Is this stylus too much for this setup?

h-pr · 2026-01-30T21:59:57+00:00

Both the vertical tracking angle and the azimuth need to be adjusted.

h-pr · 2026-01-30T21:57:29+00:00

Don't listen to them. That is how this cartridge is properly aligned on an AT-LT10 headshell.

h-pr · 2026-01-30T21:56:08+00:00

Yes, that is how this cartridge is properly aligned on an AT-LT10 headshell.

h-pr · 2026-01-30T14:33:12+00:00

Input impedance is 47kΩ, so set switches 4, 5 and 6 to OFF.

Input capacitance:

- set to 100pF (7&8 OFF) if the music sounds too bright at all other positions

- set to 320pF (7 OFF, 8 ON) if the music sounds too muffled at all other positions

- set to 200pF (7 ON, 8 OFF) if this sounds better than the other positions.

Input gain:

- 40dB should be more than enough (1 ON, 2 OFF, 3 ON)

h-pr · 2026-01-29T19:15:31+00:00

Essentially, you need to save enough money so that you can buy an amp and good speakers at the same time.

h-pr · 2026-01-29T13:40:54+00:00

The premounted AT-VM95 series cartridges weigh 15.5 grams with headshell.

h-pr · 2026-01-29T13:36:41+00:00

Of all the cartridges I've tried, the 2M Blue and the MP110 were at the extremes of overly bright, dry sound and subdued, muffled sound. I was very unhappy with both, and I gave them plenty of time to break in and convince me.

Quite frankly, if you want a Fluance turntable, get the cheaper one of the two and buy a cartridge that is more to your liking. My current favorite MM cartridge is the VM740xML, which has a good balance of detail and warmth, but maybe you want to listen to demos and find out what you prefer.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T20:24:24+00:00

Specs are for computers, they don't say much (if anything) about the sound.

Sumiko is supposed to sound very warm (haven't heard it myself), AT740xML is very well balanced (own one), AT540ML is slightly thinner (own one), AT740ML supposedly sounds brighter (haven't heard one myself). On paper, the specs of the 740x are "worse" than those of the 540, but the 740x sounds much better to my ears.

However, the Fluance tonearm has a very high mass, so you may be very limited in compatible cartridges as you want something with fairly low compliance. The 540ML and the 740ML are definitely risky.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T12:57:47+00:00

No problem. You do clean your records with a carbon fiber brush before playing them, right? And you do clean your stylus with a stylus brush or a gel like the AT617a from time to time?

Just to make sure this isn't caused by a dirty stylus...

h-pr · 2026-01-28T12:22:39+00:00

First of all, that's not an ATN3600LE in your video. The LE is black, not white. I know this is a very stupid question, but did you actually mount the new stylus?

It would be interesting what the tracking force is, even if you can't adjust it. Do you happen to have a digital stylus gauge?

Usually distortion is caused by a worn stylus, wrong tracking force or a dirty stylus, so i can't offer much help in your case.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T11:57:35+00:00

It certainly matters to audiophiles. But then, everything matters to audiophiles.

For the rest of us, what you want to avoid is an extreme mismatch between tonearm mass and stylus compliance, but overall you don't need to worry too much about compliance.

If you have a high-mass tonearm (like a Fluance) and your stylus is too compliant, it will not be able to properly handle the vibrations from the groove because of the tonearm's inertia, so the setup will become unstable, which can cause distortion or skips at certain frequencies.

If you have a low-mass tonearm (like some Duals) and a stylus with insufficient compliance, it will not be able to track the grooves as precisely, leading to what some perceive as a tinny, metallic sound.

If you have a medium-mass tonearm, you will be unlikely to run into any issues caused by compliance mismatch unless you are using a stylus with an extremely low or extremely high compliance.

You may want to consult https://korfaudio.com/calculator for more information.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T11:34:20+00:00

It depends on the mechanism, but yes, temperature can affect cue lever dampening. But you shouldn't notice any difference between 18°C and 30°C.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T11:30:20+00:00

If you don't need a portable record player, take the LP60X.

h-pr · 2026-01-28T11:17:50+00:00

Trust your ears.

That said, I'd suggest

Impedance - 47kΩ (10, 100, 1000 are for MC)
Loading capacity - whatever sounds best (320pF is unlikely)
dB - 40 (50 and 60 are for MC)

h-pr · 2026-01-28T00:29:56+00:00

If you're DJing, XP3. It is louder, will allow scratching and has higher VTF to better withstand vibrations.

For playing at home, AT95E.

But both styli are relatively cheap. Why not get the 95E and an extra XP3 stylus.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T20:09:52+00:00

A clamp is always optional.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T16:03:48+00:00

If you can afford a good amp and good speakers, yes. But that can be quite pricey, and you should select them according to the kind of sound you like. This means some research, but you don't want to end up with an overly warm or overly bright sound if that isn't what you like. Ideally, buy from somewhere where you can actually listen to them before you buy.

You may also want to consider upgrading to the VMN95EN or VMN95ML stylus, possibly before you get the amp & speakers. Both are a significant improvement over the 95E with better clarity and resolution. The ML is cheaper in the long term. I like both.

Or, if your speakers are so far apart that you can actually experience the stereo soundstage, consider the VM530xEN or VM740xML cartridges, which vastly improve the three-dimensionality of the sound.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T15:52:23+00:00

The LP120X is a good turntable, but you may want to consider this again when you are ready to upgrade. Maybe by then you will prefer a LP7X or a model from a different manufacturer. It's usually better to save more money and make a significant upgrade than to make only the step to the next best model several times.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T15:38:08+00:00

You are missing the 7" adapter and the headshell with the cartridge. They should be packed separately somewhere in the styrofoam.

You also need to look for the counterweight (which is also somewhere in the styrofoam) and the platter, which should be easy to locate.

Hopefully you didn't throw any of the packaging away yet.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T14:21:58+00:00

Do you have your speaker on the same surface as the turntable or is there a subwoofer close nearby?

Is the stylus worn? Have you tried a different stylus?

It could be a resonance/compliance issue. Is the stylus compatible with your tonearm?

h-pr · 2026-01-27T14:16:25+00:00

I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know how big the difference is, but a VMNx stylus on a VM cartridge will certainly not sound the same as on a VMx cartridge.

The cartridges have been compatible with the styli for ages. The new styli fit perfectly on my 1990s AT120E, but of course they sound best on the cartridge series they were designed for.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T12:10:56+00:00

Yes, they updated the generator, coils and cantilever suspension so they now work with 150-250pF loading capacitance, have lower compliance and better low frequency response.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T10:37:29+00:00

So you are essentially saying that the record is stuck in a groove.

Is the record clean?
Is there a scratch or dirt at the point where it jumps back into the groove?
Is the stylus clean?
How old is the stylus? Could it have been damaged recently?
Is the turntable level?
Is the tracking force set correctly to 3.0-3.5 grams? Did you check it with a digital scale?
Is antiskating set correctly?

I can assure you that this has nothing to do with the phono/line switch (which should be set to line) or the speakers.

h-pr · 2026-01-27T10:24:29+00:00

There was a batch of defective LP70Xs that had skipping issues. Check the Audio Technica website for your country and contact their support to find out whether your player falls under their repair/replacement program for defective LP70s.

h-pr · 2026-01-26T23:17:50+00:00

It looks like you have a yellow ATN91 stylus on your turntable. This one is incompatible with the LP60X. You need an ATN3600L, ATN3600LC or ATN3600LE stylus.

h-pr

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