A review of the Audio Technica AT95E cartridge (longish).

[withmusic]

Sonically the AT95E is actually a pretty good cartridge with an even frequency response with good extension at both ends. This is where my audio spectrum analyser was very useful at confirming what my ears have told me through listening, and one thing is for sure, this cartridge likes the so called 'standard' input impedance of 47 k. Its upper frequency response is actually much better than the Shure M97xE at 47 k in this respect where spectrum analysis definitely shows an upper treble roll off! In the case of the M97xE, this treble roll off is essentially eliminated by increasing the phono preamp input impedance somewhat (I use 62 k). However the AT95E seems very well matched at 47 k and it doesn't seem overly fussy with regard to input shunt capacitance.

The output level is judged to be just noticeably lower than the Shure M97xE, which in itself is slightly low output, but in practical terms this isn't a problem as the simple one opamp test phono preamp used in this evaluation http://www.redcircuits.com/Page10.htm the AT95E was able to easily deliver enough equalised output level to drive a following line preamp and power amp into clipping when the volume was raised up loud! Tested on a wide variety of recorded material produced very satisfying and high quality sound with a surprisingly wide and stable stereo image, and no inner groove distortion issues were noted. Compared to other higher priced cartridges, in absolute terms the AT95E lacks only the last ultimate degree of resolution and detail provided by a more exotic stylus profile which on the majority of even high quality systems is probably unnoticed!.

I don't know how long the AT95E has been manufactured for, but its excellent reputation over many years is very justified and well deserved. It's a top little cartridge. Let's hope it goes on being available for many years to come. I highly recommend it! Regards, Felix aka catman.

Wow! I found the same with my AT95E! I don't go that deep into analyzing the impedances and all that, I wouldn't know where to begin. All I can do is listen and judge from that. I have my AT95E mounted to my stock Pioneer PL-510-A (Nice little manual table...I prefer manual tables). I have my Shure M97xE mounted on my stock Pioneer PL-530. Played both through my Yamaha CR-2020 and noticed that the AT95E out-performed the Shure hands down. The Shure isn't bad, but it seems to have a problem with being really aggressive on the highs forcing one to really adjust the tone controls quite a bit. The AT95E on the other hand sounded balanced and I didn't really have to fiddle with the tone controls that much..just a tiny little tweak on the bass and I was there, everything else was neutral. I'm kind of disapointed in the Shure actually. I was expecting something closer to the AT95E from it as it's advertised as an "audiophile" cart and has the brush on it and all that fancy packaging and such. (Turns out it's better to play records with the brush up in my opinion).
Anyway, I'm going to be doing some vinyl digitizing soon down the road and decided to use the PL510 with the AT95E cart. That said, I will have it hooked up to my TC-750CL Pre-amp running through my Sansui 8080db so I'm hoping it will sound great....everything sounds different and fabulous through that amazing receiver. (Have not tried the TT hook up yet though).
I was trying to think of what cart to get for my Denon DP47f and I think I'm deciding between the AT95E or a Grado. Maybe I'll get both.

 

[catman]

G'day all, it is interesting reading that old review again because so much water has passed under the bridge since then (2010)! I guess my knowledge of the quirks of the M97xE has improved so much that I know now how to get the best out of it, and I now prefer the M97xE for general listening. Possibly the worst thing about the M97xE is its general 'sensitivity' to loading! :yes:

Yet what I generally wrote about the AT95E still applies. It does have a much better stereo separation than the M97xE, and on some music, sounds utterly wonderful, yet as of the present its 'cool' sonic aspect just sounds 'wrong' to me, especially on rock type musical material where the M97xE sounds 'right'. Maybe the phono stage used changes all this as I was using a completely different phono stage for that evaluation at that time? :scratch2: Interesting isn't it? Regards, Felix aka catman.

 

[hifitommy]

hi felix,

its no surprise that a cartridge performs better in a better arm and tt. its not so much matching but quality of the arm and platter bearings and precision of build.

i do so wish capacitance as well as impedance were adjustable in more preamps. it may be a pie in the sky for me but the new manley labs chinook has those adjustments but it is $2500usd.

i doubt the at95e or the shure m97xe would be used with the chinook. i am not being elitist here, just realistic.

 

[jrtrent]

i doubt the at95e or the shure m97xe would be used with the chinook. i am not being elitist here, just realistic.

The 2007 review of the AT95E and AT95SA by the Stereo Times had made a similar observation:

"The tragedy of cheap phono cartridges (and these two Audio Technicas available exclusively from LP Gear certainly qualify) is that they are likely to be used with cheap turntables and arms, and amplified by cheap phono stages, thus giving a false picture of their true capabilities. . . I played the two cartridges on six different turntables: my antique Connoisseur BD2A, the cheap and cheerful new Rega P2, two Linn Sondek LP12s and my two Origin Live reference tables. I also used seven different phono sections. Linn’s old rule-of-thumb that the cartridge is the least important part of an LP playback system still holds largely true . . . even in my ‘reference’ LP system the two cartridges’ excellent musical communication skills allowed for deep listening satisfaction." http://www.stereotimes.com/acc032307.shtml

 

[catman]

G'day all, actually this is an interesting point. Regarding the M97xE I recall watching a YouTube review which was only 'so so', yet later an update was unloaded commenting that when the M97xE was mated with really not notch gear (turntable, tonearm etc) the sonic resuts were most impressive.

It makes one wonder doesn't it? :yes: Regards, Felix aka catman.

 

[neobop]

Indeed. Although I'm more interested in putting an aftermarket hyperelliptical stylus
into the AT3400 body. :scratch2:

It seems no-one can confirm, output voltage aside, any significant specification difference
between the AT-95E and the AT-3400 bodies...

AT-3400
Stylus: .7mil Conical
Tracking Force: 2.0-4.0 grams
Output Level: 5.0mV
Frequency Range: 20-20,000Hz
Channel Separation: >20 dB
Channel Balance: ?
Load Impedance: 47k ohms
Output Impedance: ?

AT-95E
Stylus: elliptical 0.4 x 0.7mil
Tracking Force: 1.5-2.5g
Output Level: 3.5mV
Frequency Range: 20-20,000Hz
Channel Separation: >20 dB
Channel Balance: >2db
Load Impedance: 47k ohms
Output Impedance: 2800 ohms
James H

I think you're better off with the 95 body. When you buy the stylus it's an extra $10, money well spent IMO. The carts take the same magnets so higher output will result in higher inductance and probably higher impedance. Less is more.

I have a 95 and it's good beyond its price. The shibata stylus helps, it seems to sweeten it somewhat and add a little detail. I don't have a vivid or HE but I suspect they are a better value. If you don't have a height adj arm, LpGear sells an SE - .3 x .7 elliptical for around $45. This should be a little more forgiving of SRA, and I suspect close to max performance for this cart.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGAT95SE.html

If you have a low mass arm you'd be better off with a diff stylus altogether. Stock stylus is 6.5cu @ 100Hz = 15cu. A 3400 series P-mount will fit with a little side plastic trim. They track 1.25 to 1.5g and have similar cu to modern 120/440, depending on stylus.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN3472HE.html

A .3 x .7 in this series is $29. Any AT stylus with that unusual shape will fit, including the AT-92E. The 95 doesn't have the OCC wire and I think that limits its ultimate potential, but it's a nice daily driver.
neo

 

[dave b]

MY AT-71E just sitting.....

should I get this cartridge mounted, up and running?? As I have read the 95,3400 etc. have a "big" sound for the buck and mid fi taste/budget is what I am....!!! i have some shure m91,Ortofon om10,m97xe caliber cartridges, just wondering if I should mount on my Dual 1019 or PERHAPS my Pro Jet debut III with the ortofon om 5E!!??? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated db.:scratch2:

 

[pioneerhip]

G'day all, many thanks for the feedback which is much appreciated. Well this morning I trotted out one of my Shure M97xE's and did some comparisons with the AT95E, both mounted on the Kenwood KD-1500 turntable.

Both cartridges were set up with the same overhang using the AT95E as reference and the tracking weight was 2 grams for the AT95E and 1.35 grams for the M97xE and the dynamic stabiliser was not used for this test. The record track used was The Beatles 'Strawberry Fields Forever', track one on The Beatles 1967-1970 album (number one album of a two record set). That record is also somewhat warped.

Speaking of warps, both cartridges played fine with with absolutely no issues. Sonically (at 47 k and about 200 picofarads), very little difference was noted except that the AT95E, according to the spectrum analyser display had clearly better treble in the 16 KHz range than the M97xE, but the M97xE had more apparent bass in the 30 to 60 Hz range which probably accounts for the often quoted M97xE 'warmth'. Output level wise, there was almost no difference.


'Watching' the stylus in the groove, and even with the Shure's dynamic stabiliser not in use, the M97xE 'looked' more settled and stable, whereas the AT95E looked a little 'wobbly and shaky' (not very scientific, I know).

In the end there wasn't that much of a sonic difference with the only real difference noted was a somewhat 'warmer' sound from the M97xE, probably due to the increased output in the 30 to 60 Hz range combined with the slight upper treble roll off. All these things combined would probably give the M97xE a 'smoother' and a 'non fatiguing' sound for which it is 'renowned'. It the end, I guess it all comes down the listener preferences and equipment synergy. Regards, Felix aka catman.

Update: Well I guess I've done these exact same tests many times before but once again this morning I substituted my DIY phono stage set at 62 k and ran all tests again and the results were pretty well as expected, the AT95E sounded almost screechingly bright at 62 k, but the M97xE opened right up and sounds fantastic at 62 k, clean, extended, airy and dynamic. So my ultimate recommendation goes like this, if you're stuck at 47 k, get an AT95E, but if you're able to tweak your phono input input resistance above 47 k, the M97xE (with the standard stylus) is fantastic.

How did you get the load to go up to 62 k. I know how to cartridge load down, but I didn't realize you could go up. Can you give some detail?

 

[Muddywaters]

How did you get the load to go up to 62 k. I know how to cartridge load down, but I didn't realize you could go up. Can you give some detail?

Catman hasn't posted here for quite awhile. But you accomplish it by removing the (typically) 47k resistors and substituting the flavor of you choice with the value you want or buy a phono pre with a variety of loading options. There are also some phono preamps which have in loading plug rca's that allow you to build your own selection of loading plugs to swap in and out.

You also could put in say 100k and then use plugs to vary it from there.

 

[Duckland23]

Upgrade to the hyper-elliptical stylus (ATN95HE) and you'll be more impressed. I'd really like to hear one of these 95's equipped with a Shibata (ATN95SA). I agree with your assessment though, the sound (for the price) is amazing. I have had mine (it's now on standby duties) mated with a Technics SL-1360 and it tracked like a gem and had a very full, rich sound. It's very hard to beat for the price.

I own this cartridge from audio Technica AT95E
I placed it on a cheap turntable a Ion TT with a plastic platter and the sound is night and day over the red stock GT cartridge which ion supply's with there turntable .
I owned the M440ml cartridge from audio Technica and this one close to that one .
I also owned a Shure m97ex and I Shure is better but at a higher cost .
For a budget cartridge it's really not bad .

 

[hifitommy]

ducky...for some reason, no shure cart has ever held my interest up to and including the v25Vxmr or the Vmr that preceded it. they never quite capture my attention in terms of the music.

i was an early adopter of the 440ML and loved it. the at95e just sounds too good for its $49 delivered price. a bargain. i am currently listening to the ML150 (that stylus that i bought nos, in the ML170 body) the ML170 stylus is the superior of the two but the 150 stylus is close. they will track anything and the imaging is excellent.

as for MMs, i would love to try the Nagaoka MP line, any of them from the 110 to the 500. i would also love to try any of the Soundsmith cartridges which Peter Lederman says should sound as good or better than n MC.

 

[pioneerhip]

I am now swapping between the AT440MLB, AT15SS and the Shure M97. I had a friend let me give the Nagaoka 110 a run for a while. That is the next line of carts I want to go with. They are crazy musical and are just fun to listen to. The 110 wasn't as clear as the AT440 or the 15SS but it had more presence in the mids and made the music just all around more fun and engaging. It was much easier not to analyze the music as you are listening with the Nagaoka 110 when I had it.

 

[Artie]

Just curious, as this thread is almost 10 years old, has anyone tried the new AT-VM95E? I'm assuming that this is the modern replacement.

https://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-AT-VM95E-Phono-Cartridge

 

[Duckland23]

I should got that one from Amazon for the same price but I didn't want too wait .
No I didn't try it but I'm told there more needle options for the new version of the AT95E cartridge .
But the price for the needles are as high as 150 bucks .
In that case I think I get a mc cartridge used in good shape .
But mc is a different ball of wax .
You need a step up transformer for the mm phone stage .
Also if the needle breaks it's at a minimum of 100 bucks replacement cost .
But the new version of the audio Technica AT95E there a video on YouTube of it for comparison .

 

[norm_p]

I've been messing around with wax potting the AT95 body and properly epoxy gluing the plastic black body top on. It really improves things, making details I haven't noticed before come out. My copy cost AUD$45 (about USD$30) instead of AUD$60 as it is now discontinued, so if you want to try potting, get in quick while there are stocks left to buy.

I have experimented with cutting the stylus body back to a bare plug - in my opinion this doesn't make any sonic difference to my ears, it just opens the stylus up to accidental damage, and yes, I bent mine very quickly. You also lose the ability to use the styls guard when you swap cartridges and that is a big minus for me.

I have also bought the AT-manufactured smaller radius EX stylus (maroon assembly) and it makes a massive difference. Given that in Australia going up again to a hyper elliptical stylus adds $155 (Jico) I'm not sure that the law of diminishing returns won't kick in over the EX stylus.

Turntable used is a modded Technics SL-D2 (base damped, low capacitance leads and tonearm damped with O rings)and it sounds fantastic and suits the arm. So much so that I am going to pot another as a spare for my SL-1200 Mk2 at our coast house system. I'm using a standard Technics-style headshell, but I have a really lightweight spare old Jelco shell that I might try out and see if it changes anything.