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Seriously Considering an AT95 Cart.

shoggoth80 said:
So, I have been thinking, searching, looking at numbers, thinking about arm mass, and relative tracking force... yadda yadda... so on...
After reading a lot of threads here, user feedback, and a fair bit of googling, following linked sites, and bookmarking some stuff... youtubing for videos and reviews...

I think I want an AT95. I like AT's stuff generally. I like the ability to upgrade to much nicer styli (I might buy it out the gate with the better stylus, haven't made up my mind yet). My tables have arms that run 11 and 12g respectively. This seems to be a cart that works well in that range.

For the price, hard to beat? Even with the $100 tag of the AT95VL? I could get the base cart, but would probably want to jump needles pretty quick. My system isn't "hi-fi" but I do like good sound and detail retrieval.

Input from the hive mind? It all sounds like a tough to beat set up.
Click to expand...


Last price I saw was $39.95 that's quite an investment, perhaps you should consult a financial adviser ;-)

I've heard nothing but positive reports on the AT 95, never tried that cart myself, but I have considerable experience with the AT110 which I think is an incredible value, the only downside is a long break in time and before broken in the sound is horseshit, but once loosened up / broken in a great cartridge
at any price IMHO.
 
shoggoth80 said:
So, I have been thinking, searching, looking at numbers, thinking about arm mass, and relative tracking force... yadda yadda... so on...
After reading a lot of threads here, user feedback, and a fair bit of googling, following linked sites, and bookmarking some stuff... youtubing for videos and reviews...

I think I want an AT95. I like AT's stuff generally. I like the ability to upgrade to much nicer styli (I might buy it out the gate with the better stylus, haven't made up my mind yet). My tables have arms that run 11 and 12g respectively. This seems to be a cart that works well in that range.

For the price, hard to beat? Even with the $100 tag of the AT95VL? I could get the base cart, but would probably want to jump needles pretty quick. My system isn't "hi-fi" but I do like good sound and detail retrieval.

Input from the hive mind? It all sounds like a tough to beat set up.
Click to expand...

I don't see anything non hifi in your system, try not to buy into the Stereopile etc. bullshit those jerks are about a half click away from TV Evangelists, the TV Preachers are clipping little old ladies who have to choose between feeding the kitty or filling their prescriptions, whgere the stereopile folks are boofooing validation addled wound up neurotic anal retentive chumps.

Great sound is entirely room and set up dependent, properly sited, set up
system like your will smoke many $250K indifferently set up systems.

Do some googling on room set up, I've used cross country ski's or 2x4's in corners to break up standing waves, position your speakers to image properly etc. experiment and listen will richly reward your ears.

Analog in particular is all about user involvement not ongoing fiscal hemorrhaging.

If you're not having FUN somethings wrong.
 
Different effective masses, within limits of course, is not that really important as I see it. It´s not very good to have a res frequency of over 15Hz, and it´s not that good to have the res under 6Hz. But nearly everything in practise falls between these values, the really important thing is to have the arm and TT good damped. YMMV.
gusten
 
Just sprung for an AT95HE (Hyperelliptical). It's the AT95 with a Jico HE on it. I have a really neat AT headshell to mount it to, which simplifies alignment and overhang. Should sound pretty nice between one of my 3 tables. Lol. Probably gonna put it on my main for a while. :)
 
fredj said:
Last price I saw was $39.95 that's quite an investment, perhaps you should consult a financial adviser ;-)

I've heard nothing but positive reports on the AT 95, never tried that cart myself, but I have considerable experience with the AT110 which I think is an incredible value, the only downside is a long break in time and before broken in the sound is horseshit, but once loosened up / broken in a great cartridge
at any price IMHO.
Click to expand...




Hey Fred, I'm really glad you mentioned the AT110. I had one of these, and I agree with you about the sound quality right out of the box...not so great. I didn't allow it enough time to settle in, and I got rid of it before I could appreciate its true nature. Impatience on my part. How long a break-in period roughly?
 
shoggoth80 said:
Just sprung for an AT95HE (Hyperelliptical). It's the AT95 with a Jico HE on it. I have a really neat AT headshell to mount it to, which simplifies alignment and overhang. Should sound pretty nice between one of my 3 tables. Lol. Probably gonna put it on my main for a while. :)
Click to expand...


Shog, great that you found the AT95HE! Hard to find HE's now that AT changed to the "VL". I too have an AT95HE (mounted on my SL1200) and love it. It's a perfect match for the SL1200 medium mass arm. I use a VTF of 2.2 grams (slightly above the recommended, but within the range).

I also have two AT95E still new in box.
 
shoggoth80 said:
Just sprung for an AT95HE (Hyperelliptical). It's the AT95 with a Jico HE on it. I have a really neat AT headshell to mount it to, which simplifies alignment and overhang. Should sound pretty nice between one of my 3 tables. Lol. Probably gonna put it on my main for a while. :)
Click to expand...

Hope you will like it! :music:

I have had one for a number of years! :thmbsp:
 
The HE and VL both appear to be Jico styli from the outside, and I have read anecdotal reports that they were the same stylus? Read that the stylus life on these is pretty high? Pretty stoked overall. The place I ordered from is in OR, so it should get here pretty quick. :)
 
The HE and the ViviLine are close but different is specification.

HE: .2 X 1.5 mil

VividLine: .295 X 2.4 mil

dlaloum and others will be able to verify or make correction to the numbers. :music:
 
So, in theory, the HE would be the more defined stylus tip? The narrower elliptical tip being able to get deeper into the grooves? I do like that there are multiple higher end styli available. The shibata would have been tempting, but I don't run a quad system.
 
shoggoth80 said:
So, in theory, the HE would be the more defined stylus tip? The narrower elliptical tip being able to get deeper into the grooves? I do like that there are multiple higher end styli available. The shibata would have been tempting, but I don't run a quad system.
Click to expand...

Enjoy the HE on the Audio Technica AT 95 body.

Lots of slam! :D :music:
 
Balifly said:
The HE and the ViviLine are close but different is specification.

HE: .2 X 1.5 mil

VividLine: .295 X 2.4 mil

dlaloum and others will be able to verify or make correction to the numbers. :music:
Click to expand...

Hi Balifly,

where did you find the specs?

I found reference to the VL on LPgear stating r/R as 6/75um (which is the standard spec for a "large" shibata from the shibata patents)
http://www.lpgear.com/product/STA4DQLC.html

Which should translate to around 0.2mil x 3mil (roughly)

I have trouble believing that the VL has the same specs as the Shibata - I figure it to be a typo... On the other hand if that is right, then it should have the same level of performance as a shibata (at a lower price!)

With regards to the Jico HE I have not been able to find specs on it...

Some alternate HE specs:
Canadian Astatic HE = 0.3 x 0.9 mil
Shure V15V (another HE) = 0.2 x 1.5 mil


It is worth noting that there is substantial overlap between the better "elipticals", "Super Elipticals", "Biradials", "Finelines" and Hypereliptical:

Ortofon Fineline (OM3) - 0.3 x 1.5mil
Sony Super Eliptical - 0.3 x 0.8mil
Standard Eliptical - 0.3 x 0.7mil


Basically an HE stylus is an eliptical with a slightly larger major radius - resulting in an extended contact patch.
If the VL really is 0.2 x 3 mil then it is a true bargain up against the Jico HE....
(would be interesting to compare the polish levels too...)

The larger the major radius (second figure) the longer the contact line - which means longer life, reduced record wear, the ability to potentially read past worn patches on the record... BUT ALSO: more sensitive to VTA and other alignment parameters - you have to get it just right to get it sounding better than a standard eliptical. A smaller major radius will much more easily achieve its best and is far less sensitive to VTA.

The minor radius (first figure) is how fine it is, and therefore how far into the groove it can read (not down! - 45 degrees!!) - it tells you the ability to track the higher frequencies more accurately.

0.2mil is as good as the best elipticals, or shibata shapes

The very best exotic shapes go down further... SAS, Microline, Pathfinder go down to around 0.1mil .

My personal opinion - the HE is a good deal, and should sound great and last substantially longer than a standard eliptical.

All things being equal (level of polish, quality and precision of the mounting, weight of the cantilever) the VL - if the specs are to be believed :scratch2: - is definitely a notch up.

Would love to have confirmed specs on these!

bye for now

David
 
Interesting bits on the measurements. I wasn't entirely sure what they all stood for.
Either way, I ordered the HE, which should still be rocking. Got free shipping too.
When I get to the point of replacing the stylus, then I'll look at a VL maybe. Every cart I own has an elliptical stylus tip on it of some kind. Lol. Don't care for conicals, and some of the other name types get almost esoteric.
 
I just got the AT95VL and I think it's terrific, very nice detail and well balanced. A pleasant surprise.
 
So, I have used this cart for a couple days now, on a few different records, of sort of varying music, and varying condition. It performs well, tracks nicely. Sounds great. Pretty rocking little cartridge... not super hot on output, but I can crank it up and it still sings. Definitely a nice cart for the money. Sits on my AT headshell nicely, with damn near spot on overhang (eyeballed it with a Technics gauge, which is 52mm, and my MCS has an overhang spec of 51mm... looks right). Wonder how it'll smooth out after wearing in? So far so good. No regrets. :)
 
dlaloum said:
Hi Balifly,
I found reference to the VL on LPgear stating r/R as 6/75um (which is the standard spec for a "large" shibata from the shibata patents)
http://www.lpgear.com/product/STA4DQLC.html

Which should translate to around 0.2mil x 3mil (roughly)

I have trouble believing that the VL has the same specs as the Shibata - I figure it to be a typo... On the other hand if that is right, then it should have the same level of performance as a shibata (at a lower price!)
Click to expand...

I found another reference at Gear stating the dimensions. The replacement for the Stanton 780-4DQ and the ATN122LP both say r/R = 6/75um.
That's .236 x 2.952 mils. No wonder some people prefer it to the shibata which is substantially more expensive. The shibata has a different cut on the front and back facets which gives it a curved contact patch as the record spins. This gives it a sweeter sound which might be good for some carts, but the 95 isn't overly aggressive in the treble region.

If you're using a low mass arm I'd suggest the ATN3472VL stylus. Trim down the plastic wings and you have a higher cu vivid line.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATNSERIESVL.html

If you want an inexpensive higher cu replacement, get an AT-92E(CD) cart for $21. It has a .3 x .7 stylus that can be trimmed like the other P-mounts.
neo
 
neobop said:
I found another reference at Gear stating the dimensions. The replacement for the Stanton 780-4DQ and the ATN122LP both say r/R = 6/75um.
That's .236 x 2.952 mils. No wonder some people prefer it to the shibata which is substantially more expensive. The shibata has a different cut on the front and back facets which gives it a curved contact patch as the record spins. This gives it a sweeter sound which might be good for some carts, but the 95 isn't overly aggressive in the treble region.

If you're using a low mass arm I'd suggest the ATN3472VL stylus. Trim down the plastic wings and you have a higher cu vivid line.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATNSERIESVL.html

If you want an inexpensive higher cu replacement, get an AT-92E(CD) cart for $21. It has a .3 x .7 stylus that can be trimmed like the other P-mounts.
neo
Click to expand...

Wonder who holds the patent to that stylus- .236 x 2.952 mils ?:scratch2:
 
Balifly said:
Wonder who holds the patent to that stylus- .236 x 2.952 mils ?:scratch2:
Click to expand...

My guess is no one. The dimensions are the same as the large shibata, but it's doubtful that it has the different front/back facets. Don't patents expire eventually? I'm not sure of the exact dates, but the original shibata is from the '70s.

It would be interesting to find out who makes the vivid line, but keeping this in perspective they're still bonded tips on straight aluminum cantilevers. It would be cool if we could get a stylus like an SAS for some of these AT/Clearaudio MMs. There are plenty of vintage Stantons and other brands where a higher quality stylus would sell.
neo
 
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