What are you listening to right now ?

[d6jg]

Starting tonight with some Hawkwind on Qobuz and testing the “copy details” from Material

♪ Playing D-Rider (1996 Remaster) by Hawkwind from Hall of the Mountain Grill (1974) (Qobuz • 594kbps 44.1kHz FLC)
https://open.qobuz.com/track/4615891

[lrossouw]

Clearly not a purist but a very nice cover.

[d6jg]

Needledrop - record to Flac. I discovered my original needledrop was done so long ago that it was only mp3!

[w3wilkes]

Needledrop - record to Flac. I discovered my original needledrop was done so long ago that it was only mp3!

At what bitrate is your MP3? If high like VBR -V0 -q0 or CBR 320 you should rerip to FLAC and then do a double blind comparison per Archimago comparison blog posts, especially from a vinyl needle drop rip.

[d6jg]

At what bitrate is your MP3? If high like VBR -V0 -q0 or CBR 320 you should rerip to FLAC and then do a double blind comparison per Archimago comparison blog posts, especially from a vinyl needle drop rip.

Mp3 was 320 VBR but I re ripped to FLAC. I can tell the difference particularly as the original turntable & cart and software I used back in the early days have all been upgraded.

Upgrading from 2M Red to 2M Blue is markedly noticeable but the original cart was only an AT95E I think.

[slartibartfast]

Mp3 was 320 VBR but I re ripped to FLAC. I can tell the difference particularly as the original turntable & cart and software I used back in the early days have all been upgraded.

Upgrading from 2M Red to 2M Blue is markedly noticeable but the original cart was only an AT95E I think.

I only have an AT95E in my Rega. I quite often consider changing the stylus for a VM95ML. Maybe this year.

[d6jg]

I only have an AT95E in my Rega. I quite often consider changing the stylus for a VM95ML. Maybe this year.

I don’t consider myself to be an audiofool - I just have a bit better than basic cables - and I don’t think I have golden ears but I was really surprised at the difference between 2M Red which is only on par or slightly better than AT95E and the 2M Blue. The Blue is far more precise. I’d like to try the VM95ML also and they sell it in a pre mounted headshell - one of the reasons I didn’t go Rega when I bought a new turntable a few years ago. It’s a now discontinued Onkyo CP 1050 with S shaped arm which costs vastly more secondhand than I paid for it new. 2-3 times more.

[slartibartfast]

I don’t consider myself to be an audiofool - I just have a bit better than basic cables - and I don’t think I have golden ears but I was really surprised at the difference between 2M Red which is only on par or slightly better than AT95E and the 2M Blue. The Blue is far more precise. I’d like to try the VM95ML also and they sell it in a pre mounted headshell - one of the reasons I didn’t go Rega when I bought a new turntable a few years ago. It’s a now discontinued Onkyo CP 1050 with S shaped arm which costs vastly more secondhand than I paid for it new. 2-3 times more.

The VM95ML is a plug in replacement for AT95E stylus so that saves a bit of cash. Since I only use the turntable to digitise vinyl I find it hard to justify buying a new stylus. Having said that it is less than last month's gas bill 🤣

[d6jg]

Another FLAC redo. Original needledrop was MP3.

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Brian Eno & David Byrne (1989)

[d6jg]

The VM95ML is a plug in replacement for AT95E stylus so that saves a bit of cash. Since I only use the turntable to digitise vinyl I find it hard to justify buying a new stylus. Having said that it is less than last month's gas bill 🤣

I thought it was a complete cartridge but I suppose it can be. I’m about 95% done on my needledrop project not counting mp3s that need redoing. That said I’m buying Vinyl again and yes I’m getting earache from SWMBO!

[slartibartfast]

I thought it was a complete cartridge but I suppose it can be. I’m about 95% done on my needledrop project not counting mp3s that need redoing. That said I’m buying Vinyl again and yes I’m getting earache from SWMBO!

My AT95E stylus is in a Linn K9 body and apparently the VM95 series is a better looking match.

[d6jg]

My AT95E stylus is in a Linn K9 body and apparently the VM95 series is a better looking match.

this one?

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at-vm95ml-h

[w3wilkes]

Back in the late 80's after trying a few carts I finally settled on Ortofon and have never looked back.

[d6jg]

Back in the late 80's after trying a few carts I finally settled on Ortofon and have never looked back.

I have still got a VMS20E from early 80s on my original turntable. Unfortunately original styli are no longer available but a slightly lower grade Ortofon one will fit.

[slartibartfast]

this one?

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at-vm95ml-h

I didn't know they sold one with a headshell but they also sell the cartridge and the stylus separately. Since Audio Technica made the K9 for Linn it all fits together quite nicely.