Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge with Microlinear Nude Stylus,red

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Maybe once there are a few hundred hours on the SH it'll show it's tracking weakness and noise pickup in comparison to the ML. And that's why I hate having functions I don't need in a component more than not having the ones I do need. I’m glad yours has improved given some time to break in, but you may want to re-check your alignment, tracking force and bias to get the best from it and any future stylus upgrade.

AT-VM95ML Vs. Ortofon 2M Blue File Identities Audio Technica AT-VM95ML Vs. Ortofon 2M Blue File Identities

One of them I could not do because I don't have a multimeter, and many multimeters don't seem to be that accurate. First I should say that an arc isn’t necessarily ‘best’, it’s just another way of achieving an alignment. Planning to get an ML stylus at some point as its a bit cheaper and it might be nice for extracting a bit more drive out of records that are somewhat constricted in dynamic range and sound compressed by default. The measurements didn’t change significantly when testing with a body supplied with the cheaper VM95E.Technics SL-Q2 turntable which is 41 years old now and I am often amazed how old records sound great with the ML. Repeating that same success will be no mean feat, and to attempt such is certainly a bold move on Audio-Technica’s part.

Praise for the AT-VM95ML | Steve Hoffman Music Forums Praise for the AT-VM95ML | Steve Hoffman Music Forums

Here is a quick rundown of the tracking tests from the Ortofon Test LP on the VM95ML, not a deep analysis. I also knew that both tracks have some inherit sibilance in the recording (Michael Stipe has quite a lot of sibilance in his vocals throughout R.I know there is a lot of love for the 2M Blue and I have to admit I've only ever heard it on Pro-jects and a SL-1210 MKII so perhaps not at it's best and as I have heard the Bronze on higher end decks and rate it highly I'm willing to accept the Blue may be better than I think, but that doesn't detract from the superb performance of the AT95ML. After raising the level of File 2 even by the minor +3 db it becomes a bit more nuanced in comparison. I would certainly be interested to see whether the VM95SH could exceed its rated response sufficiently to track the 45kHz encoded tone of a CD4 disc. It sounds much like the predecessor, though with more evenhandedness and control than the AT95, which tends to sound dry and a bit dull in comparison.

AVForums AT-VM95L/H v Ortofon 2M Blue | AVForums

Since the bodies are different (though should be close) and the headshells and wires are different, along with the other minor differences you mentioned, you should try swapping the two stylus assemblies and see if the results stay the same. On a side note, Shibata is an older shape (and actually fatter than Microline by specs), so no doubt to me that you noticed extended treble on ML.Overall, I prefered the sound of File 2 - I thought I was hearing more subtlety of detail, and better defined notes. Now, I know that inner groove distortion is inherit in the vinyl medium; however, it is true that the right stylus for your system can make this defect inaudible.

VM95ML upgrade woes | Steve Hoffman Music Forums VM95ML upgrade woes | Steve Hoffman Music Forums

While the sound from the SH may not be as detailed, or crisp like crystal as the ML, it is extremely pleasing to my ears in this house. Stereo imaging is greatly improved as is the texture of instruments and their placement within the stereo field. Such a change in offset and / or overhang can upset the lateral balance of the arm and give you worse tracking performance. My subjective sense of the ML matches yours, and I'm very much hoping to find the same changes with the SH.to the point where records that were once littered with noise (notably new records that clearly lacked quality control in their pressing/production) are now very pleasant to listen to.