Audio Technica - AT-VM95C - Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge

Fast shipping. Very secure packaging. Cartridge box in perfect condition. Super easy to install and align. Took me all of 15 minutes. My previous cartridges were AT3600L and AT91. Very nice trackers and warm sound. Same holds true for the VM95C. Improved stereo imaging and more detailed. I would describe the sound as very balanced and dynamic. I'm not even done listening to the first side of the record and I can already tell the VM95C is a keeper. Thanks TTL!

An inexpensive cartridge.

My previous Rega cartridge met with a catastrophe and needed replacing. Richer Sounds came up with the goods here, great quality sound, a smooth bass line, clarity all through the range and outstanding separation. An excellent alternative to the Rega cartridge with no discernible shortfalls. The vinyl is back on track!

Brilliant Value

Fantastic cartridge for the money. I use this cartridge with the 95E on new vinyl and swap it to the 95C when playing 'old' vinyl. The C is much more forgiving on old vinyl, so much so that some of my old records are almost unplayable with the E stylus, but sound great with the C. Highly recommended. Might buy the ML and see what that sounds like on new vinyl!!

Check it out!

VM95c installed in a Stanton T.62 M2 table(straight tonearm & direct drive) . VM95c cart ( & stylus) replaced the stock cart ( i am assuming as i didnt own Table originally.) Sound definitely improved. As to what level of improvement , i cant be a great judge because Stanton T.62 has no way of protractor use, for cart installation. Just purchased a Bang & Olufsen 1800 as well as a U-Turn orbit so i will soon have a better gauge on this pruppy dogs performance. For your health!

Flimsy needle snaps easily

I've used Stanton cartridges and needles for about 25 years, I decided to try these out when it came time to replace my needles this time around. They sounded good and I was happy with the audio quality but the build is really flimsy. One of the needles bent and snapped off within a couple of months of use with a minor accidental knock. So I've ended up paying twice when I thought the cheaper ones will do. I should have just bought the quality cartridge in the first place, don't make the same mistake I did.

Great budget phono cartridge

This cartridge is very easy to set up and align, thanks to its conical stylus and the threaded inserts in the cartridge body. It has a good, clear, balanced sound that gives satisfying bass, mid range and treble performance. Like most phono cartridges, its sound improves after about 30 hours of use. However, this cartridge was acceptable from the very first play and has never sounded harsh or sibilant, (to my ears anyway). Its satisfying sound is very reminiscent of the original Audio Technica AT95E, on which it appears to be based. I like the fact that it can be upgraded with any of the stylus types from the entire AT- VM95 range, because it gives the cartridge great upgrade potential. In terms of musical sound output, I think that this cartridge gives a ... MoreThis cartridge is very easy to set up and align, thanks to its conical stylus and the threaded inserts in the cartridge body. It has a good, clear, balanced sound that gives satisfying bass, mid range and treble performance. Like most phono cartridges, its sound improves after about 30 hours of use. However, this cartridge was acceptable from the very first play and has never sounded harsh or sibilant, (to my ears anyway). Its satisfying sound is very reminiscent of the original Audio Technica AT95E, on which it appears to be based. I like the fact that it can be upgraded with any of the stylus types from the entire AT- VM95 range, because it gives the cartridge great upgrade potential. In terms of musical sound output, I think that this cartridge gives a performance way better than most people would expect for 29. When you factor in its other plus points, it is obvious that this cartridge is an absolute bargain. I highly recommend it.

Music listeners, and audiophiles with low budgets, BUY THIS!

This is a lot of cartridge, for not a lot of money. This will sound superb, lively, and make music on any good average medium mass tonearm commonly found on today's turntables. Better than the old AT-95e, can be upgraded to amazing levels. A budget cartridge which sounds nice even on much better equipment than it's commonly seen on. An upgrade for many turntables. Better than budget has a right to sound. Clean bass, accurate midrange, nice sweet high treble without fatigue, plenty of detail. Musical. What budget audiophiles need, and even nice against many 3x as expensive options. Audio-Technica, you outdid yourself again. Made the AT-95e obsolete, and improved upon it even at the cheapest level, and gave Ortofon2M, and Nagaokas reason to be afraid. Keep up this ... MoreThis is a lot of cartridge, for not a lot of money. This will sound superb, lively, and make music on any good average medium mass tonearm commonly found on today's turntables. Better than the old AT-95e, can be upgraded to amazing levels. A budget cartridge which sounds nice even on much better equipment than it's commonly seen on. An upgrade for many turntables. Better than budget has a right to sound. Clean bass, accurate midrange, nice sweet high treble without fatigue, plenty of detail. Musical. What budget audiophiles need, and even nice against many 3x as expensive options. Audio-Technica, you outdid yourself again. Made the AT-95e obsolete, and improved upon it even at the cheapest level, and gave Ortofon2M, and Nagaokas reason to be afraid. Keep up this relentless effort to improve phono playback for the budget customer. I repair turntables and tone arms, you'll be recommended to my clientele and all who ask about good for not a lot of money. A winner, folks!!!!

Not sure.

I was running a decade old Stanton 500 cartridge on a Sherwood PM-9800 and after taking a macro photo and it looking in a state, decided to upgrade. This cartridge is well reviewed for a budget cartridge. I recorded the same three records before and after swapping over to this one but to be honest, I am disappointed that I cannot hear any difference between an old/worn cartridge and this one! One thing I have noticed since using it, it is definitely a lot more sensitive to pops and crackles. Shame really.

Replacement stylus / cassette

Bought a superb stereo system from Richer Sounds a few years ago, managed to wear out the needle due to my "heavy handed" needle drop. Went to get a replacement on spec. no appointment, 2 hours later after some good advice, stereo sounding better than ever! Sound advice, sound staff, can't fault it. It's a big "thumbs up" from me :-)

Very impressive for the price!

I ordereed a VM95C (conical 0.6) directly from AT, with the headshell. It was well protected, and arrived in just a few days. The packaging was very nice! I do like the headshell design BTW. It has a little more mass than some others, and seems like it would be quite rigid.My main curiosity was how the 0.6 conical VM95 would stack-up to the Shure 0.7 conical M44-G (the lighter tracking version of the M44-7). I have some new, still in the packages M44-G styli to compare with. My understanding is, those are unfortunately now out of production.First impressions...Without break-in of either stylus, I compared some old favorite vinyl. An original pressing of "Crosby Stills and Nash" (the first album) went on the Technics SP-15 TT with an AT arm first. This album has ... MoreI ordereed a VM95C (conical 0.6) directly from AT, with the headshell. It was well protected, and arrived in just a few days. The packaging was very nice! I do like the headshell design BTW. It has a little more mass than some others, and seems like it would be quite rigid.My main curiosity was how the 0.6 conical VM95 would stack-up to the Shure 0.7 conical M44-G (the lighter tracking version of the M44-7). I have some new, still in the packages M44-G styli to compare with. My understanding is, those are unfortunately now out of production.First impressions...Without break-in of either stylus, I compared some old favorite vinyl. An original pressing of "Crosby Stills and Nash" (the first album) went on the Technics SP-15 TT with an AT arm first. This album has been abused a bit. Tracked many many times on GE VRII Broadcast cartridges, which are not very compliant, and track around 4 grams, as well as a variety Stanton 500A's and Shure M44-7's. All of which are 0.7 mil. It was clear that this new 0.6 mil AT was finding some cleaner, less damaged vinyl to play for me.The over-all sound of the AT VM95c was somewhat more forward in the upper mid-range than the Shure. Not enough to be annoying, but still noticeable. I was tracking both at 2 grams, which is the upper end of the Shure, but the middle of the (narrow) recommended range for the VM95c.On fresh, clean, not abused vinyl, the Shure seemed to hold a slight advantage in trackablity, but this was slight. To make the comparison more fair, I increased the VTF on the VM95c to it's max. With the VM95c at 2.2 grams, the two seemed to track nearly identically on hotly mastered LP's and 45's. The suspension in the VM95c seems to have no problem running up at 2.2 grams. It shows no signs of collapsing into it's grip. No cueing damage was noted on styrene 45's btw at 2.2g.A very impressive cartridge for it's price!