Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Blue

Whether you're rehabbing an old turntable or trying to upgrade a newer entry-level one, Audio-Technica's AT-VM95C is a great starter cartridge. For the price of a big city lunch out, you get a twenty-first century cartridge for today and tomorrow that's far more flexible than you might expect.The C here is for "Conical Stylus," which makes it "entry level" among many new vinyl fans, but is an excellent everyday choice if a lot of your LPs are picked up well-loved from the record store's used bins. It's also a fine choice if you're buying new releases, and is almost certainly still an upgrade even if your turntable (like many) came with a bottom-of-the-barrel conical stylus/cartridge.If you eventually decide a conical stylus isn't your end goal, good news: the "AT-VM95" part of the equation is the cartridge body, and Audio-Technica's various more expensive options are simply the same cartridge paired with higher-end styli. Most manufacturers offer perhaps a single upgrade option per cartridge, but Audio-Technica's offering a full line here — including a stylus specifically for 78s. (If you do decide you like a "better" stylus for your fresh pressings, consider picking up an entire second AT-VM95C and another headshell for your back catalog — an entire cart is only a few dollars more than the replacement conical stylus.)Unique at this price point (and even among higher-priced cartridges, actually), Audio-Technica has opted for threaded inserts in their AT-VM95 cartridge, meaning you don't have to fiddle with teeny tiny nuts when installing. Just align the cartridge on the headshell, start the screws, and screw til tight. There's nothing more satisfying than throwing your old cartridge nuts into the garbage! While you can reuse your old screws, Audio-Technica includes new hardware, and you're best off using it: not only will you get a fresh set of washers, but A-T's shorter screws won't interfere with the full-coverage, slip-on stylus protector (another rarity at this price point). (See the attached photo — that's installed with the "standard" long screws of decades past, and just barely clears the stylus cover.)This cart sounds great, tracks well, and the sighting lines on both the cartridge and stylus make it easy to double-check that everything's lined up and installed correctly. The neat-looking blue stylus color ain't too shabby, either. Time will tell how well the stylus lives up to A-T's estimated 500 hour lifetime, but so far it's sounding fantastic and has breathed new life into my vintage JVC turntable.

Nothing new about this: these cartridges are well known as a quality product, producing great sound for a reasonable price. I looked at a lot of reviews, YouTube videos, etc., before putting my money down and getting one of these cartridge/stylus units. I am not some sort of audiophile, but I had a great 1980 era receiver/amp (Harmon Kardin) in my back room and a Technics turntable. After I had the amp serviced, I wanted to hear what it could sound like. I pulled out the turntable and realized I needed to change the cartridge. I got the Audio-Technica AT-VM95C, followed the instructions for installing a cartridge correctly (proper placement, correct weight, checked anti-skipping) and tested it with some old LPs. No speakers, so I used a decent headset, and the sound that came out was wonderful. I was planning on selling the amp and turntable, but now I'm considering buying some speakers and keeping it! LOL

Finally! A simple cartridge that just plainly lets you enjoy music. Face it... This is not a perfect world. But each day we go into the workforce and try to make it as perfect as possible. And with that comes the daily stress of our lives. So the last thing we want to do is come home throw on our favorite records and sit there and analyze every intricate detail or flaw about an imperfect medium. That is vinyl. We just want to enjoy music. And this cartridge lets you do that. I have bought many a cartridge in my lifetime and have spent way way more than this cartridge costs. And what did I get? Cartridges that I had to tweak continuously to get the sound I wanted. And you know something? I tweak enough in the world to make things perfect as possible daily...but not what i want to do when i come home to relax and enjoy my records...my memories. So i oedered this based on the reviews and because it was new...and i tjought maybe..just maybe..there was a $34 miracle pill. So i anxiously installed it on my Thorens TD 170 automatic turntable...gave it a good solid basic alignment..hit the start button and bam! I was in the 80s all over again! RICH SOUND.. no sibilance or harshness...just...music...that's it...music! And I like the fact that there is a conical tip. As it doesn't pick up every intricate tick and pop..it finds the muaic..which is what we are all after. And many of my records have been played heavily over many years..and this cartridge is forgiving of that...it seems to "know" what's important..remembering "when". And I'm a working man. And this isn't a working man's budget. It's well suited for today's automatic turntables I've medium mass tone arms as it is a medium compliance cartridge edit mates very well and blends with a lot of modern equipment. So yeah, it looks nice! But most importantly what it does it does right. It hits the spot and that's what it's supposed to do. So if there is a miracle available for $34 this year has found the spot! Thank you Audio-Technica.