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Audio-Technica Stylus Upgrade Guide: VM95 Conical vs Elliptical vs Microline vs Shibata
Audio-Technica did not start with turntables. It started in Tokyo in 1962 with phono cartridges, the AT-1 and AT-3, and developed its own VM cartridge design in 1967. That heritage is why its modern turntables are so easy to upgrade: on most models, a better stylus simply slides onto the cartridge, with no tools or realignment. A new stylus is the cheapest big improvement you can make to a record player. Here is what fits, what each one does, and Audio-Technica's US list prices (October 2026).
Which styli fit your turntable
| Turntable | Cartridge | Stylus options |
|---|---|---|
| AT-LP60X, LP60XBT, Sound Burger | Integral (built into the arm) | ATN3600L, or ATN3600LE elliptical |
| AT-LP70X, LP70XBT, LP3XBT | AT-VM95C | Any VMN95 stylus |
| AT-LP120XUSB, LP5X | AT-VM95E | Any VMN95 stylus |
| AT-LP8X | AT-VM95E (black) | Any VMN95 stylus |
The VM95 ladder: from $32 to $199
| Stylus | Tip shape | What changes | US price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT-VMN95C | Conical | The included tip on the LP70X and LP3XBT; forgiving and affordable | $32 |
| AT-VMN95E | Elliptical | Reads more groove detail; the LP120XUSB's stock tip | $52 |
| AT-VMN95ML | Microline | Traces the groove much like the cutting stylus; more detail, longer life | $159 |
| AT-VMN95SH | Shibata | A fine line-contact tip with a Japanese name; great detail on high frequencies | $199 |
The finer the tip, the more precisely it follows the groove's tiny wiggles, which usually means clearer highs and less distortion toward the center of the record. Fine tips also wear more slowly, which offsets part of their price. The Shibata shape takes its name from its Japanese inventor, Norio Shibata, who designed it in the 1970s for four-channel records.
Our upgrade picks
From the LP70X or LP3XBT: go straight to the microline AT-VMN95ML. It is the biggest jump in detail for the money, and you keep your conical stylus as a spare for worn or dusty records.
Prices and stock on Amazon change often. Look for listings shipped and sold by Amazon.com or Audio-Technica, and avoid unbranded copies.
For the best your VM95 can do: the Shibata AT-VMN95SH is the top of the line.
From the LP60X: its cartridge cannot be changed, but the ATN3600LE elliptical stylus ($46) is a direct upgrade over the stock conical ATN3600L.
Why vinyl people in Japan care about styli
Japan's analog record production reached 3.15 million discs in 2024, worth 7.9 billion yen, its highest value since 1989, according to the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Audio-Technica has long built cartridges in Japan: its production subsidiary Technica Fukui started in 1973 in Fukui Prefecture, originally focused on cartridges, according to Japanese audio trade press. When you buy a VM95 stylus, you are buying into the part of the business Audio-Technica has refined the longest.
Choosing a turntable? See which Audio-Technica turntable to buy and LP60X vs LP70X vs LP120X.