Audio Technica cartridge upgrade

[nbaptista]

I have an AT VM95e on a Rega Planar 2. I know the 95EN and the 95ML are better. But I like the 95e and for the price is amazing. Does make sense install a 95EN without try another cartridges like Nagaoka?For me the 95e is the right cartridge for the price(60€).I mean, the best for the price.For the price of an 95EN or ML you have Goldring, Nagaoka and others.So should I keep the 95e and Be happy, or try the others brands?

[Pete The Cat]

I have a VM95E on a deck that I'm using to test a load of second hand records and I agree that it's astonishingly good. Once I've sorted out the records that I want to keep I'm going to upgrade to the VM95ML stylus since the VM95E can be a bit shrill on the top end when playing loud, but then again what do you expect for £50?!

Sure, there are well reviewed Nagaoka and Ortofon alternatives and there are no rules about all of this, but AT designed the latest VM95.. range as an upgrade path so you can swap the upgrade stylus into your existing cartridge for a saving against the price of buying a completely new cartridge.

Pete

[CageyH]

If you like the AT sound, why change?

[nbaptista]

Yes, I' m keeping the 95e.When the time comes for a replacement, I might buy the 95ml . It lasts for 1000 hours, unlike the EN with 300 h

[CageyH]

I would go for the ML or the SH. I like the AT Microline and Shibata styli. I have an older AT95 with the Shibata tip and it is great.
Changing to a different brand will give you a different flavour to the sound, but it can be expensive trying them all out to see which you prefer. If you are staying with the cheaper cartridges, then AT is very hard to beat for VFM.

[nbaptista]

If you are staying with the cheaper cartridges, then AT is very hard to beat for VFM.

Cheaper carts you mean cartridges that cost no more than 160£?
The vm95 ml beats the Nagaoka mp100/110?

[CageyH]

Cheaper carts you mean cartridges that cost no more than 160£?
The vm95 ml beats the Nagaoka mp100/110?

It is all a matter of personal taste to what sound you prefer. I had an MP-150, which was good, but I preferred my AT150Mlx.

[nbaptista]

Ok, I understand.And the AT is easier to install on my Rega Planar 2.VM 95 ML is the better choice, I guess.

[diviy]

To get even more out of your 95 have a look at a RigB body conversion .
I have the VM540ML RigB it is made out of T16 Aluminium brilliant upgrade imo

[Mikeandvan]

To get even more out of your 95 have a look at a RigB body conversion .
I have the VM540ML RigB it is made out of T16 Aluminium brilliant upgrade imo

I'm not sure, thought mine sounded a bit metallic, wouldn't mind going back to it though to check.