What Cartridge(s) Is Everyone Using

[Robert Young]

After fooling arround with a Shure 15 and Jico SAS I decided for something entirely different - at least for the next few days :

View attachment 130016

Now playing "Ascenseur pour l' échafaud" (Miles Davis)

Such a great album…love the part in Dinner at the Motel where Miles loses a bit of lip skin, creating a rather curious musical artifact…

 

[DasguteOhr]

After fooling arround with a Shure 15 and Jico SAS I decided for something entirely different - at least for the next few days :

View attachment 130016

Now playing "Ascenseur pour l' échafaud" (Miles Davis)

Miltek aurora?

 

[Lynnot]

Miltek aurora?

Yes!

 

[tony22]

I have a friend who just bought an AT-VM95SH - by all online accounts it’s supposed to be a great value (I haven’t heard it yet). I was a little surprised, though, when he said that it was “as good as any $20,000 cartridge”. I’m happy that he’s so pleased with his analog rig, but having never tried one I really had nothing to say in response. As long as folks are happy with their choice, so be it. I may pick one up just to see how it sounds in my system.

 

[mtemur]

I have a friend who just bought an AT-VM95SH - by all online accounts it’s supposed to be a great value (I haven’t heard it yet). I was a little surprised, though, when he said that it was “as good as any $20,000 cartridge”. I’m happy that he’s so pleased with his analog rig, but having never tried one I really had nothing to say in response. As long as folks are happy with their choice, so be it. I may pick one up just to see how it sounds in my system.

I recommended this cartridge to a friend and he bought 2 or 3 of them. I’m not a fan of Shibata stylus but this cartridge sounds very good. Maybe the best among sub $500 cartridges. Or maybe there are better and cheaper alternatives. I don’t know but I do know this one sounds good.

 

[tony22]

A good reason to try it! But... $20,000 good?

 

[mtemur]

A good reason to try it! But... $20,000 good?

I’m certain it isn’t but still good.

 

[Yeti]

You could ask him which $20,000 cartridges he’s heard and in what context.

I currently have a Goldring 1042 and a Transfiguration Proteus rebuilt by Ana Mighty Sound with a Gyger S stylus (my choice) so the same profile. The comparison is interesting. My two decks are an Artemis SA-1 and a Lenco L75 with PTP Audio bearing and mounting plates on a home made bamboo laminate plinth (the Artemis is also bamboo but looks to be bespoke rather than intended for a countertop).
The 1042 is very enjoyable and it’s hard to imaging where it could be bettered, until I listen to the Proteus where music gains more nuance, dynamics and scale but I don’t think it becomes more engaging. I’ve swapped arm/cartridge between decks and the Lenco’s slightly better drive is evident with both, as is the Artemis’ lower noise floor. I’ll probably try my mono wired Decca on the Korf next and leave the Proteus in play on the Aro.

 

[Kjetil]

There is a lot of love for the AT-VM95 generator around, just as there was for its predecessor the AT95. I would recommend a RigB9 body for it for greater precision.
The VM500/700 generator is better than the AT-VM95 again but tastes vary.
I would not be surprised if there are $20000 cartridges playing as well as the AT-VM95 with the SH or ML stylus because again tastes vary.

 

[tony22]

You could ask him which $20,000 cartridges he’s heard and in what context.

As we're both in the same clubs and go to the same shows, I'm guessing if he's heard it, I've heard it. We've heard the Van den Hul Grand Cru Elite, the Grail, a Goldfinger Statement, the latest DS Audio, one or two other carts in that range. To the general points made, it's context and a bit of subjective assessment. If everybody thought the same cart was the best for them on their table(s), we'd only ever have to buy one cart. I think I have eight now!

 

[tony22]

My Sussurro MkII ES Gold arrived today. My Sussurro MkII and Paua MkII ES are up for sale. PM if interested.

 

[PHAA_]

Currently on main table: Grado MF3 w/ 8MZ stylus (while I wait for a ruby cantilever/FG stylus to arrive from Groovetickler (Joseph Long))

The experiments continue.

Previously on main table: Audio Technica PM9000 gold w/ Soundsmith ruby cantilever/NCL stylus in a Technics SH90S headshell

 

[hongkongfoufou]

I have a friend who just bought an AT-VM95SH - by all online accounts it’s supposed to be a great value (I haven’t heard it yet). I was a little surprised, though, when he said that it was “as good as any $20,000 cartridge”. I’m happy that he’s so pleased with his analog rig, but having never tried one I really had nothing to say in response. As long as folks are happy with their choice, so be it. I may pick one up just to see how it sounds in my system.

What is the setup of your friend, please?
What are the turntables ?
What is the phono preamplifier?
I am very curious to know this.
Thanks

 

[rossb]

Interesting seeing these comments about the VM95SH from a few years ago. I discovered this cartridge over the last year or so, and now have a couple of them, one stock and one with a RigB body. I also have a few of the shibata, elliptical and micro line styluses.

I too have been extremely impressed with the cartridge, cheap though it is. I have not had a $20,000 cartridge, but I have had things such as Lyra Etna SL, Van den Hul Colibri, Zyx Ultimate, Phasemation PP2000, Benz LPS, Transfiguration Proteus and others. My current MCs are a Lyra Delos, Ortofon Jubilee and Cadenza Bronze and Zyx 4D.

In many ways, the VM95 is not as good as any of these cartridges. It is even not as good as the slightly more expensive AT mm cartridges such as the VM540ML and VM740ML. Certainly in hifi terms the MCs sound more balanced, more detailed, more nuanced. The (slightly) more expensive AT cartridges have more inner detail and a bigger soundstage.

And yet the VM95SH and VM95ML are amongst the most musically satisfying cartridges I have heard, more so than some MC cartridges in the $5-10k range. They are well balanced, have a full, sweet tone and convey the heft and fullness of music. For example, in symphonic music, a good MC cartridge will bring out the inner detail of the string section, but often it will sound thin and lacking the fullness we hear in the concert hall. The VM95 does not let you hear the inner detail of the orchestra, but it does convey the fullness, that big envelope of sound that the string section produces. Similarly, play some jazz with a walking acoustic bass line - the VM95 reproduces that bass line with a palpability and a presence that I have heard from few other cartridges. It manages to convey the joy and emotion of music, where many expensive MCs can reproduce the details but somehow miss the purpose of the music.

The VM95ML is in my view the best of the VM series (and the good news is that the styluses are cheap and interchangeable once you have the cartridge body) with the SH stylus sounding a little warmer but less incisive. The RigB version of the body is better still, and tightens things up slightly without losing what is great in the cartridge.

Most people buying cheaper cartridges will naturally be using them on cheaper turntables, arms and phono stages, and anyone hearing the cartridge on this type of system might naturally dismiss it. I am using mine with a PTP Solid 9, and either Audio Origami PU7 titanium arm or Ortofon AS 212R arm, both extremely good arms. The best phono stage I have with MM capability is my Ayre P5Xe. These components are far from the extreme high end, but are significantly above the entry level turntables that would normally use these cartridges, and show that they really do benefit from high quality ancillaries. The new Ortofon arm in particular has been a spectacular match with the VM95.

Given their extremely cheap price (by the standards of this forum) it is definitely worth experimenting with the VM95 series.

 

[Young Skywalker]

Still going strong after 10 years is my Acoustical Systems Archon for stereo LPs. Mono LPs are served by a Lyra Dorian Mono. When the time comes to replace the Archon it will be either another Archon or the top of the range Palladian. I would love a Fuuga (modern Takeda Miyabi, a cart I once owned) or Lyra Etna Lambda (having previously owned an Olympos).

 

[hongkongfoufou]

Interesting seeing these comments about the VM95SH from a few years ago. I discovered this cartridge over the last year or so, and now have a couple of them, one stock and one with a RigB body. I also have a few of the shibata, elliptical and micro line styluses.

I too have been extremely impressed with the cartridge, cheap though it is. I have not had a $20,000 cartridge, but I have had things such as Lyra Etna SL, Van den Hul Colibri, Zyx Ultimate, Phasemation PP2000, Benz LPS, Transfiguration Proteus and others. My current MCs are a Lyra Delos, Ortofon Jubilee and Cadenza Bronze and Zyx 4D.

In many ways, the VM95 is not as good as any of these cartridges. It is even not as good as the slightly more expensive AT mm cartridges such as the VM540ML and VM740ML. Certainly in hifi terms the MCs sound more balanced, more detailed, more nuanced. The (slightly) more expensive AT cartridges have more inner detail and a bigger soundstage.

And yet the VM95SH and VM95ML are amongst the most musically satisfying cartridges I have heard, more so than some MC cartridges in the $5-10k range. They are well balanced, have a full, sweet tone and convey the heft and fullness of music. For example, in symphonic music, a good MC cartridge will bring out the inner detail of the string section, but often it will sound thin and lacking the fullness we hear in the concert hall. The VM95 does not let you hear the inner detail of the orchestra, but it does convey the fullness, that big envelope of sound that the string section produces. Similarly, play some jazz with a walking acoustic bass line - the VM95 reproduces that bass line with a palpability and a presence that I have heard from few other cartridges. It manages to convey the joy and emotion of music, where many expensive MCs can reproduce the details but somehow miss the purpose of the music.

The VM95ML is in my view the best of the VM series (and the good news is that the styluses are cheap and interchangeable once you have the cartridge body) with the SH stylus sounding a little warmer but less incisive. The RigB version of the body is better still, and tightens things up slightly without losing what is great in the cartridge.

Most people buying cheaper cartridges will naturally be using them on cheaper turntables, arms and phono stages, and anyone hearing the cartridge on this type of system might naturally dismiss it. I am using mine with a PTP Solid 9, and either Audio Origami PU7 titanium arm or Ortofon AS 212R arm, both extremely good arms. The best phono stage I have with MM capability is my Ayre P5Xe. These components are far from the extreme high end, but are significantly above the entry level turntables that would normally use these cartridges, and show that they really do benefit from high quality ancillaries. The new Ortofon arm in particular has been a spectacular match with the VM95.

Given their extremely cheap price (by the standards of this forum) it is definitely worth experimenting with the VM95 series.

Thank you.
I have 4 turntables and 5 cartridges...and I can assure the audio-technica Art-9 is a good cartridge but it has not the same level than the others: ZYX ultimate 4D, Khumar, Nagaoka MP-500.....I wait a Phasemation PP-200....

 

[hb22]

VDH Colibri XGW Gran Cru + Holbo mk2

 

[Lynnot]

My daily driver is a rebuilt Ortofon SPU Reference GM.

 

[PHAA_]

Quick take on the VM95SH (just one more opinion, everybody’s got one).

I gave mine away to a friend getting his feet wet with vinyl. It was gifted to me brand new by a different person to whom I had gifted a turntable to a couple years prior.

I have a few old AT/Signet carts, my favorites being PM9000 (gold & black), AT331LP, VS245LP, TK4ep, TK2ep, P-mounts all and all used with a Technics SH90S p-mount headshell. With perhaps the exception of my TK4ep which has it’s original stylus (the others do not) and the AT331LP (when it still had it’s original stylus), all these like body series carts sound better with a cantilever/stylus upgrade. As seems to be the “house” AT signature, these carts very much lean toward the detail side of things (even more so with retipping).

Therefore, the VM95SH was a disappointing surprise for me. Even with its original shibata, I found the detail to be sub-par or at least not in the same league as one would expect from AT. The cantilever is noticeably thicker than what I’ve come to expect from AT. Perhaps, the suspension is a different “recipe” as well. In any event, the presentation after some months of living with it, left me wanting. I would rate the TK4ep even with its old and original elliptical stylus above the VM95SH in pretty much every way despite the latters Shibata stylus. Never thought I’d say that prior to this experience. In fact, I also have a Stanton 890SA in which I subbed in an original 890AL spherical stylus assembly and still felt it had more PRAT than the VM95SH. I’m not saying the VM95SH is a terrible cartridge or that it is not worth its very affordable price. I have this thing about seeing how far I can take “the plebeian” and yet I felt no urge to see how far I could take this one. (I’m going to go out on a limb and say I would have felt differently had it been a VM95ML.)

Gear I tried the VM95SH with included a stock SL-1200G, a modded SL-1200MK2 with a Trans-Fi T3 Pro Terminator air bearing linear tracking tonearm, a 6922 based DIY phono pre and the internal phono section of an AR SP17.

 

[rossb]

A friend had a similar experience with the VM95SH and sold his soon after getting it. If I had heard the VM95SH before the ML, I probably would have thought it was a decent cartridge at the price but would have put it away and probably only used it rarely if at all.

The VM95ML is a much better cartridge, with a more extended top end and more detail. That said, it is still a budget MM and will not produce the detail of more expensive cartridges. But with sympathetic ancillaries I find the 95ML is an extremely enjoyable cartridge that has me forgetting its shortcomings very quickly after the needle hits the groove.

It's a pity you gave away your VM95 before trying the ML stylus. But you have other good MM cartridges so it is still possible you may have been underwhelmed by it, and these things are always a matter of personal taste.