Shure V15XMR.

[crackorama]

Just wondering if anyone has used or is using a Shure V15XMR . I snapped mine about five years ago and have recently seen a replacement stylus available from
Jico in Japan, i have fond memories of mine but wonder if it still holds up against things like the Ortofon 2Ms for instance. The cost of a replacement stylus from Jico
is about £170 and as Shure no longer make them i was thinking of giving it a go?
Niel.

[The Barbarian]

I use Ed Saunders Styli on my 'V15/III'..They also do one for the 'xMR'.. I was originally humming & harring over to use the Jico or Ed Saunders, but went with the saunders after reading the below.. Yours is less than £40 believe it or not..

http://www.edsaunders.com/shurereview.htm

[Reffc]

I bought a NOS stylus for the V15 Vxmr (micro-ridge) a few years back and also bought a Saunders at the same time (£28 at the time). The NOS stylus was miles better (tracking, FR and tonal balance) but vfm, the Saunders is hard to fault. I personally found it to be a little bright and thin sounding. Performance-wise the Jico SAS stylus is meant to be significantly better but I haven't tried one so can't comment from experience. The Jico SAS is now 4 times the cost of the Saunders though. My personal opinion after hearing most of the current crop of Ortofons is that the Black is hard to beat, and the Blue comes surprisingly close. Even the Red I've managed to get to track Band 4 of the HFN test LP without much fuss and for the money there's none really to better it that I've heard for the money. Depends on the arm you want to use it in, but if a modern medium mass arm, you might be better investing in the Ortofon for outright performance and tonal balance, or if vfm is the only goal, the Ed Saunders will be the cheapest route.

[crackorama]

Many thanks for the help , I am sat listening to a Ortofon Blue on a Lenco i am working on for Floyddroid of this parish, and have to say it is very
good (i.m.o.). I have looked longingly at the 2m Black for a long time but have yet to hear one, and in some ways i have been putting of making the
jump for a good while, interested to know how it compares against the Shure and indeed against something like a Denon 110 i have just purchased for
one of my T.T.s.
Niel.

[RobbieGong]

I bought a NOS stylus for the V15 Vxmr (micro-ridge) a few years back and also bought a Saunders at the same time (£28 at the time). The NOS stylus was miles better (tracking, FR and tonal balance) but vfm, the Saunders is hard to fault. I personally found it to be a little bright and thin sounding. Performance-wise the Jico SAS stylus is meant to be significantly better but I haven't tried one so can't comment from experience. The Jico SAS is now 4 times the cost of the Saunders though. My personal opinion after hearing most of the current crop of Ortofons is that the Black is hard to beat, and the Blue comes surprisingly close. Even the Red I've managed to get to track Band 4 of the HFN test LP without much fuss and for the money there's none really to better it that I've heard for the money. Depends on the arm you want to use it in, but if a modern medium mass arm, you might be better investing in the Ortofon for outright performance and tonal balance, or if vfm is the only goal, the Ed Saunders will be the cheapest route.
Totally agree Paul, The Black is a bit special IME

[Reffc]

Many thanks for the help , I am sat listening to a Ortofon Blue on a Lenco i am working on for Floyddroid of this parish, and have to say it is very
good (i.m.o.). I have looked longingly at the 2m Black for a long time but have yet to hear one, and in some ways i have been putting of making the
jump for a good while, interested to know how it compares against the Shure and indeed against something like a Denon 110 i have just purchased for
one of my T.T.s.
Niel.

The 2M black will better the 110 by a considerable margin Neil. So will the Blue imho.