Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red

Got this one for my AT-LP5x. Well, it sounds richer in high range and more clear at low range. Definitely, this is my main stylus now. But dont expect much for the money you paid. It has just a slight difference, and only if you have mid-hi quality audio system and good ears. Other than that, you will not hear much difference between your default stylus and this one. I use internal phono, maybe an external one will open it more for me. But again, if the money is not a problem - I recommend this one! Good upgrade, definitely.

Decided to put this to the test and spin the loudest record I own, Wrath by Lamb of God. On the VM95E, there was a lot of noticeable inner groove distortion due to how heavy and hard the music on it is. After upgrading to the VM95ML, that sibilance and distortion is greatly reduced. The guitar tracks are well balanced and Randy Blythes screaming sounds much more clear in comparison. If you want well-mastered pressings to sound even better, this upgrade is worth it. Even for budget Hi-Fi setups.

The sound quality is fantastic! This is quite an upgrade and worth each penny it costs!

Accidentally broke my new stylus cleaning the T.T. bumped up to this one by recommendation from other vinyl people! Very happy! ; )

I replaced the stock stylus on my ATLP120XBT and the music sounds much cleaner and crisper. It is noticeable to me but may not be to others including my wife. Would i buy again? Yes absolutely

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

I bought the AT VM95E cartridge for a Rega P1. The elliptical stylus was okay, so I replaced it with the Microline stylus (uses the already setup and aligned body from the VM95E). The difference is very clear, even with my older ears. Better bass, less distortion. Nice thing with the ATvm95 series is you can switch the stylus around and do AB testing without having to remount the cartridge body. Might try the SH stylus next.

As a relative newcomer to vinyl, I really couldnt have ever justified dropping over $100 on a stylus upgrade, but after I got an SL-1600, I figured it was worth trying to push the envelope a little bit. Ive previously been using the budget conical C stylus for the past year and while thats a surprisingly good sounding stylus for the VM95 considering how inexpensive it is, the ML stylus really elevates this cartridge to a whole other level. I also tried the middle of the road EN before this stylus, and Id say the ML is still worth the extra cost. Its important to note that being a microline stylus, the ML is a lot more sensitive to fine adjustment than the standard conicals or ellipticals. As the saying goes, a cheap stylus properly set up will sound better than an expensive stylus improperly set up. Its important to take your time setting up the ML and ensuring your tracking force, anti-skate, overhang, angle, and VTA are all dialed in. VTA is certainly a tricky one if your turntable doesnt have an adjustment for it, otherwise youll just have to make do with shims or a thicker slipmat to bring that tonearm parallel with the platter. With setup out of the way, itll take some time for the stylus to fully break in but almost immediately I noticed an appreciable improvement in sound quality. The microlines shape is such that it sits deeper in the groove than a traditional elliptical, so it picks up finer nuances of record that you otherwise wouldnt hear with a regular stylus, and the sound is very crisp without losing much, if any of the punch I liked from the conical. Its also less noisy - pops dont seem to be nearly as prominent as on the conical. In laymans terms, this is like switching from a pair of Walmart brand earbuds to Bose. The former is perfectly serviceable and will satisfy most peoples needs, but youre going to get what you pay for with the latter. The shape also means its just a far more stable tracking stylus and is less prone to groove skipping than an elliptical. I ran the ML though some of my more worn 80s records, and it tracks right through imperfections I wouldve otherwise heard on one of the other styli. I think this is also in part to its listed 1000 hour lifespan - the tip geometry is optimized to the groove shape that it wears more evenly, versus the E and EN ellipticals at 300 hours each. Youd likely be on your third or fourth E or EN by the time an ML gets close to needing to be replaced. So in some weird way, this ends up being a more value conscious option. Overall, Id say the ML is a worthwhile upgrade for anybody looking to move up to a higher-end VM95 stylus. Versus the conical C, its a night and day difference in sound quality. The nude elliptical EN is certainly closer in sound quality, but the ML is not much more money, tracks better, and lasts significantly longer. Not that theres anything wrong with any of the less expensive styli - theyre all very good, especially the C and E for the price. If anything, the MLs finicky nature is its main drawback. If you dont have a setup that can accommodate its precise setup requirements, then any of the less expensive styli might be a better choice. And the price - $149 isnt bad relatively speaking but understandably, not everyone can justify it. But if you can make either of those work, chances are that youre really going to like this stylus.

I had the cheap AT-VM95E (the green one) that came with my record player. I thought it sounded pretty good, but it did seem to overdrive on the louder parts (I think thats called sibilance?). This red one sounds so much clearer, even on older records, and theres no more sibilance. I get that feeling like the singer and instruments are right in the room with me more often. Definitely worth the upgrade for sound quality, plus it lasts over 3 times longer.

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.