Audio-Technica VMN95SH VM95 series Shibata replacement stylus Brown

Was unsure on buying this as an upgrade on the basic stylus. Seemed a lot of money and at seventy would I hear the difference? Well it was worth every penny, the sound is clearer and individual instruments now leap out rather than being muffled or in the background. Given my new and old vinyl a new and amazing lease of life, if in any doubt, go for it you won’t be disappointed!

This stylus is one I always wished for, but could never bring myself to pay a great deal for ever since reining in a mad mad spree by spending a full years salary on one system in the 70's. 68 years total buying hifi. What a waste of time! Wasted time searching for the Holy Grail, but not enjoying simply superb reproduction, from the highest to the lowest notes on any and all LP records. And not one note emphasised more than the next. Since I took the plunge, I have been REALLY appreciating every one of my record collection, some dating back to the early sixties, by hearing nuances never heard before, even with a total roster of 45 cartridges over those 68 years. The nearest cart I can remember giving me so much enjoyment was with a Koetsu Black moving coil back in the 70's - and that cost over £400 at that time. Advice? Buy yourself an AT Shibata now, and don't quibble about the cost and wait for your Audio Nirvana....

As described, good seller communication.Thoroughly impressed am I with this stylus. If it sounds this good from new (4 hours' use), how great would it be after the break in period? Never before have I heard my system sound so good.Well worth the price.Full marks! 10/10 Highly recommended stylus. Recommended seller too; Next day delivery. 10/10

This is an outstanding product. I was a little sceptical at first - I've been listening to LPs since I was a teenager. Thirty-plus years, and an assortment of good quality equipment, I had grown to accept that a little congestion and tracking distortion at the end of sides was just something that came with the territory with vinyl playback. And that some of my older records were just a little past their prime by now. This shibata stylus changes everything. Gone is the end-of-side muddiness; away with the annoying spittiness and sibilance on some recordings; the records I had thought worn have come alive again. It really is that good - easily, and by a country mile, the best upgrade I've ever made to my record playback. Ever. If you're on a budget, I'd go as far as to suggest pricing the record deck down slightly to make room for this on the end of the arm. Recommended without hesitation - AT have a superstar performer on their hands here.

I have for a very long time doubted what sort of audible improvement something like this would achieve.So after many years, I have given this 'upgrade' a go.Now I fully appreciate there are far more expensive options, but probably not viable on a ATLP1200X turntable.However, on my turntable this is amazing!I have been using the VMN95E, and its' predecessor on various turntables and always been more than happy with the results.I know it's a fairly expensive option, but it is 100% worth the money.

This really is the top of range sounds brilliant

I was very hesitant about spending this kind of money on a stylus, having previously invested in the Microlinear stylus with only very marginal differences in listening experience. BUT, this was a step change in my listening. Suddenly there was a near virtual lack of hiss and crackle, aligned with a purity of tone. It was equivalent if not better than to listening to a master copy of the vinyl through a streaming service. I would absolutely recommend this, though I have no idea yet how long it lasts ... it's a lot of money for a stylus!

What an Amazing transformation if sound!!!!Blew me over literally and showed up the newer vinyl pressings too!They don't press vinyl like they used to!This cartridge is a must must get hold of👍🏼Clear crystal sound for £150 it is worth every penny, just buy it!

I upgraded turntables a while back to a vintage Technics SL1200MKII. Got it for a good price in excellent condition but hated the "DJ" style cartridge it came with. I looked around but wasn't looking to drop anywhere from $300-$750 on the cartridges i wanted right after buying an all new table. So I decided to get crafty.My starter turntable had come with a VM95E cartridge that was approaching end of life and I was no longer using the table. So it occured to me to get a new stylus for that cart and install it on the Technics, and upgrade it at the same time. So I did my research and landed on the SH. So I ordered it, my first one got lost in mail, but Amazon replaced it.Two weeks in I have to say I truely enjoy the cartridge. I had to put the cart on a new headshell and do all my alignment but it plays flawlessly and since I collect primarily vintage vinyl, I was shocked to hear how little distortion/surface noise it picks up.I will say it is not as "transparent" if you will. But I have noticed no weak spots in bass, mids, or High's. I listen to a lot of Genres and it has shined with each. Jazz especially has just been a joy to hear. I struggle to stop listening because I just enjoy it so much.There is no doubt in my mind there are much better cartridge/styli combos out there but the nice thing is when I upgrade down the road this can go back on my old table to be put in my home office. So especially if you have the VM cart and need a stylus for it, the SH is great. I would love to get my hands on an ML as well to try its more "Analytical" style but for now I'm happy with this upgrade.

Excellent sound reproduction, some highs I’ve not previously heard off my records. Totally worth as I got it at a discount during a flash sale

Siamo nel campo della psicoacustica quindi mi permetto di riferire quanto mi dicono le orecchie senza tema che la mia opinione possa sembrare esagerata. Lo stilo Shibata in oggetto, montato su un corpo a AT-VM95C/H comprato in precedenza (un conico "buonino" per la sua classe di appartenenza ma nulla di speciale in senso assoluto) ha generato la miglior testina che abbia mai ascoltato. Neanche posseduto: ascoltato, insieme di poco più numeroso ma che annovera oggetti che costano cinque volte il mio intero sistema. Insomma si è divorata in un boccone i miei due riferimenti (che posseggo), ossia1) l'AT 440 ml su tutti i fronti (addirittura, in piccola parte, anche quello del tracciamento, problematica alla quale sono sensibilissimo, in particolare percepisco macroscopicamente e detesto l'IGD)2) la Denon 103 (quasi altrettanto ottima tracciatrice per avere uno stilo che dicono sia conico, a me pare piramidale al microscopio, - incastrato bello basso sul cantilever però - con una timbrica un po' più "di classe" della 440)Anche testine ipercostose, pur ascoltate in poche occasioni, mi hanno sempre convinto poco, soprattutto in termini di tracking sulle ultime tracce. Una volta invitato ad ascoltare uno di questi costosetti pick up portai con me il famigerato disco1812 Telarc e bum! Testina in orbita. Il terribile disco analogico iper-modulato l'ho dato in pasto anche all'Audiotechnica e... Bum! Cannoni quasi indistorti! Questo stilo (su motore di 30 euro... da non credere...) non solo fa diventare seta anche le tracce più strette e tortuose, ma propone il messaggio sonoro in modo talmente completo, composto, preciso, piacevole che io la smetto qui. Taglio Shibata per sempre, sarà la mia testina fin quando sarà disponibile sul mercato, speriamo "from here to eternity" ad un prezzo umano come fin'ora è stato. Audiotechnica, continua ad essere democratica nell'offrire un tale gioiello.

Jag har nu provat nålarna C, E, ML samt SH och tycker alla har sin egna karaktär. C-nålen har bäst basåtergivning och är snorbillig, men tappar detalj i övrigt. E-nålen är faktiskt min personliga favorit, trots att den också är billig, men har mycket IGD. ML- och SH-nålarna är båda fria från IGD vilket är deras största fördel. I övrigt låter ML-nålen ganska likt E (båda låter otroligt bra), medan SH-nålen är lite mer lik den koniska så tillvida att fokus ligger på bas och mellanregister, samtidigt som detaljen i de övre registren inte riktigt finns där.Jag kommer hålla mig till E-nålen eftersom jag tycker den låter bäst (utom på innerspåren), men objektivt tror jag ML-nålen egentligen är bäst. SH-nålen är lite mer nischad men också trevlig med sitt något varmare ljud.

Great sound comes at a cost but is well worth it