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AT-95ML on a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon

I just upgraded my stereo system and it’s revealed how lacking my turntable is, so I’ve ordered a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (without a cartridge) for a couple hundred bucks, without a cartridge. I plan on throwing the AT-95ML from my current turntable onto the Pro-Ject.

I know a VM540ML would be a "better" fit due to it being higher compliance, but the 95ML is what I already have.

 

My thinking is that some weights behind the cartridge should overcome the compliance issue and give me a solid (for the money) turntable setup.

 

Is there anything I’m overlooking? I ran the compliance calculator and it seems around 6g of additional weight (not including the screws/mounting hardware) should be enough to overcome the compliance issues.

 

Setup will be a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with a VM95ML -> Fosi Audio X2 phono preamp with some GE 5654W’s -> Tubes4Hifi SP12 PreAmp -> VTA ST-120 with Sovtek 5660WE’s -> B&W 702s2’s and a KEF R400b subwoofer.

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Showing 2 responses by mephiloco

mephiloco's avatar
mephiloco OP
2 posts
 

The effective mass of the arm is 6g, the cartridge is 6.1g.

Everything I've come across has basically said the VM95ML might be a bad match for the Debut Carbon, but since it's what I already have was wondering if there was some kind of stop gap measure to make it usable for the time being, until I decide to just get a different TT or a new cartridge.

 

I'm also wondering how overstated the mismatch is. I'm going from a Teac TN-400S (which hums and is a very entry level turntable anyways) so while the VM95ML might not be the 'best' for the TT, it should be noticeably better than my current setup.

 

I know you're not supposed to add weight to fix compliance issues, but I was wondering if there was some kind of short term cheat to improve things to maybe give me the nudge I need to fully commit to a good TT setup.

mephiloco's avatar
mephiloco OP
2 posts
 

That's the data from Pro-Ject directly.  Effective arm mass: 6.0g

That's not including the weight of a cartridge or the mounting hardware (the Debut Carbon has no headshell, the cart mount directly to the arm). Everything said and done it'll probably be around 13-14g.

 

I think you've given me the answer I was looking for. I've been getting the feeling that this is a really nitpicky thing that I likely won't notice and even if it is noticeable it will likely be eclipsed by the gains from going to a quieter, overall better table anyways.

 

I think I should stop over thinking it and just throw the VM95ML and, barring absolutely terrible performance, just call it a day.

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