Authorized dealers for Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
Accesory Jack — online and in-store — New Territories, Hong Kong (website)
Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)

and 271 more verified dealers

Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

Name: Audio-Technica AT-VM95E
Brand: Audio-Technica
SKU: atvm95e
Price: 74.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 90 (9 reviews)

View at Audio-Technica

Specifications 8 reviews & sources

90/100

Nicely Roasted

Sound Quality

89/100

Build Quality

88/100

Features Usability

89/100

Value for Money

94/100

Open mids, tidy bass and a lively, refined top end make the AT-VM95E a standout budget moving-magnet. Hi-Fi Choice and StereoNET United Kingdom both praise its clearer detail, easy setup and upgrade-friendly design, while its engaging, well-controlled presentation keeps busy records sounding musical rather than congested.

Pros

Cleaner, more refined sound than the older AT-95E, with open mids, detailed treble and a lively presentation.

Handles busy and hot-cut records well without sounding congested or losing musical flow.

Easy to fit and live with thanks to threaded inserts, a simple stylus swap and upgradeable stylus options.

Strong value, delivering performance that reviewers say goes beyond its budget price.

Cons

Bass is agile but gives up some weight and physical impact.

Can show slight inner-groove sibilance on some pressings.

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What Reviewers Are Saying

"This new cartridge is more subtle, nuanced and intricate than its predecessor, unlocking a good deal more detail from the recording…"

— StereoNET United Kingdom

"Judged purely as a replacement for one of the best-selling cartridges of all time, the AT-VM95E is a significant step forward."

— HiFi Choice

SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100

Reviewers consistently describe a lively, open, and refined presentation with a clean midband, taut bass, and detailed treble. The cartridge is praised for keeping difficult records organized and musical, with good pace and a sense of dimensionality that outclasses its price tag.

Overall Sound

90/100

StereoNET calls it "open and clean" through the midband with "tight and taut bass" and "detailed and finely etched treble," while Hi-Fi Choice hears more refinement than the older AT-95E and says it is still bright-leaning but convincing. Both reviews point to a lively, engaging cartridge that sounds more nuanced and less vague than its predecessor.

Tracking Retrieval

89/100

Tracking is described as very competent on hot and busy pressings, with Hi-Fi Choice noting that difficult records are handled without congestion or losing the live feel. StereoNET says it unlocks "a good deal more detail" and removes the vagueness of the older model, though one review does mention occasional inner-groove sibilance and the elliptical stylus keeps it from sounding like a top-tier tracing monster.

Soundstage Imaging

88/100

StereoNET says soundstaging is "satisfyingly wide" and that mix elements hang back better than expected at this price, with a vocal image that is strongly centered and textured. The presentation sounds nicely spacious and stable, though the reviews stop short of describing a truly expansive or holographic stage.

FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 89/100

This is a straightforward half-inch mount design with easy installation and a replaceable stylus, so it should suit a wide range of everyday tonearms and setups. The moderate compliance and practical fit-friendly details make it a low-fuss choice, though the reviews do not suggest it is aimed at especially demanding or exotic arm matching.

Tonearm Compatibility

89/100

The standard half-inch mounting, threaded inserts, and replaceable stylus make it easy to install and convenient to live with. Nothing in the reviews suggests unusually difficult setup or narrow system matching, beyond the usual care needed to avoid a bit of inner-groove sibilance on some records.

Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.

Build Quality

88/100

Reviewers like the more substantial body, reduced resonance design, and the threaded inserts that make mounting much easier. Hi-Fi Choice also praises the simple stylus swap and more logical guard, giving this cartridge a clearly more polished and user-friendly feel than the older AT-95E.

Value for Money

94/100

Both reviews strongly frame it as a bargain in its class, calling it a "great performance at the price" and an "impressive proposition." It is presented as a meaningful step up from the long-running AT-95E and as a cartridge that competes very well with more expensive alternatives.

Reviews & Sources

Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.

Online Reviews & Mentions

Audio Technica introduces entry-level VM95 range of cartridges

Audio-Technica AT-VM95E im Test: MM-Tonabnehmer für alle Gelegenheiten

Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

3/26/2019

Audio-technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge Review

5/26/2020

Monoprice Monolith Turntable: Review

9/6/2022

TEAC TN-3B-SE Turntable with Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Cartridge

7/15/2025

Is the VM95e the best budget cartridge ever made?

YouTube Reviews

Thumbnail of the video review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L01DPF9fAWM

Audiophiliac

AUDIOPHILE holiday gifts and assorted treats!

12/13/2021

Forum Mentions

No forum mentions found yet

Specifications

Cartridge & Stylus: 20-22,000 Hz
Frequency Response: 20 (dB at 1 kHz)
Channel Separation: 23°
Vertical Tracking Angle: 1.8-2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
Vertical Tracking Force: Bonded round shank
Stylus Construction: 47,000 ohms
Recommended Load Impedance: 3.3 k ohms (1 kHz)
Coil Impedance: 485 ohms
DC Resistance: 550 mH (1 kHz)
Coil Inductance: 4.0 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec.)
Output Voltage: 2.0 dB (1 kHz)
Output Channel Balance: 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical
Stylus Shape: Aluminum pipe
Cantilever: 17 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne
Static Compliance: 7 x 10 – 6 cm / dyne (100 Hz)
Dynamic Compliance: Half-inch
Mounting: 6.1g
Cartridge Weight: 17.2 mm (0.68") H × 18.9 mm (0.74") W × 28.3 mm (1.20") D
Dimensions: Two 11 mm installation screws, two 8 mm installation screws, two washers
Accessories Included: AT-VM95E
Model: Half-inch mount
Mounting Feature: 100 to 200 pF
Recommended Load Capacitance: AT-VMN95E
Replacement Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil
Stylus Size: VM Stereo Dual Magnet
Type: 6.1 g (0.22 oz)
Weight: T.P. Copper

Manufacturer's Description — Audio-Technica

AT-VM95E

This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge’s special coil design delivers a powerful output level of 4.0 mV. It also offers excellent channel separation and low distortion for outstanding tonal quality. The durable, low-resonance housing includes threaded inserts that enable the cartridge to be mounted to the headshell with just two screws – no nuts required. And since all VM95 Series share the same body, the stylus can be replaced with any of the six interchangeable AT-VMN95 replacement styli.

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Authorized dealers for Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
Accesory Jack — online and in-store — New Territories, Hong Kong (website)
Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)

and 271 more verified dealers

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Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

Reviews & Sources

Online Reviews & Mentions

YouTube Reviews

Forum Mentions

Specifications

Manufacturer's Description — Audio-Technica

AT-VM95E

Authorized dealers for Audio-Technica AT-VM95E

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