Audio Technica AT-VM95SH Moving Magnet Cartridge
The Audio Technica AT-VM95SH Moving Magnet Cartridge comes with an exceptional 2.7 x 0.26 mil Shibata diamond stylus and is designed to fit all half-inch mount turntables. Originally developed for playing 4 channel vinyl records that demanded superior high-frequency reproduction capabilities, a Shibata stylus offers greater detail in high frequencies as well as rich mid and low frequency information. The cartridge offers excellent channel separation and low distortion for outstanding tonal quality. The durable, low-resonance housing includes threaded inserts that enable the cartridge to be mounted to the headshell with just two screws – no nuts required. And since all VM95 Series share the same body, the stylus can be replaced with any of the six interchangeable AT-VMN95 replacement styli.
The Vertical Dual Magnet (VM) design closely mirrors the cutter head used to make the vinyl master. The standard cutter head (used to record the vinyl master) uses two transducer coils, mounted perpendicular to each other at 45° from horizontal, to cut the channel: one in each wall of the 90° record groove. The VM cartridges use the same 90° V-Shape configuration as the cutter head. This way, the cartridge achieves accurate tracking, excellent channel separation, high definition of the stereo image and extreme clarity over the entire audio spectrum.
Interchangeable Styli: All VM95 models have removable styli and the same body design, enabling vinyl enthusiasts to interchange and upgrade any VM95 cartridge with any VM95 stylus type.
Universally Compatible: All AT-VM95 cartridges are compatible with any turntable headshell that accepts 1/2" cartridges. Threaded inserts in the body enable the cartridge to be mounted to a headshell with just two screws – no nuts required.
What Shape Styli to Choose? The purpose of a stylus is to ride along the record groove capturing movement, which is then transferred into an electrical signal within the cartridge. Audio-Technica produces styli in five different shapes (Conical, Elliptical, Microlinear, Shibata, and Special Line Contact) that make contact with the record groove and capture movement in different ways, creating unique sound characteristics.
Conical Stylus: The conical stylus is the simplest and most widely used stylus. Its spherical tip normally touches the centre of the record groove walls. A conical stylus works best for low to moderately priced turntables and audio setups. It is also ideal for mono (vinyl with one channel) and older 78 RPM records. However, its shape prevents it from making detailed contact with much of the record groove walls, resulting in less fidelity.
Elliptical Stylus: The elliptical stylus has two radii, the front radius being wider than the side radius. The front radius rides in the centre of the groove like the conical, while the smaller side radius makes more contact with the groove walls. More contact with the record groove walls delivers a higher level of fidelity.
Microlinear Stylus: The Microlinear stylus almost exactly duplicates the shape of the cutting stylus that produces the original master disc (the disc used to create the pressed vinyl record). This likeness enables the Microlinear stylus to track portions of the groove other styli cannot reach, resulting in extremely accurate tracing of high-frequency passages and a flat frequency response within the audible range. The unique multilevel shape also wears more evenly, greatly extending record and stylus life.
Shibata Stylus: The Shibata stylus was originally developed to play four-channel (quadraphonic) vinyl records. The Shibata stylus has two radii, similar to an elliptical stylus. However, the radii of a Shibata stylus allow for more surface contact and effective pickup of ultra-high frequencies with less groove stress and distortion.
Special Line Contact Stylus: The special line contact stylus is shaped to track the record groove with the highest level of precision, resulting in excellent high-frequency response, low distortion and minimum abrasion. The special line contact stylus makes more surface contact than any other stylus shape. It should be noted that due to its high-fidelity, the line contact stylus may produce more noise on heavily worn records. The line contact tip is used on Audio Technica's higher-end cartridges.
Round or Square Shank? The stylus shank is the piece that connects the tip to the cantilever. A round shank can be more difficult to align when it is affixed to the cantilever. Proper alignment is needed in order to position the stylus tip precisely in the record groove.
Square shank styli cost more to make than round shank styli, but mounting them in laser-cut square holes in the cantilever locks them in precise alignment with the record groove.
Bonded or Nude? In a bonded (or jointed) stylus, a diamond tip is glued on a metal shank that is itself glued into the hole of the cantilever. While less expensive to manufacture, this construction may increase the mass of the overall tip and affect transient response compared with a nude stylus where the tip and shank are constructed from a single piece of diamond.
Nude styli, shaped from whole diamonds, are more costly than bonded styli. Their lower mass allows nude styli to track more accurately. Also, since Audio Technica's nude styli are grain-oriented, with their longest-wearing faces touching the record surface, they last longer.
About Audio Technica
Inspired by the depth of emotion he witnessed at vinyl listening sessions organised during his tenure at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Hideo Matsushita was determined to enable more people to experience the warmth of analogue listening. In a small Shinjuku apartment, he established Audio Technica and began developing cartridges. His first two products, the AT-1 and AT-3, achieved success and enabled Hideo to expand his business. He opened a larger headquarters in Machida, where the company still operates today.
Building on a shared passion for listening, Audio Technica have designed many critically acclaimed headphones, turntables and microphones whilst remaining a family business and with the firm belief that high-quality audio should be accessible to all.
Audio Technica believe that sound should be natural and so they strive to reproduce true, accurate, representations of audio. They start every product with the pure vibration created when sound is captured, using this analogue transducer technology to create products that transcend everyday sensory experiences. The quest to create pure, natural, audio is perpetual - it never stops, never ends.
Audio Technica headphones, turntables and microphone systems are used across the globe in a wide variety of applications, from live concert tours and recording studios to theatres, educational facilities, and houses of worship. There are also millions of music enthusiasts, gamers and content creators who use Audio Technica products every day.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Moving Magnet Cartridge with Shibata Stylus
- Model: AT-VM95SH
- Replacement Stylus: AT-VMN95SH
- Dual Magnet Cartridge with 2.7 x 0.26 mil Shibata Stylus
- Specially Wound Coils Increase Output Voltage
- Durable Low-Resonance Polymer Housing
- Aluminium Cantilever
- Threaded Inserts: Can be Mounted to Headshell with just Two Screws
- Compatible with any AT-VMN95 Replacement Stylus
- Frequency Response: 20 - 25,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: 23 dB (1 kHz)
- Vertical Tracking Angle: 23°
- Vertical Tracking Force: 1.8 to 2.2g (2.0g standard)
- Stylus Construction: Nude Square Shank
- Recommended Load Impedance: 47,000 Ω
- Coil Impedance: 3.3 kΩ (1 kHz)
- DC Resistance: 485 Ω
- Coil Inductance: 550 mH (1 kHz)
- Output Voltage: 3.5 mV (@ 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
- Output Channel Balance: 1.5 dB (1 kHz)
- Stylus Shape: Shibata
- Cantilever: Aluminium Pipe
- Static Compliance: 20 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne
- Dynamic Compliance: 10 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne (100 Hz)
- Mounting: 1/2" Centres
- Recommended Load Capacitance: 100-200 pF
- Stylus Size: 2.2 x 0.12 mil
- Type: VM Stereo Dual Magnet
- Wire Used for Coil: T.P. Copper
- Included Accessories: Two 11 mm Installation Screws, Two 8 mm Installation Screws, Two Washers, Non-Magnetic Screwdriver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 18.9 x 17.2 x 28.3 mm
- Weight: 6.1 grams
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.