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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

I've had some slightly better cartridges including the Grado wood bodied Statement which now retails for around $600, with a nude elliptical stylus, but, for the $200 asking price you cannot best the AT-VM95SH. Everyone comments about the bump in the mid-range and the lack of IGD, but, for me the real difference is in eliminating distortion. I've had $10k stereos and also listened to $100k stereos in detail, the real issue is simply eliminating distortion in the signal chain, especially in the phono cartridge and speaker areas as these are tranducers, and this is where the largest amounts of coloration exist. Look it up folks I've been studying this my entire life. This cartridge compared to any and all in this price range simply has less distortion in the critical midrange and upper midrange. This and this alone, is why you're hearing more detail in those critical areas, not because there is a West Coast bump in the frequency range like the old JBL speakers which were annoying BTW. Any HiFi guy worth his salt will agree with me. I bought a $300 Audio Technica belt drive table slapped this Shibata cart on it for $200 and made sure it was aligned, and now I have a great stereo again with LOW distortion. Prove me wrong with real measurements and I'll shut up.

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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

Bought this as an upgrade for my AT turntable and was highly impressed. Fantastic clarity, separation, and strong yet controlled bass. Tracks excellently @ 2g downforce. Was very easy to align with a basic protractor. A great value upgrade for a mid-range turntable.