Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge with Elliptical Bonded Stylus,Green

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In reference to a Micro Ridge stylus, SoundSmith adds that this is not to say that at 500 hours a SAS stylus is “worn out” but has reached the point where distortion at 15kHz surpasses the level specified by JICO for a new stylus, i.e., 3%." https://thevinylpress.com/the-finish-line-for-your-phonograph-stylus/ My conclusion, for the moment, is that I'm using a 20 year old K18 generator with a latest spec AT95e stylus. It's a real shame Linn parted company with AT. Anyone else tried any similar experiments? The VM95 Series suspension design and compliances of VM95 Series have been designed for optimum audiophile reproduction.

http://www.turntableneedles.com/Audio-Technica-ATN95E-ATN3400-Type-JICO-Shibata-Stylus--our-Needle-710-DSH_p_3721.html

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Quoted from a post in Linn Forum ( https://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread.php?tid=31475) which is no longer running.

Around 500 hours for a conical stylus, 300 hours for an Elliptical stylus, 1000 hours for a Microlinear stylus, and 800 hours for a Shibata stylus. We are pleased to present the results of what we believe to be the first thorough listening test and review of the VM95 range outside of ATs own facilities. On a warmish evening in mid October our own Gary Hargreaves of Improved Performance Turntables Ltd, Colin Yallop of Chevron Audio and Mark Wheeler (Reviewer for TNT Audio) sat down and played some music using the VM95 Range. Gary’s review follows: A downgrade would be possible, too, but then the real question now would be: Why would you want to do that? The VM-95 body is an example of Audio-Technica’s dual-magnet design and in the 95E is partnered with a bonded elliptical stylus that is mounted on an aluminium pipe-style cantilever. This borrows from the special EX version of the AT-95 that comes fitted as standard to the company’s LP5 turntable (HFC 405). The body has been designed to reduce resonance and feels a whole lot more substantial than the original AT-95E.The couth and unflappable nature of its presentation is instantly recognizable from the blueprint set out by the 39 year old progenitor. We’re here to report that the (green) King might be dead, but long live the new (green) King. It’s understandable, though, because several factors affect this, including the model and condition of the equipment. On top of that, the output is subject to the ears it falls on. I measured each stylus in turn using the same body. I first wanted to identify the cause of the slightly higher output voltage of the conical and elliptical verses the other three profiles. AT quote a difference of 0.5MV. My tests showed The VM95C and VM95E output around 3.8MV, while the other still in the range were indeed on or slightly lower than the 3.5MV mark. It is my theory that the small variances in compliance and tip mass are responsible for this, and in reality such a minor difference isn’t going to be of any consequence as the difference is minor, and the output voltage is well within the margin for most if not all moving magnet preamplifiers. If you want a brighter sound than the 95EN, then the 540, 740, 750, and 760 will deliver that. You could also just turn up the treble control if you have one. Another striking quality that makes it stand out is the way it delivers female vocals. It’s generally better than the Ortofon 2M Red, which has a sibilance issue.

Elliptical diamond stylus follows the groove modulation with greater precision compared to a conical stylus, offering improved frequency and phase responses whilst reducing distortion. Preassembled With AT-HS6BK HeadshellThe stylus is a shaped piece of industrial diamond that is affixed to the end of the cantilever. The shape is the point of differentiation. At the simplest level, it is a cone shaped tip that moves through the groove of the record responding to the information that is contained therein. By increasing the length of the tip and decreasing the width, it is possible to make the stylus sit deeper in the groove of the record and extract more information - the conical tip becomes an elliptical one. https://www.thakker.eu/en/needles/atn-95-e-stylus-for-audio-technica-at-95-e-generic-stylus/a-5369/ The AT1xx and xV styli can fit on the 95 generator with modification, the side wings needs to be clipped. https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?action=search2&advanced=1&search=vm95&searchtype=1&userspec= Surely they’ll never do it? But by golly, after an extended late night listening session in a secret Derbyshire ‘test laboratory’, with men of a certain age stroking audiophile beards and using highly contrived and specialist language to illustrate sonic intangibles, like some kind of mutated Vinyl version of those impenetrable Wine Bores, we strove to explain and justify the impossible, how does one stylus profile sound any different to any other?