I've now put a few hundred hours on the stock VM95C stylus it came with and am needing to replace, and I'm simultaneously looking for an upgrade.
I've heard an elliptical stylus is already a huge improvement over conical, but the short lifespan is off putting to me.
Which has pushed me to looking at microlinear or Shibata styli, but I've read that they can be temperamental based on tracking force and anti-skate, which is not adjustable on the AT-LP70X, although it is advertised as being compatible with the entire VM95 stylus lineup.
Basically my questions boil down to:
Are mincrolinear or Shibata styli a significant upgrade over elliptical?
What is the sonic difference between microlinear and Shibata?
Can a microlinear or Shibata stylus work well with a pre-calibrated turntable?
Is elliptical enough of an upgrade over conical to justify the added cost and shorter life?