Audio Technica AT-95EX

[GrahamS]

Does anyone have any experience with an Audio Technica AT-95EX cartridge? I have been offered one as a swap, but I have never owned an Audio Technica cartridge of any type. I believe that the MC ones are pretty good but that the MM ones can be "bright."

[CageyH]

Being on of the cheaper AT cartridges, it is nothing special, so it depends on what the swap is for,

[garrard]

Street price, about $50 or less new. However, the AT95 is often cited as being a very nice sounding cartridge for the price, and with upgrade styluses can sound very nice indeed. I bought an AT95VL (comes with a Vivid line stylus from LP Gear) and I have a feeling it beats the AT440Mla that I also have.

[Beobloke]

I still think the AT95E is one of the biggest audio bargains ever and I keep meaning to try a fancier stylus in one of mine.

The one I really miss, though, is the AT110E. That was a true giant-killer.

[narabdela]

Does anyone have any experience with an Audio Technica AT-95EX cartridge?

Never heard the EX, but I've always found the AT-95E way too bright for my taste. It might liven up a dull sounding system, but I would label it more 'hi-fi' than 'musical'.

[GrahamS]

Being on of the cheaper AT cartridges, it is nothing special, so it depends on what the swap is for,

The swap is not for anything audio.

[GrahamS]

I still think the AT95E is one of the biggest audio bargains ever and I keep meaning to try a fancier stylus in one of mine.

The one I really miss, though, is the AT110E. That was a true giant-killer.

Thanks for the input, Adam.

[GrahamS]

Never heard the EX, but I've always found the AT-95E way too bright for my taste. It might liven up a dull sounding system, but I would label it more 'hi-fi' than 'musical'.
According to Audio Technica UK, the "X" is an "improved" version. Your comment regarding it sounding too "bright" confirms what I had heard previously.

[GrahamS]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I'll suck it and see. Watch this space.

[Scooby]

I agree that the 110e is the outstanding model. I'd describe the 95e as crude rather than bright, but it's still great for the money. I've never heard the EX.

[hifi_dave]

The EX has an identical spec to the standard version and according to my price list, is available only pre fitted to their AT-LP5 turntable..

[Shovel_Knight]

The EX has an identical spec to the standard version and according to my price list, is available only pre fitted to their AT-LP5 turntable..

I believe its stylus is a bit sharper. Still just a bonded elliptical though.

[hifi_dave]

Tis a mystery to me - both are listed as 0.3 x 0.7 mil.

[CageyH]

The differences I see are:

AT95E: 20 to 20,000Hz
AT95EX: 20 - 22,000 Hz

AT95E Jointed Round Shank
AT95EX Bonded Round Shank

[homespun]

I have the AT95EX as standard on my AT LP-5 and I have no complaints. Its sweet, smooth and articulated and plays way above its price point. Apparently the X version has a modified suspension. It brings me to the question just how far up the cartridge ladder do you go before you start to hear any improvement ( or I would prefer to say hear any difference ), I suspect quite a lot, then the diminishing return comes into play. My LP-5 with the AT95EX sounds better to my ears than my old Rega Planar 3 fitted with an Ortofon red with blue stylus and yes its set up properly.

[GrahamS]

The EX has an identical spec to the standard version and according to my price list, is available only pre fitted to their AT-LP5 turntable..

See here: https://eu.audio-technica.com/hifi-phono/cartridges/AT95EX

It's also available on Amazon - Sold by Audio Technica and fulfilled by Amazon.

[GrahamS]

The EX has an identical spec to the standard version and according to my price list, is available only pre fitted to their AT-LP5 turntable..

See here: https://eu.audio-technica.com/hifi-phono/cartridges/AT95EX

It's also available on Amazon - Sold by Audio Technica and fulfilled by Amazon.

[GrahamS]

I have the AT95EX as standard on my AT LP-5 and I have no complaints. Its sweet, smooth and articulated and plays way above its price point. Apparently the X version has a modified suspension. It brings me to the question just how far up the cartridge ladder do you go before you start to hear any improvement ( or I would prefer to say hear any difference ), I suspect quite a lot, then the diminishing return comes into play. My LP-5 with the AT95EX sounds better to my ears than my old Rega Planar 3 fitted with an Ortofon red with blue stylus and yes its set up properly.

Peter, I agree completely with your comment regarding "how far do we go?" My system is only a NAD amp, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers, and a JVC QL-7 turntable with JVC Z1-S tonearm and Shure M97Xe cartridge. I recently sold my Ortofon SL-15 MC cartridge because it was way above the quality threshold of my system. I need another good but economical cartridge to play "B" grade LP's and I think this Audio Technica AT95Ex may fit the bill.

[homespun]

Graham, I don't see why it shouldn't fit the bill,

[CageyH]

Personally I would look at the AT95VL which is available from LP gear.

[GrahamS]

Personally I would look at the AT95VL which is available from LP gear.

The guy who is offering the swap is not offering an AT95VL, he is offering the AT95Ex.

[GrahamS]

I should have the cartridge later today. Once I have mounted it and played with it, I'll report back. Watch this space. Thank you all for your comments and interest.

[GrahamS]

Audio Technica pack the AT95Ex in a vacuum formed plastic bubble within a small cardboard box - nothing like the aluminum case that Shure supply with the M97xE. There are no tools or accessories supplied either - no stylus brush or screwdriver. Just two sets of different length aluminum screws and nuts and two plastic washers.

I mounted the AT95Ex in an Audio Technica head shell, for no other reason other than I had one handy. It was easy to mount and to set the overhang and VTA for my JVC-Z1s tonearm on my JVC-QL7 turntable. I initially set the tracking force to two grams as per the enclosed instruction sheet but later backed it off to 1.5g. The cartridge will require some 50 hours of use to properly bed in, but I did some comparative listening regardless. I compared it to my Shure M97xE using a proof pressing of James Last's "Music From Across The Way" on Polydor PD5505 and "Das Wunshkonzert" on DGG 2721073 (Overture to Carmen and Chopin's Polonaise). I particularly like using the James Last album because I happened to be in the studios in Hamburg when this was recorded and I heard some of the tracks live.

My comments regarding the differences between the two cartridges are totally subjective, and apply to what I heard on my particular system and in my living room and I am nitpicking here. Your mileage may vary.

To my ear the AT95Ex has a more open soundstage than the Shure. While I can placed the percussion to the right with the Shure, I can place it to the right and behind the brass with the AT. The AT has better attack and timing but the Shure has better low end balance. (not more low end, just smoother.) The mid-range of both cartridges are difficult to tell apart. On the high end, things like cymbals sound slightly more "present" with the AT, and softer with the Shure. Listening to the piano in Chopin's Polonaise, I can actually hear the soft "thock" of the hammers striking the strings of the piano with the AT but it sounds like my head is inside the piano, whereas with the Shure, the piano is front and center of the sound stage, probably where it should be. The AT95Ex reveals slightly more of the low frequencies but only if you listen very critically.

To get an idea of what their vocal performance is like, I used the debut album of a label called Priority Records, PRYT 101, 24 Beautiful Ballads, from which I selected “Miss You Nights” by Cliff Richard, “You don’t buy me flowers anymore” by Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond and “Killing Me Softly” by Roberta Flack. The AT95Ex has slightly sharper sibilance. It does not introduce any more sibilance that what is in the recording, but reproduces it more harshly. The sibilance from the Shure M97xE is softer. Barbara Streisand’s voice sounds identical from both cartridges, Cliff Richard sounds somewhat more “breathy” from the AT95Ex and Roberta Flack, like Streisand, sounds very much the same from both cartridges.

Once the AT95Ex has been run in a while, I’ll report back again, but my initial opinion (and all of this is only my opinion) is that these two cartridges are so similar that the AT95Ex is the bargain of the century. The Shure M97xE cost £85.00 and the Audio Technica AT95Ex cost £45.00. Both have a bonded elliptical diamond. I would like to compare my Audio Technica with the "improved" stylus version AT95VL from LP Gear. Just as an aside, neither cartridge is quite as good to my ear, as my JVC-Z1 with the DT Z1EM stylus. But then, as I said, your mileage may vary.

[garrard]

That was a very good comparison of the sounds of the 2 carts. I have both and find myself agreeing with your descriptions. It is the openness and the better high end of the AT that wins me over.