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AT95e why does everyone love this?

grottyash said:
Ah, so you've dropped the dogmatic bit and are now going to START at 2g, which isn't what you said before.

Also, are you aware the 440 has a different stylus? That might explain the differences, you know.
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Where did you read that I was going to start any other place then at 2 grams.

Next, what is a dogmatic bit? I'm from a small town in Minnesota, I don't speak urban. Does bold mean your yelling, just like using all capital letters?

Next, I am plenty aware that the 440 has a different stylus. I am well aware that it is what AT calls micro-linear or as some call it a micro-line. I presently own 6 AT440MLa carts with just as many extra styli. I am very dedicated to AT.
 
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Well, just another one to chip-in and state that I think the AT-95E, for it's price, is an exceptional sounding cartridge. Around £25 here in the UK, and worth every penny! :)
Just got one factory mounted in a new deck that I'd been wanting to try for a couple of years now....go on, get the flamethrowers ready..... an AT-LP120USB, which is running through a Rega Mini Fono pre-amp. (Prefer it to my Rega RP1)
Sounds lovely! Very sweet, clean, NO IGD problems, fantastic separation and spacious feeling...smooth, very detailed, tons of cleanly defined bass, and clear, precise highs, and a wonderful mid-range that makes vocals sound 'there' - in the room with you.... :)
I love the signature sound of Shure cartridges, but this AT95 has really shown itself to be a lovely performer. And for the asking price, you really can't go wrong. No need to "get out out of vinyl"; ignore the snobs, and enjoy record playback as it's meant to be, without having to spend 3-figures and above for a cartridge alone.... it may not have all the 'refinements' of a 3-figure priced cartridge, but it will give all the musical cues needed for enjoyment in listening to records - good stereo separation and imaging, an even and clear tone, and tons of detail.
Of course there is better, but when it comes to cost and performance, this is hard to beat :)
 
Don't see how anyone can complain about the AT95. IMO, with 400mH it's the most neutral sounding AT MM and has a ton of potential. Clearaudio uses the motor for their entire line of MMs. Maestro is a 95 with a wood jacket, and a boron/ML stylus. It may have matched channels and maybe it's potted, but it's a 95.

Great little cart - will take you a long way if you're so inclined. My potted 95 sounds as good as my Virtuoso.
neo
 
Got the 95 in the mail yesterday so I gave it a spin or two on a couple of LPs. One was instrumental (Pat Matheny) and Billy Idol's first LP (side 1 and 2). The pros are that the cartridge does have a very nice bass line, I thought that ambience in some of the recordings were good. On the con side, I felt that some of the DNA was left out of the vocals, and that the texture of symbol crashes lacked detail, tho back to a pro, some piano parts had a nice bass line, nice attack and decay. All in all, a nice $50 dollar cartridge, but it is what I thought it was. That said, I prefer it over the Shure M97xe that I had, which I thought (in my system) was very boring. Others are thrilled with it. Maybe the Shure cartridge is more arm dependant....I have no clue.

So the pecking order for me is the 95 on the bottom, then the plain 440MLa, then the 440MLa/ATN150MLX combo. Not sure yet where the AT120E/b fits in (before or after the 95). I do realize that the suspension may need to loosen up a bit more, but in my experience, the cartridge's sound will not change, its tracking might ( I didn't really hear any mis-tracking). I'm sure that if AT put a different styli on this cartridge it would sound much better, but then it would cost more too.

It is interesting that the replacement stylus from Lpgear is only about $5 more then getting a whole new cartridge. However, to some the hassle of mounting a new cartridge, doing the whole alignment thing might make the stylus alone worthy of buying.

One modification that might benefit the cartridge might be to permanently bond the stylus to the body with some 2 part epoxy. The 4 X 7 elliptical stylus does look like a rail road spike.

'ner
 
WaynerN said:
One modification that might benefit the cartridge might be to permanently bond the stylus to the body with some 2 part epoxy.
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If tightening the mechanical coupling between needle and body is the goal, this can be done without making it permanent.

Dental cement is a 2 part epoxy that dries so hard it's insanely brittle...to the point where it will disintegrate when stressed. Being so brittle, mechanical bond is as rigid as can be, yet it can be undone with only the slightest pry with a knife blade or screwdriver. Not only that, but it doesn't stick very well to plastic or metal, so it can be completely removed if desired, with both parts restored to original condition. Only drawback is that it's hard to work with because it sets within seconds of being mixed. Preparation is key, and a few dry runs won't hurt either.

I've done this a few times and the benefits are real. The parts will remain stuck together until you want them to come apart.
 
That sounds like it would work but I don't know where I would get some. My thoughts for the mod where simply because there wasn't much difference in price between the stylus and the whole cartridge, and then I wouldn't care if the bond was permanent.

Thanks for the info.
 
WaynerN said:
Good man! I bookmarked the page.....
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As you can see, it's not expensive, and being a 2 part adhesive the shelf life is almost indefinite.

If you want to try glueing the needle in, I suggest you trim the wings off leaving only the nub. This is what Clearaudio does.

Now you gotta admit, you wouldn't contemplate a move like that with an MLX needle, would ya? ;)
 
No, the MLX sounds really good. Its kind of not a fair comparison, but they are the only cartridges in the AT family that I have. It is the one weakness of the cart that I can see with my short time with it, that being the connection between stylus are cartridge body seems a tad bit flimsy. I might try some plasticlay in the meantime so see if there is actually an improvement, but the clay might rob the cartridge of some energy.....
 
I've noticed the opposite with my ATN95E stylus and AT3400 body. That stylus is near impossible to remove unless I use a tiny screwdriver for leverage. Perhaps the AT3400 body is ever so slightly different, other than the output voltage (5 mV vs 3.5 mV).
 
Wayner: Actually, AT does offer a better needle - namely the ATN95EX for the AT95EX variant they equip the AT-LP5 with. But of course it's not a really big step up.


And regarding the original topic: Seems I'm not everyone, 'cause I don't love the AT95E. But I still respect it as a decent entry-level hifi model for arms in the medium-heavy range.

Well, and regarding the AT120E(b): Imo that's still a pretty good model, but ever since it has become a little more expensive and the new AT100E has been introduced, it's in a bit of an awkward and unattractive position between the AT100E and the AT440MLb. Because the AT100E is hardly worse for a good bit less, and the AT440MLb is quite a good bit better for not so much more. In AT's shoes I'd be inclined to drop the AT120Eb and reintroduce the AT130E, possibly with slightly reduced compliance.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
lini said:
Wayner: Actually, AT does offer a better needle - namely the ATN95EX for the AT95EX variant they equip the AT-LP5 with. But of course it's not a really big step up.


And regarding the original topic: Seems I'm not everyone, 'cause I don't love the AT95E. But I still respect it as a decent entry-level hifi model for arms in the medium-heavy range.

Well, and regarding the AT120E(b): Imo that's still a pretty good model, but ever since it has become a little more expensive and the new AT100E has been introduced, it's in a bit of an awkward and unattractive position between the AT100E and the AT440MLb. Because the AT100E is hardly worse for a good bit less, and the AT440MLb is quite a good bit better for not so much more. In AT's shoes I'd be inclined to drop the AT120Eb and reintroduce the AT130E, possibly with slightly reduced compliance.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
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I saw that and LP GEAR has one that is suppose to be the ultimate: http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95SA.html , with a shibata stylus.

I don't know what to think of that.
 
WaynerN said:
I saw that and LP GEAR has one that is suppose to be the ultimate: http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95SA.html , with a shibata stylus.

I don't know what to think of that.
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gusten said:
IMO that is not a really good needle. It´s better the original but still it´s a bonded one with a straight Al cantilever. How polished it is I don´t know.
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It's a Jico-made stylus and it's very worthwhile. Check out this link on the Gear listing:
http://www.analogplanet.com/content...viewed-and-voting-results#8zm0poh8Cvd6GLUP.97

We've been spoiled by AT holding the line on price, for years, but now reality is setting in. The price of a 150Sa stylus (aluminum/nude shibata) is about the same as the now discontinued 150MLX stylus. Still, look at the price of this tapered aluminum/nude shibata:
http://www.lpgear.com/product/ORS2MBLACK.html

neo
 
neobop said:
It's a Jico-made stylus and it's very worthwhile. Check out this link on the Gear listing:
http://www.analogplanet.com/content...viewed-and-voting-results#8zm0poh8Cvd6GLUP.97

We've been spoiled by AT holding the line on price, for years, but now reality is setting in. The price of a 150Sa stylus (aluminum/nude shibata) is about the same as the now discontinued 150MLX stylus. Still, look at the price of this tapered aluminum/nude shibata:
http://www.lpgear.com/product/ORS2MBLACK.html

neo
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Yes I listened to those Fremer files. Maybe I seemed too negative about this needle. I think it´s OK but nothing I would spend my money on. I hate spending money if it´s not top quality. The 2MBlack is way too overpriced IMO.
 
gusten said:
Without derailing the thread too much, personally I like the AT10 family much more. Bodies can be had nearly for free, very good needles of various quality can easily be found, it´s more easily potted. A very high SQ can be achieved for a very low price.
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I prefer the older AT carts myself. Not as clean and accurate as the newer models but they seem to have more musical soul.
 
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