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Post by jimbo on Oct 4, 2020 8:33:22 GMT
So back at the beginning of the year I was loaned a couple of Audio Technica AT 95e cartridges that had been modified by Cagey over the stock AT 95e. Now I am am a big fan of this cartridge so I was inrigued to know what modifications and indeed what the SA version would sound like compared to a standard AT95e. It has teken me until now to try these cartridges as I needed my VPI tonearm with a top mount headshell in order to use them as this was not possible on the Lenco. A house move and too much renovation work has held me back from messing around with cartridges but I had an opportunity to listen to them both this weekend.
To set the scene the AT95e is a great all round cartridge which can sound sweet and is the ubiquitas beginers cartridge. It would be diffcult to beat this cartridge at the price and I have found its cousin the AT95ex which has a eliptical stylus to sound fantastic on my Lenco giving a very convincing vinyl playback that leaves nothing to be unsatisfied about. Its resolution and dynamic impact are great and it has a lively detailed upbeat sound. For £50 it must be the MM cartridge bargain of the century. I love it.
So I was delighted to have an offer from Kevin to try his modified AT95SA and a wooden bodied AT95e .
The first AT I tried was the wax/resin potted AT95SA in an aluminium body
Compared to the standard At95e this gave the sound a fuller more impactful detailed sound which is what I expected to be honest. I felt also there was a lot more high frequency information and detail and it made the standard AT95e sound a bit lightweight and unfocussed. This cartridge is a totally different beast to the AT95e and really elevated the sound to a much higher level of vinyl playback. The Shabita stylus was not as good as my 2M black FGS but it was probably knocking on the door of a standard 2M black. I really liked this modification and will be pursuing this myself when I get chance on a standard AT95e
Next up was a wooden bodied AT95e
I was not sure what to expect from this modification over a standard At95e. Lightweight maybe, edgy?? No it sounded more musical and involving. Sometimes the standard At95e can sound a bit thin tonally and this wooden bodied AT95 had more about it. Intruments were fleshier and had a more earthy sound. I also felt the detail was better but not sure if I imagined this? I enjoyed it very much and felt it was definitely an improvement over the standard At95e if only for the tonal texture.
I would like to here the SA in this body and the 95e in the aluminium body to see what differences could be achieved with this mix. I can see there is endless possibilities modifying the At95e and I would like to thank Kevin so much for letting me borrow them. Your modification work was done perfectly as far as I could see and hear!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 8:36:26 GMT
Jim,
I am glad you enjoyed them.
Swap the styli over before you post them back.
Then you can hear what each modification “does”.
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Post by rexton on Oct 4, 2020 8:52:07 GMT
Great review. This is the sort of tinkering I love, just experimentation and fun! I've been doing something similar with the Shure SC35C but I'm still waiting for a tonearm to be repaired before I can write any findings up. Well done Jim, another great write up.
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Post by jimbo on Oct 4, 2020 9:49:46 GMT
I am more than a little nervous swapping these Kevin but I may have a go!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 11:28:06 GMT
Try the green one first.  I have a spare. |
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Post by brian2957 on Oct 4, 2020 12:09:46 GMT
Excellent write up James . The AT95e is also a big favourite of mine . Kevin's mods seem to have had a very favourable effect on these relatively cheap offerings  |
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Post by jimbo on Oct 4, 2020 12:36:04 GMT
Excellent write up James . The AT95e is also a big favourite of mine . Kevin's mods seem to have had a very favourable effect on these relatively cheap offerings I am definitely going to have a tinker myself. To be honest I am not sure if the wood body has a more beneficial effect rather than the metal. I would like to get hold of a composite body aswell to compare. The real bake off test for me would be a whole series of bodies using exactly the same cartridge in each to determine which sounds best.
Now that is a project for my retirement!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 14:12:38 GMT
The metal one came about as I was interested in a DL103 project.
I bought a modified DL103 instead, so I had a spare body for the 103.
I figured that if you can mod a 103, and Clear Audio sell modified 95s footprint big bucks, then why not?
The 95 is glued into the metal body with super glue.
I then wanted to damp down any vibrations, and the easiest thing I could think of was the pure carnuba wax I had lying around. I heated a bit up, and poured it in.
That meant that Imhad to cut the styli down to fit, but I think it was worth it.
The metal bodied one certainly has more impact, but loses out a bit on tone.
If you want to try the 95ex Jim, you should be able to slide the one in their out. It is not glued in...
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Post by jimbo on Oct 4, 2020 14:36:32 GMT
The metal one came about as I was interested in a DL103 project. I bought a modified DL103 instead, so I had a spare body for the 103. I figured that if you can mod a 103, and Clear Audio sell modified 95s footprint big bucks, then why not? The 95 is glued into the metal body with super glue. I then wanted to damp down any vibrations, and the easiest thing I could think of was the pure carnuba wax I had lying around. I heated a bit up, and poured it in. That meant that Imhad to cut the styli down to fit, but I think it was worth it. The metal bodied one certainly has more impact, but loses out a bit on tone. If you want to try the 95ex Jim, you should be able to slide the one in their out. It is not glued in... Ok will give it a go tonight. Cheers |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 14:43:35 GMT
Or just swap the stylus. The wooden body is shaped to take it.
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