Old Shure carts.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Which of the Shure carts from the 70s is supposed to be the best?

the v15 range of carts, the sc35c, the m45/55/75 etc range of carts?


discuss .com.....

[Wakefield Turntables]

22 views and no reply, :rolleyes:

[Barry]

Depends on the arm being used. So if a Garrard SP25 or AP75, then a Shure M44-5. If say a Thorens TD150AB, then one can use an M32E, M44E, or possibly an M55E.

For the M75E, M75ED, and higher, you need a good arm, such as the, then contemporary, SME. And for the V15 series, which have a high compliance, a low mass arm is definitely required.

As to which is best - well I started with a modest M3D, then almost immediately upgraded to an SME/M55E combo, then a M75ED (briefly) before using a V15 II (improved) finishing with a V15 III. At this point I lost interest in Shure cartridges as I had by then discovered Deccas, Ortofons, and ADC carts., all of which were better to my ears.

However if I had waited until the advent of the V15 IV, then that would have been a different matter.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Thanks Barry.

[Bigman80]

I had a v15III. I was really impressed with it. If I hadn't needed the money, I'd still have it.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Wakefield Turntables]

I have two Shure

1. M55e with new JICO neoSAS stylus and snakewood body
2. V15 III with VN35e stylus

love em both. Always wondered if better could be had with the lesser Shure carts.

[walpurgis]

M91ED was a favourite of mine. Highish compliance though.

[cre009]

Just acquired an M95ED unexpectedly. No stylus but is it worth my while getting a stylus for this one?

I have a V15 type 3 on my 301/3009 combo with entry level stylus that works well enough for me plus an M75ED on one of my other decks. Prefer the V15 out of the two.

[walpurgis]

The M95ED was well enough liked as I recall. A genuine stylus may be tricky to find. I still have an original box for the M95ED if you're interested.

[cre009]

Thanks - don't think I need the box as it will just end up as clutter in a draw! The M95ED was not one I know much about so I will probably just get a cheap after market stylus to confirm the cartridge works first. I did the same with the other two that also came without a stylus. The V15 would probably merit one of the more expensive replacements but I am getting along quite well with the cheapo one.

[karma67]

I could be wrong but isn't the 55 the same internally as the v15, just not hand put together with close tolerances ?

[DSJR]

The 55E was a more commercial version of the original V15 I believe, in the same way the 75-ED was a downgraded? v15 T2 (the diamond is naked as is the V15T2, but not the same quality if mine are anything to go by). The M95 body borrowed from the V15 III and the M97 in original form borrowed from the V15 IV, although the IV was a law unto itself in terms of coil specs I think. The current bargain priced 97XE borrows from the fondly remembered V15V-XMR body and if anyone's interested, may I suggest grabbing one while they're still around a ton in price, as all the competition (Grado, Ortofon, Goldring and so on) has gone up 50% or more in recent times and the inferior lower model Nagaokas, which used to be cheap-as-chips in earlier lives and half the price of a 97HE for example, now cost around the same :( The Jico SAS stylus takes it to another level apparently, but the measurements alter as the stylus 'resonance' is taken to a higher frequency I believe.

Vinyl Engine is your friend as long as you're willing to trawl through many years of threads and posts. It seems that there are around five generic Shure bodies, which with refinements (laminated poles and so on) and a multitude of plastic mounting arrangements, made for seemingly hundreds of models. The styli play a huge part too as their resonance qualities helped define each model I understand.

The SC35 body is related to other models (V15 II type?), but lacks the laminated pole pieces it seems. The best universal 75 era body is the humble M75-6S type with metal mounting bracket, as this body takes all the 75's, 91's, 93E and I think the 70 models too (no plastic to cut away).

[walpurgis]

The best universal 75 era body is the humble M75-6S type with metal mounting bracket, as this body takes all the 75's, 91's, 93E and I think the 70 models too (no plastic to cut away).

Yes. I've got one. With a very rare NOS Goldring M75E stylus fitted. And yes, Goldring did make replacement styli for Shure cartridges. Very high quality ones too.

[DSJR]

You learn something new every day - thanks for that nugget :D Goldring used to do good MC rebuilds too. A shame they don't seem to support their older cartridges, as the G800 stylus went from a nail to something far better with a neater better polished diamond during its life in my experience.

Expert Styli also sell or used to sell Shure compatible styli. Not sure (sorry!) if they make their own or buy from a trusted third party, but I'm informed a generic 75 'elliptical' they sold for not much (under £30 if memory serves) was actually very good.

[Oddball]

Yes. I've got one. With a very rare NOS Goldring M75E stylus fitted. And yes, Goldring did make replacement styli for Shure cartridges. Very high quality ones too.
I have got 2 Shure M75-6S bodies that came on ADC /HMV / BSR decks and I love them both . Very versatile and musical to me ,so I resist the hunt for the Holy Grail by constantly sampling other Shure offerings (mind you I,m tight!!!:lol:)

[walpurgis]

I do like and use (some) older Shures, but have to admit, my favourite non MC cartridges aside from Deccas are good ADC's. Sorry about that! :)

[Barry]

I do like and use (some) older Shures, but have to admit, my favourite non MC cartridges aside from Deccas are good ADC's. Sorry about that! :)

The only Shures I have now are a couple of M55Es. Still prefer my ADCs (25 and 10E IV) and my AKG (P8ES). Oh - and Deccas of course!

[Wakefield Turntables]

The 55E was a more commercial version of the original V15 I believe, in the same way the 75-ED was a downgraded? v15 T2 (the diamond is naked as is the V15T2, but not the same quality if mine are anything to go by). The M95 body borrowed from the V15 III and the M97 in original form borrowed from the V15 IV, although the IV was a law unto itself in terms of coil specs I think. The current bargain priced 97XE borrows from the fondly remembered V15V-XMR body and if anyone's interested, may I suggest grabbing one while they're still around a ton in price, as all the competition (Grado, Ortofon, Goldring and so on) has gone up 50% or more in recent times and the inferior lower model Nagaokas, which used to be cheap-as-chips in earlier lives and half the price of a 97HE for example, now cost around the same :( The Jico SAS stylus takes it to another level apparently, but the measurements alter as the stylus 'resonance' is taken to a higher frequency I believe.

Vinyl Engine is your friend as long as you're willing to trawl through many years of threads and posts. It seems that there are around five generic Shure bodies, which with refinements (laminated poles and so on) and a multitude of plastic mounting arrangements, made for seemingly hundreds of models. The styli play a huge part too as their resonance qualities helped define each model I understand.

The SC35 body is related to other models (V15 II type?), but lacks the laminated pole pieces it seems. The best universal 75 era body is the humble M75-6S type with metal mounting bracket, as this body takes all the 75's, 91's, 93E and I think the 70 models too (no plastic to cut away).

Ive come to the conclusion just to buy, try, sell/keep depending upon sonic outcome! I can't be arsed reading years and years of posts.

[Jimbo]

Good idea Andy, that's what I would do. Trying them in your own set up really is the only way to know if any of the Shure cartridges really sound great.

Going by other folks hazy recollections will not really tell you much other than how they performed in their particular systems.

[Barry]

Good idea Andy, that's what I would do. Trying them in your own set up really is the only way to know if any of the Shure cartridges really sound great.

Going by other folks hazy recollections will not really tell you much other than how they performed in their particular systems.

+1, although IMO only the newer V15s would be worth considering these days.

[petrat]

Well, my hazy recollection is that I used a 75ED exclusively during the 70s and 80s, just getting a new stylus every couple of years. My brother then used it for another decade or so ... so, at least I can vouch for their longevity :D Never felt any compunction to 'upgrade either', so it must have been doing something right.

One thing I hadn't fully realised was the range of compliances that there are across the Shure range. Recently, I wasn't overly impressed with a high compliance 55 in a medium mass Jelco 250 arm, but a low compliance SC35C positively sings in my heavy Fidelity Research arm.

Something I don't think Shure get enough recognition for, is that they produced millions of affordable cartridges during a time when vinyl was pretty much all there was .. they truly made decent hifi accessible to the masses. All my mates had Shures ... we never considered anything else tbh.

[Barry]

Curiously the only reason why I started with a Shure cartridge was because I couldn't find a retailer to source me a Bang & Olufsen cartridge.

I was after an SP6 (or was it an SP10? Can't remember now!), and when I couldn't get one I asked what Shure cartridge could I get for the same price. The answer was a Shure M3D, which I reluctantly bought, but changed it within a year to an M55E.

A couple of years ago I obtained a B&O SP6 off eBay for £5 in good condition. The sound is very much of its time, but sadly I no longer have the Shure M3D to compare it with.

I used to have a Shure SC35C sans stylus, but never felt the urge to buy a new stylus - so found it a good home instead.