They also found that a "less good" tracker like the Grado Gold 1, tapped out around 45um in one channel and 65um in the other. File one was louder as has been mentioned and I didn’t try to match them but file 2 sounded the more natural, 1 was a bit too etched. Sometimes the elliptical doesn't cut it, so I use the conical stylus from this series which helps with the surface noise but not with IGD. I first wanted to identify the cause of the slightly higher output voltage of the conical and elliptical verses the other three profiles. All I can say is that for my current (modest) system, the AT-VM95ML works wonders and has changed my vinyl experience completely.

AT-VM95ML Vs. Ortofon 2M Blue File Identities Audio Technica AT-VM95ML Vs. Ortofon 2M Blue File Identities

Other people may have slightly different results, especially if they are using a different phono preamp with different capacitance, not to mention tonearm cabling and so on. The freshened design is welcome and a big step above the design of old, though the excellent slip-on stylus cover of the previous generation is retained, it too with a fresh new look. Audio-Technica give approximate stylus life figures of Around 500 hours for a conical stylus, 300 hours for an Elliptical stylus, 1000 hours for a Microlinear stylus, and 800 hours for a Shibata stylus. The tracks I chose were: Paul Simon's "Armistice Day" from the Paul Simon album (original US pressing, bought used - VG+) and R.I'll be doing a side by side comparison of 2 different phono pre-amps (Schiit Mani, Emotiva XPS-1) this weekend and would like to have a good sound coming from the set up before I introduce another variable. On a side note, Shibata is an older shape (and actually fatter than Microline by specs), so no doubt to me that you noticed extended treble on ML.

AT-VM95ML or similar?!- Vinyl Engine AT-VM95ML or similar?!- Vinyl Engine

This is probably the best ‘bang for buck’ in the range, and is likely the point where existing owners of the AT95, especially the AT95XE, will want to enter into the VM95 family. At home (Meridian Explorer DAC, NAD receiver and Vandersteen 2C's only reinforced that both versions are pretty bad, although file 2 is marginally better. I wasn’t prepared for the quality of sound that the VM95 generator can produce when paired with an advanced stylus, and it really does go to show how important that tiny spec of diamond is to the playback chain. I really have to crank up my volume on that LP to get any sort of decent headroom, maybe the ML will open things up for stuff like that. Channel separation (at 1kHz) is 18dB for the VM95C, 20dB for the VM95E, 22dB for the VM95EN and 23dB for the VM95ML and VM95SH.For example, the famed Denon DL-103 Weisfeld thinks sounds great with certain arms and just okay with others. the 95ML does what a great micro-linear stylus should which is to limit much of the noise or, at the very least, bury it to the point that it is not distracting. This suggests that Audio-Technica are not supplying bodies that test best after manufacture with their higher end styli as has been suggested. It has a narrow horizontal contact surface and larger vertical contact surface which is not only best suited to tracking high frequencies way beyond audibility but also causes less record wear. Even though its weird to test the sound of something via YT compression, a soundcard and a random set of headphones/speakers.

Technica VM95ML vs. VM95SH, generically Audio Technica VM95ML vs. VM95SH, generically

I've had the Shibata on my tonearm for about 2 weeks now, which is used for a minimum of 1-2 hours everyday.

If memory serves, Fremer surmised that normalizing any greater reeks havoc with some playback software. My top-end hearing is weak due to age, which must make a difference, and I don't put a lot of priority on tonal balance. Low, medium, and high frequencies are all clear and each record plays with such a sense of space and balance.