Audio Technica AT-VM95E

The AT-VM95E is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge fitted with an elliptical stylus. It belongs to Audio-Technica's VM95 series, whose principle relies on the interchangeability of the stylus: when the diamond wears out, it is possible to replace only the stylus without buying the complete cartridge again, or to opt for a higher-range stylus compatible with the same body.

The cartridge body is rigid, which limits parasitic resonances during playback. It incorporates two threaded inserts that allow direct mounting onto a headshell or tonearm to the 1/2 inch standard, using just two screws, without a fixing nut to handle at the rear.

Electrically, the cartridge delivers an output voltage of 4 mV at 1 kHz for a velocity of 5 cm/sec, with a stated frequency response of 20 Hz to 22 kHz and a channel separation of 20 dB at 1 kHz. The balance between the two channels is 2 dB. The coils are made of OFC copper, for an inductance of 550 mH at 1 kHz; the recommended downstream load is 47 kOhms with a capacitance of 100 to 200 pF.

The stylus, of elliptical shape and dimensions 0.39 x 0.71 mil, is bonded onto a round cross-section cantilever. Static compliance reaches 17x10⁻⁶ cm/dyne and dynamic compliance 7x10⁻⁶ cm/dyne, values that determine the flexibility of the suspension and therefore compatibility with the effective mass of the tonearm used. The vertical tracking angle is 23°, and the recommended tracking force is between 1.5 and 2.5 g, with a standard value of 2 g. The total mass of the cartridge is 6.1 g.

This cartridge is intended for turntables fitted with a headshell or tonearm compatible with 1/2 inch mounting, in a standard listening setup requiring a phono preamplifier suited to MM cartridges.