The EMI regulationss is one point that most modern amps / receivers have such high capacity in the phono section. My SH arrived earlier this week and I'll hopefully get some time to listen to it properly this weekend. My subjective sense of the ML matches yours, and I'm very much hoping to find the same changes with the SH. I'll be changing only the stylus so it should be "fair" in that sense, although I can't promise level-matching to the nth degree. Is this brightness (I wouldn't call it shrill but it's VERY crisp) due to my other equipment (detailed below)? I really have to crank up my volume on that LP to get any sort of decent headroom, maybe the ML will open things up for stuff like that.

Ortofon 2M Blue Versus Audio Technica AT-VM95ML Ortofon 2M Blue Versus Audio Technica AT-VM95ML

Characteristics shared between all styli are a warm, full-bodied sound that is also quite punchy. There’s a lot of drive here, though the VM95 is not voiced such that standout bumps in frequency make it an unpleasant listen. Rather it has a bit of ‘oomf’ to use a technical term that makes it, if anything, great fun above all else. 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. VM95C I have a similar turntable and phono pre as OP. However, everything else about my system (amp, speakers, etc.) is very different. I don't have OP's ears, room acoustics, or their record collection. No "thin" or "sterile" here either. Being new to terms of capacitance (and having much more to learn), can anyone shed light on why Yamaha would spec their phono stage at 470pF? And I've no doubt I'm missing a lot, but if capacitance is of such importance why aren't those specs easier to find? Maybe better suited for another thread. I measured each stylus in turn using the same body. I first wanted to identify the cause of the slightly higher output voltage of the conical and elliptical verses the other three profiles. AT quote a difference of 0.5MV. My tests showed The VM95C and VM95E output around 3.8MV, while the other still in the range were indeed on or slightly lower than the 3.5MV mark. It is my theory that the small variances in compliance and tip mass are responsible for this, and in reality such a minor difference isn’t going to be of any consequence as the difference is minor, and the output voltage is well within the margin for most if not all moving magnet preamplifiers.

I will listen to these both without A/Bing soon, so I can get an overall sense of the performances rendered by each. Ones choice may be decided by your speakers or cans being brighter or more mellow. I could live with either. Now you are at the point of which one mates better with this particular phono stage. I did some rudimentary measurements today using a cheapo RCA to 1/8'' cable from the rec outs of my integrated amp. Feel free to take this with a grain of salt. Why I tell you that... Because that your result looks to me more then good flat from start to finish and I suspect that this sound card something affect on this result. Your result is almost impossible to see on many setups. I've analysed the files in Logic Pro, File 1 has 2.3db more output (Ortofon Blue), that needs to be compensated before listening.

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

I would love to hear some of these multi thousand pound TT set ups to hear what a really top notch set up sounds like. Strength- Wholesome delivery, tons of heart, presents mid-bass (toms, bass guitar, male vocals) with authoritative swagger and punch, excellent harmonics, lush emotion, rich tonal beauty. AT themselves never marketed any upgraded styli for the AT95 leaving other companies to take on the task including LP Gear, Jico and The Audio Files, who’s 95P Paratrace is considered by many the best of the bunch. The VM95 Range That was nice to read! Did you notice any high-midrange emphasis on Shibata? Like a bit more forward presentation of vocals and cymbal hits (sans the decay). Seems to me it is part of the tonal balance that this profile gives to the sound (of course based on the samples, YouTube comparisons and frequency graphs I found).Likely you have a loading problem with the VM95ML. What is the phono preamp capacitance spec on the Yamaha? Without being facetious, why not just invest in better records? If your source is garbage, no amount of upgrading will improve the sound, especially if audible issues are caused by physical defects.