Review on Audio Technica AT VM95C Moving Turntable Cartridge by Tom Roberts

Whether you're renovating an old turntable or trying to upgrade a new entry-level turntable, the Audio-Technica AT-VM95C is a great entry-level cartridge. For the price of a meal in the big city, you get a 21st-century cartridge for today and tomorrow that's a lot more flexible than you might expect. The C stands for "Tapered Stylus" and is therefore an "Entry Level" among many others. new vinyl fans, but it's a great everyday choice if many of your LPs have been pulled from used record store bins. It's also a good choice if you're buying new releases, and is almost certainly still an upgrade, even if your turntable (like many others) came with a tapered stylus/lower case cartridge. If you end up deciding that a tapered stylus isn't your end goal, the good news is that part of the "AT-VM95" equation is the cartridge case, and Audio-Technica's various pricier options are simply the same cartridges paired with more expensive pens. Most manufacturers might offer one upgrade per cartridge, but Audio-Technica offers the full range here, including a 78-specific stylus. (If you're deciding on the "best" pen for your fresh prints, consider getting a second AT-VM95C and another sleeve for your back catalog - a whole cart is only a few bucks more expensive than a replacement cone pen. ) Unique to At this price point (and even pricier cartridges), Audio-Technica has opted for threaded inserts in their AT-VM95 cartridge, meaning you don't have to fiddle with tiny nuts during installation. Simply line up the cartridge on the shell, tighten the screws and screw all the way in. There's nothing more satisfying than tossing old food nuts in the trash! While you can reuse your old screws, Audio-Technica includes new hardware and you're best off using it: not only do you get a new set of washers, but the shorter AT screws don't compromise full coverage, slip stylus protection (another rarity in this price range). (See attached photo - it's mounted with "regular" long screws from decades past and barely removes the needle cover.) This dolly sounds great, runs well and the aiming lines on both the cartridge and needle make it easy to do everything to check is properly aligned and installed. The pen's clean-looking blue color isn't too shabby either. Time will tell how well the stylus will hold up to the AT's estimated 500 hour lifespan, but so far it sounds fantastic and has breathed new life into my old JVC turntable.