The default stock cartridge of the current market (AT-LP120X, Fluance RT81+, U-Turn, Thorens TD 102/402, TEAC, Cambridge Alva ST). Bonded elliptical; AT cites roughly 300 h for bonded elliptical tips (guidance range 300–500 h). Stylus $39–52 street (AT list $52). Drop-in upgrades to EN/ML/SH on the same body.
Audio-Technica cites approximately 300 hours of stylus life. Actual service life varies with tracking force, record condition, cleaning and use.
| Type | MM |
|---|---|
| Mount | half-inch |
| Stylus shape | elliptical |
| Output | 4 mV |
| Tracking force | 1.8–2.2 g |
| Cartridge reference price | $69 |
| Cited stylus life | ~300 hours |
Replacement part number
AT-VMN95EAT-VMN95E replacement stylus
Dated reference price: $49.00 checked July 17, 2026
Normalized from the exact replacement product identity in the cartridge research dataset.
Same drop-in mount within Audio-Technica's own cartridge family — a tier structure the manufacturer defines, not a claim about how each one sounds.
This model is the upgrade step from:
Next step up in the family: