Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red

This stylus is audiophile life changing - the accolades written convinced me to upgrade and the end results are as written - the multichannel capabilities of this stylus give new listening depth and nuances that were originally intended. The listening sounds like you are in studio listening to everything intended by the producers - like listening to studio tracks, individual tracks, harmonies meant to sweeten the tracks, instrumental touches - they were there all along and you can finally enjoy your collection fully. Really amazing!

I upgraded from the 95E recently to this ML stylus, simply swapping it out and remeasuring the tracking and alignment (it stayed spot-on). Thankful for so many reviews addressing specific personal concerns I kept searching for, I want to echo observations that were spot on: vast improvements to inner groove and sibilance distortion, as well as surface noise virtually dropping to the floor. The clearer sound on so many different albums boosted my passion for this hobby again. It’s been fun to revisit so many tracks to hear new things - bonus level up! The others who mention fatigue relief should be highlighted, too. I didn’t know I was even suffering until I made the change! Every range of sound is improved, and my personal pain spots of some favorite albums can now be fully enjoyed as intended - this was this missing piece after adjusting and tweaking everything else I could. It’s not a cure-all, and still not “perfect” by any stretch, but for the value I’m glad I saved up and prioritized this purchase. Like so many have said before, it’s time to stop hesitating and just go for it!

I bought this, like many others, to replace a VMN95E. This product sounded great from the first time I dropped the needle. So much less surface noise than the elliptical and a much more expansive and full sound. It already blew me away and I havent even gotten through the break in period. I purchased this line of AT products to help tune up an old 1200 mk2 that had been sitting for over 20+ years. I love how easy it is to start with the base cartridge and upgrade the stylus down the line. Ill get around to double checking alignment, but I was too excited to hear it to go through that before my first listen. I doubt itll need adjustment though. The price might seem a bit crazy, especially if youre new to TTs or getting back into it after a long hiatus, but its worth every penny. Plus, I believe it has the longest recommended play time out of the entire line. Awesome, awesome purchase.

Trying to justify the cost for this one. Upgraded from a 95E like most people to try and solve the sibilance and IGD issues with that stylus. Good news is that, to my ears, both of those problems are solved. However, it seems this comes at a loss of soundstage and tonality. The ML seems to produce borderline CD quality audio with clean new pressings. The harshness and break-up of hot, high pressings and complicated passages, especially towards the center of the pressing, seem to be much better, but theres also a muddiness and lack of separation throughout. Bass is less present, individual instruments have less space/definition, and flaws are more obtrusive in imperfect copies (because presumably youre digging up more information with this stylus shape). For reference, my setup is a Technics SL-D2 through a Realistic Stereo Mixer to Bose QC15/25 headphones 99% of the time. Considering becoming a complete vinyl idiot and picking up the comparable Nagaoka MP-110 to compare. Not sure about you, but I crave that sweet, sweet soundstage and theres something thats not clicking here.

Im quite happy with the sound quality Im getting from this stylus.

My wife purchased a really good direct drive audio technica Turntable over the summer, I have been collecting vinyl for about a year and a half. I have a wide range of music from the 70s to today. I was handed some vinyl from my father that he has had for many many years. Some of it has been played so much that the records are looking slick. The stylus that came with my turntable would just glide over some of the records, thinking to myself that these records are shot, but i am not going to get rid of them since they came from my father. I also noticed as i played these older records, the sound just seemed kind of muffled and staticky, figured i would start searching for ways to improve the sound of my records. With the money my wife spent on this turntable, i would have never though the factory needle would be the problem. I upgraded from a middle of the road Sony turntable, and to be honest the sony sounded better, that was until i came across this stylus and started reading the reviews. I took a chance and said with the money i have spent on my collection, i am going to purchase this stylus and see if it helps my situation. Let me just say this, if you are hesitating on purchasing this stylus because of the cost or you are not sure it will improve the sound quality. Hesitate no more, the positive reviews are spot on. This stylus is so good, I can now listen to my fathers old worn out slick records, on top of that, the sound quality is outstanding. I would give more than 5 stars if i could. Too bad they do not install this stylus on the out of the box turntables.

The VMN95E stylus that came with my turntable might be an accessible option, but the IGD problem that occurred on at least 20% of my vinyls just bugged me too much. Finally broke down and got an upgrade to VMN95ML. PROBLEM SOLVED. The IGD problems is now inaudible on nearly all of my records. If you are looking for a new stylus for the same reason, go for it!

It was time for the first stylus change on my new Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB turntable which came with a VM95 cartridge with an elliptical stylus. After researching, I new I wanted to upgrade to a microlinear cut stylus. So I bought the AT-VMN95ML stylus which was a tremendous sonic improvement over the elliptical stylus. But at the same time, I invested in the Audio-Technica VM540ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit which took the turntable to new heights of sonic clarity and instrument separation. So I give the VMN95ML a very good grade but I give the VM540ML an outstanding grade.

With this stylus, I was able to hear things in a record that I have listened to for 35 years that I never heard before. Who would have thought that this little thing would make so much difference? Its not the cartridge, either. You can use the same AT cartridge- its this stylus that makes the difference. Im not really a crazy audiophile, although I do have about $1000 into my system- all in vintage speakers - none of the new crunchy ones. But this stylus makes a huge difference, probably the biggest difference per dollar of anything Ive used to upgrade my sound. The science behind it relates to how deep the stylus goes into the record grooves, and how it still sounds good as you get to the inner tracks of an LP, which usually has some quality degradation. Im no expert on this- so google it and you can find some more detailed explanations if you like. The bottom line is is YES you can hear the difference from a $35-50 stylus to a $150 one.

I absolutely love this stylus! I am not an audiophile with thousands of dollars in equipment. I like listening to vinyl records, but I do not consider vinyl to be the be-all, end-all of audio. I have a somewhat entry-mid level turntable, and I always swore I wouldnt pay for a stylus that costs nearly the same as the turntable itself; however, Im glad I reneged on that philosophy. I first bought the cartridge for this 15 months ago and purchased this as the first replacement for the stylus, but it very well could have lasted even longer! The sound quality never really diminished; I personally never noticed any distortion or sibilance or anything of the sort. Its pricey, but worth it!