurements were created using the brilliant cartridge response python script, SJPlot, written by the legendary @scott wurcer and @JP. Information about its origins can be...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You can set the search window to "This thread" to search the entire thread for a specific model:

 

[Balle Clorin]

Wrong question Mister, The turntable you have is irrelevant for choosing stylus, what cartridge shall she stylus fit inn to? that determines the stylus options.
The styli you list are not compatible with the same cartridge body. They fit into THREE different bodies and are not interchangeable


AT-3600 cartridge needs 3600L or 91R or 91. 91R is best
AT95E cartridge need ATN-95E,, AT95E and VM95 are very similar but not interchangeable, 95 is the old type VM95 the new
AT VM95 need ATN-VM95E or ATN-VM95C, VM95E is best

Or are you looking for a cartridge...? ATVM95E is you best option , you can upgrade to ML or S later

 

[renaudrenaud]

Take a look at the cartridge library:

Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

Skip to the index. After years of development we are finally launching our phono cartridge measurement library. These measurements were created using the brilliant cartridge response python script, SJPlot, written by the legendary @scott wurcer and @JP. Information about its origins can be...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You can set the search window to "This thread" to search the entire thread for a specific model:
View attachment 427248

Thanks, but I don't understand the measurements and how to compare the cartridges.

 

[DSJR]

The VM95E has an elliptical stylus and according to tech reviews, takes the older AT95E a stage further.

You'll need a translator, but the VM95 family is reviewed here -

Familientest Audio-Technica VM95: 5 MM-Abtaster unter 200 Euro - LowBeats

Nicht einen, nein, gleich fünf neue MM-Tonabnehmer bringt Audio-Technica in den Markt. Die gemeinsam

www.lowbeats.de

of the ones you mention, the VM95E is the 'best' I feel - you have to all but double the price to get anything I'd personally regard as 'better.' The VM95 body has a range of styli available and a well liked one around these parts is the VM95ML stylus, easily fitted later on. The 95SH (Shibata tip) is a touch more refined perhaps, but the ML seems to find huge favour here.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Wrong question Mister, The turntable you have is irrelevant for choosing stylus, what cartridge shall she stylus fit inn to? that determines the stylus options.
The styli you list are not compatible with the same cartridge body. They fit into THREE different bodies and are not interchangeable

Or are you looking for a cartridge...?

Thanks for your explanations, so yes, I am looking for a cartridge in this brand because I can order AT brand.

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi,
It's worth spending a little time with that comparison thread, although I agree it's heavy going.

One simple answer is that the VM95E is universally considered as great value and very good performance.
You upgrade the cartridge body by changing stylus later too, quite a sensible option.

 

[renaudrenaud]

The VM95E has an elliptical stylus and according to tech reviews, takes the older AT95E a stage further.

You'll need a translator, but the VM95 family is reviewed here -

Familientest Audio-Technica VM95: 5 MM-Abtaster unter 200 Euro - LowBeats

Nicht einen, nein, gleich fünf neue MM-Tonabnehmer bringt Audio-Technica in den Markt. Die gemeinsam

www.lowbeats.de

of the ones you mention, the VM95E is the 'best' I feel - you have to all but double the price to get anything I'd personally regard as 'better.' The VM95 body has a range of styli available and a well liked one around these parts is the VM95ML stylus, easily fitted later on. The 95SH (Shibata tip) is a touch more refined perhaps, but the ML seems to find huge favour here.

Excellent link, thanks! Now I can decide wich one!

 

[staticV3]

Thanks, but I don't understand the measurements and how to compare the cartridges.

Frequency response should be a perfectly flat, horizontal line.

Crosstalk and 2nd/3rd harmonic distortion should be as low as possible.

 

[AnalogSteph]

Familientest Audio-Technica VM95: 5 MM-Abtaster unter 200 Euro - LowBeats

Nicht einen, nein, gleich fünf neue MM-Tonabnehmer bringt Audio-Technica in den Markt. Die gemeinsam

www.lowbeats.de

Interesting. To these ears, the big step up is between the E and the EN (the space really opens up), which would seem to correlate with the IMD measurements. This is surprisingly obvious. If I ever decide to properly refurbish my "project" Grundig PS 4500 that's been gathering dust since about 2010 and go for a new cartridge instead of using my NOS ATN71E, I guess VM95EN/ML/SH would be some hot candidates. The Ortofon 2M Blue and Black samples also left a good impression, but the latter would definitely be too spendy for my tastes.

 

[DSJR]

I don't know where on YouTube it is, but there's a video with sound, demonstrating the elliptical, line and Shibata styli as fitted to the AT OC9 models. As I remember it, the elliptical was fine generally, but the ML tip gave a much 'sharper' tone to percussion/cymbals etc. and on the OC9 platform, I'd suggest that's too much of a good thing, even with vinyl the top model with Shibata was sublime, keeping the extra perceived clarity of the ML but 'toning it down' just a tad.

Transferring that to the VM95 body, the 95E to my ears is utterly safe and secure, the top clean enough. The 95ML, which I spend an hour or two with, sharpens this hf up nicely and value wise, I can see why it's done so well dor coast-conscious vinyl people here. I've not heard the Shibabta version, but I'd suggest it'd be more refined than say, an Ortofon 2M Blue, which can be a funny thing (I love the 2M Bronze though, but prices are rising sadly now).

The EN model seems to lift the 10kHz region, although my AT120E (with measured peak of 6dB or so at 10 - 12kHz), doesn't sound spitty or sharp in fairness. In the VM95 series, the ML doesn't cost hugely more and for myself, I'd be inclined to look there really...

One final observation - these VM models (I'd include the AT91/Rega Carbon in this too) have a slightly lower output than the regular 5mV/cm/s (they claim 3mV instead). This I'd suggest is good for cheaper phono stages with more marginal overload margins, especially at hf. I used to chuckle at use of the truly ancient Shue M44-7 from the early 60s, with its 7mV+ output, suspecting that most stages it would be used into and playing 'hot' 12" 45rpm singles would drive the phono stage into distortion all the time.

 

[somebodyelse]

Frequency response should be a perfectly flat, horizontal line.

For MM cartridges there is often a peak at high frequencies that varies with the load. This is why more expensive phono amps often include adjustable loading, allowing the load to be adjusted to give a flatter response.

 

[JeffS7444]

I just installed ATN-91R in a low-cost turntable. This particular AT91/3600 stylus is designed for ~2 gram VTF, whereas other variants are lower-compliance, and designed for higher VTF.

Here's a comparison between AT3600 (and AT91?) vs AT-95:

 

[JP]

Be aware of the test records used in ^ video. That Ortofon is a poor choice for frequency response.

 

[lini]

AT95E cartridge need ATN-95E,, AT95E and VM95 are very similar but not interchangeable, 95 is the old type VM95 the new

Actually that's not quite correct. It only works one way, though. I.e., the newer AT-VM95 family needles also fit onto the older AT93/95E(B, X, /Pro)/340x/341x/345x bodies no problemo. Whereas the other way around it doesn't work without plastic surgery, as the downwards sloping side walls of the mounting frame of the AT-VM95 family bodies go too far down to not collide with not correspondingly shaped the side walls of the older needles.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[renaudrenaud]

Actually that's not quite correct. It only works one way, though. I.e., the newer AT-VM95 family needles also fit onto the older AT93/95E(B, X, /Pro)/340x/341x/345x bodies no problemo. Whereas the other way around it doesn't work without plastic surgery, as the downwards sloping side walls of the mounting frame of the AT-VM95 family bodies go too far down to not collide with not correspondingly shaped the side walls of the older needles.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

This is what I read before and thanks for confirming that.

I ordered the VM95E for 75€.

Later in may I go to Japan, I will buy the SH there.

Thanks for all your messages.

 

[JeffS7444]

Be aware of the test records used in ^ video. That Ortofon is a poor choice for frequency response.

Is CBS STR100 the one to get? Want to avoid rare and $$ disks.

 

[JP]

Is CBS STR100 the one to get? Want to avoid rare and $$ disks.

That, or clearaudio TRS-1007. The days of buying sealed copies of STR-100 for $20 are gone, so cost-wise it may be a toss-up between the two. If I had to choose one, it'd be the clearaudio.