Wakefield Turntables
21-12-2016, 19:46
Yep this is another review of the old Shure M55E but this is a M55E which differs from the others which have reviewed. We have had reviews of NOS original Shure stylus replacements for the M55E and lots of comments with regards the JICO neoSAS M55E replacement stylus. No M55E has been rebodied in Snakewood or reviewed with the cheaper Elliptical stylus. Here goes.
The Shure M55E + JICO Elliptical Stylus + Snakewood Body Review
Variables
---------
Shure M55E - £20 Brown bodied version
Stylus - £41 JICO Elliptical stylus - N55E[e007413]
Body - £40 Snakewood
Tracking 1.7g
Bias NIL!
Mounting Bolts 3mm (Slightly chunkier than normal).
Turntable Lenco GL75
Voltage 215V
Hz 50
Tonearm alignment carefully checked.
Tonearm RCA's and Earth spade carefully cleaned.
Shure M55E pins carefully cleaned.
Cartridge tracking parallel to vinyl surface at 2mm clearence.
My Solid State system was used for testing this cartridge. Please see my signature.
ANDREW'S FINDINGS
-------------------
A lot of my findings mirror Jim & Marco, this is not a bad thing and I didn't want to rehash old comments. I wanted to confirm what others had to say and
see where the combo differed from their findings. For the duration of this review the JICO Ellipitcal Stylus & Snakewood Body will be known as the "combo".
The combo will track ANY piece of vinyl you throw at it. It has the lengendary tracking ability of all 1970's Shure carts. I've applied zero bias on my
Alphason tonearm, the tracking is that good! The combo does not sound edgy in any way shape or form there is no hyper analytical treble. Unlike the NOS shure stylus the combo can seperate instruments out very nicely thanks very much but avoids the analytical presentation of a 2M black everything is presented with fantastic detail. The soundstage is wide and deep and does not suffer from being closed in, it's cohesive and just sounds correct. The soundstage is very well defined in 3D but it's a loose, smooth type of 3D image which just allows you to relax and listen to what's on the vinyl. It's like drinking your second shot of single malt, the point where things become a little mellow. There is plenty of seperation between the instruments, just enough for you to individually follow each individual instrument through a track and then instantly snap back into the cohesion of the whole soundstage.
The flimsy body of the Shure M55E
18906
The presentation from the combo is non-fatiguing and extremely addicitive. Detail is present in an abundance mainly due to virtually zero surface noise unlike my Ortofon Cadenza black which is hyper analytical at the expense of surface noise. Bass is tuneful and plentiful, no bloat, it's very textured and pitched at just the right level, just enough not to swamp the soundstage. Vocals seem to be another strong point of the combo, listening to SADE gives me a very even handed, relaxing presentation. The combo is pretty unflappable and will play any genre of music you like. I've tried heavy rock (deep purple) and it loves it, dig out some analouge synth Jan Michelle Jarre / Kraftwerk - sounds excellent. Drop on some Jazz, irrespective of it's a slightly dodgy live recordings or something like a MoFo 45RPM remaster and It'll produce a very nice sound for you.
The Combo producing wonderful sonics on my Lenco
1890318904
The combo is a genuine all rounder when it comes to musical reproduction. I have cartridges which put the combo to shame but the combo is unparalleld when you consider the cost and the sonic returns. It's the best value for money on a cartridge I have ever spent. This combo still has some more mileage in that it will respond even further with the JICO neoSAS N55E stylus and I'm putting my money where my mouth is and buying one in January!!! I still have a little experimentation to try with further resonance dampening and additional mass to the fixed headshell on the Alphason tonearm. It is an unknown quantity if these extra tweaks to vibration supression and additional mass will add anything to the improvement of the combo but I sure as hell can have some fun trying!
A tweakers delight
18905
Value for Money?
----------------
Marco and Jim have highighted that you would need to spend ~£500 to get a better MM cartridge and I would have to agree. The 55/JICO Elliptical/Snakewood body will quite happily trounce anything upto £500 in the MM arena and probably give MC carts of upwards £500-1K bracket a very very good run for their money. The bar would be pushed even further with the top end of the range JICO neoSAS Stylus what retails at $211. I think myself, Marco and Jim are in agreement that this is a true giant killing cartridge. It loves to be tweaked and is the cartridge that keeps on giving. This is one cartridge that I intend to keep and use on a daily basis.
Plus Points
+ Tracking is amongst the best I've seen.
+ No surface noise on well looked after vinyl, it's silent. Even badly scratched/dirty pressings show a decrease in surface noise.
+ Probably the best MM cart I've ever heard.
+ Immense fun.
+ GIANT KILLER!!
+ Fantastic value for money.
+ A tweakers delight.
+ Fantastic all rounder.
+ Easy to setup.
+ Not fussy, will play ANYTHING and it gives you 100% ever performance.
Negative Points
- Sibilance can strike if the tracking weight is not spot on.
- The Snakewood body may need modding.
- You need to "debody" the old brown M55E plastic casing.
- Prices are beginning to creep up for the brown bodied Shure M55E
The Shure M55E + JICO Elliptical Stylus + Snakewood Body Review
Variables
---------
Shure M55E - £20 Brown bodied version
Stylus - £41 JICO Elliptical stylus - N55E[e007413]
Body - £40 Snakewood
Tracking 1.7g
Bias NIL!
Mounting Bolts 3mm (Slightly chunkier than normal).
Turntable Lenco GL75
Voltage 215V
Hz 50
Tonearm alignment carefully checked.
Tonearm RCA's and Earth spade carefully cleaned.
Shure M55E pins carefully cleaned.
Cartridge tracking parallel to vinyl surface at 2mm clearence.
My Solid State system was used for testing this cartridge. Please see my signature.
ANDREW'S FINDINGS
-------------------
A lot of my findings mirror Jim & Marco, this is not a bad thing and I didn't want to rehash old comments. I wanted to confirm what others had to say and
see where the combo differed from their findings. For the duration of this review the JICO Ellipitcal Stylus & Snakewood Body will be known as the "combo".
The combo will track ANY piece of vinyl you throw at it. It has the lengendary tracking ability of all 1970's Shure carts. I've applied zero bias on my
Alphason tonearm, the tracking is that good! The combo does not sound edgy in any way shape or form there is no hyper analytical treble. Unlike the NOS shure stylus the combo can seperate instruments out very nicely thanks very much but avoids the analytical presentation of a 2M black everything is presented with fantastic detail. The soundstage is wide and deep and does not suffer from being closed in, it's cohesive and just sounds correct. The soundstage is very well defined in 3D but it's a loose, smooth type of 3D image which just allows you to relax and listen to what's on the vinyl. It's like drinking your second shot of single malt, the point where things become a little mellow. There is plenty of seperation between the instruments, just enough for you to individually follow each individual instrument through a track and then instantly snap back into the cohesion of the whole soundstage.
The flimsy body of the Shure M55E
18906
The presentation from the combo is non-fatiguing and extremely addicitive. Detail is present in an abundance mainly due to virtually zero surface noise unlike my Ortofon Cadenza black which is hyper analytical at the expense of surface noise. Bass is tuneful and plentiful, no bloat, it's very textured and pitched at just the right level, just enough not to swamp the soundstage. Vocals seem to be another strong point of the combo, listening to SADE gives me a very even handed, relaxing presentation. The combo is pretty unflappable and will play any genre of music you like. I've tried heavy rock (deep purple) and it loves it, dig out some analouge synth Jan Michelle Jarre / Kraftwerk - sounds excellent. Drop on some Jazz, irrespective of it's a slightly dodgy live recordings or something like a MoFo 45RPM remaster and It'll produce a very nice sound for you.
The Combo producing wonderful sonics on my Lenco
1890318904
The combo is a genuine all rounder when it comes to musical reproduction. I have cartridges which put the combo to shame but the combo is unparalleld when you consider the cost and the sonic returns. It's the best value for money on a cartridge I have ever spent. This combo still has some more mileage in that it will respond even further with the JICO neoSAS N55E stylus and I'm putting my money where my mouth is and buying one in January!!! I still have a little experimentation to try with further resonance dampening and additional mass to the fixed headshell on the Alphason tonearm. It is an unknown quantity if these extra tweaks to vibration supression and additional mass will add anything to the improvement of the combo but I sure as hell can have some fun trying!
A tweakers delight
18905
Value for Money?
----------------
Marco and Jim have highighted that you would need to spend ~£500 to get a better MM cartridge and I would have to agree. The 55/JICO Elliptical/Snakewood body will quite happily trounce anything upto £500 in the MM arena and probably give MC carts of upwards £500-1K bracket a very very good run for their money. The bar would be pushed even further with the top end of the range JICO neoSAS Stylus what retails at $211. I think myself, Marco and Jim are in agreement that this is a true giant killing cartridge. It loves to be tweaked and is the cartridge that keeps on giving. This is one cartridge that I intend to keep and use on a daily basis.
Plus Points
+ Tracking is amongst the best I've seen.
+ No surface noise on well looked after vinyl, it's silent. Even badly scratched/dirty pressings show a decrease in surface noise.
+ Probably the best MM cart I've ever heard.
+ Immense fun.
+ GIANT KILLER!!
+ Fantastic value for money.
+ A tweakers delight.
+ Fantastic all rounder.
+ Easy to setup.
+ Not fussy, will play ANYTHING and it gives you 100% ever performance.
Negative Points
- Sibilance can strike if the tracking weight is not spot on.
- The Snakewood body may need modding.
- You need to "debody" the old brown M55E plastic casing.
- Prices are beginning to creep up for the brown bodied Shure M55E