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Jico Stylus vs Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

S

Soheilk81

New Member
I recently got a Pioneer LP-112D turntable which is an Empire 67E/1 cartridge on it but the stylus is bent and it doesn't sound great. I looked to see if I can find a stylus but it looks like there are only a few unbranded aftermarket stylus these days. I saw the Jico Replacement Empire S-2000E/III for $83 on LPTunes website that the seller said it fit Empire 67E/1 cartridge too. Another option is the Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge with stylus for $70.
Do you think It's worth it to get a Jico stylus for the Empire cartridge or I should just get the AT cartridge? I don't want to spend more than $70-80 but I want to get a fantastic sound :)
If you have any other suggestions I would appreciate.
Thank you
 
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The AT will give some decent upgrade options and sounds pretty good as is.

If your present stylus is bent best not use it. LP's are expensive...
 
Empire cartridges are well regarded but to save taking part in the aftermarket lottery in the future I would go for the AT-VM95E, which is a fine budget cartridge. You might be surprised with the sound you get for $70.
 
Have you ever aligned a cartridge before? If not, might be best sticking with the Empire and getting a Jico stylus. Jico have a great reputation, should be a safe bet. Otherwise, that budget AT can sound fantastic.
 
Learn how to align a cartridge. Buy a cheap starter cartridge like a VM95-C model. Upgrade the stylus to another model in the range when the stylus is worn out.
 
TerryMarmite said:
Have you ever aligned a cartridge before? If not, might be best sticking with the Empire and getting a Jico stylus. Jico have a great reputation, should be a safe bet. Otherwise, that budget AT can sound fantastic.
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+1. I bought a Jico stylus for a Toshiba C56 (aka Empire 2000) and like it better than the LPG VvL I also bought for it. I consider myself to be an AT fanboy, but the Empires are good cartridges too with the right needle.
 
It's also a question of matching to the turntable. For instance that AT sounds tinny and thin on my Hitachi DD, as do just about all others compared to my favoured Shure cart. Yes I have experimented with capacitance loading, a whole other consideration. The same AT sounds nice on my spare table which seems to give more bass than the Hitachi. The Empire cart might have been chosen by the previous owner as a good fit.
 
A lot of people in the Facebook Pioneer PL12D group favour the AT-VM95E as the 'go to' budget cartridge for this turntable. The PL112D doesn't have the same arm as its predecessor but I dare say it will work well with the VM95E. I have not known it to sound tinny, having tried it on the Technics SL1200 and Yamaha YP-511.
 
JICO styli are hard to beat. I have several and have been very happy with all of them. One is on an Empire 66 which is on my Pioneer PL12D.
 
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