Wakefield Turntables
23-07-2023, 19:27
The Shure SC35C + JICO/S stylus - a few early notes = PART I
This combo is something that I decided I wanted to try after I had the Shure M55e and JICO SAS/S stylus combo. I was hugely impressed with the M55e combo and rather being a bit ham fisted knackered the SAS/S stylus. Anyways, after a little research I decided to try the SC35C, something which was used as a broadcast cartridge and comparable (to an extent) to the later shue V15 models. My sample has been modded in that I decided to add a PARADOX aluminium body, maybe not the best option but further experimentation may be needed here. This SC35C still needs another 10 hours or so usage to bed in, currently I would estimate its probably had about 30 hours. My speakers are an old pair of IMF Supercompact II's which have been slightly modded in that I have recapped them and replaced the speaker binding posts with some solid copper jobbies. The caps on the speakers have bedded in, they have had well over 100 hours so the sonic output should be stable. This experiment was originally started to look for a cheaper alternative than a Ortofon 2M black (2MB). I reviewed the 2MB in my third hi-fi system extensively earlier in the year and concluded it was the finest MM cartridge I'd ever heard, albeit with a few caveats, mainly, it was a PITA to set up and was very prone to excessive surface noise, but the sonic presentation more than compensated for these minor issues.
Currently, the SC35C is performing very well. It produces a very well defined soundstage. Soundstage is not the deepest I've heard and not the same depth as the 2MB but not that far away. Width of soundstage is equally on par with the 2MB. It is extremely easy to follow individual instruments in a complex piece of music I would say that a major bonus of the SC35C + JICO/S combo is lack of surface noise, it is far less prone to this problem than the Ortofon 2MB. Setup for the SC35C is less troublesome as well. I will detail my setup procedure at some point but for now let's just stick to the early stages of this experiment and enjoy the jormey. Lets have a look at costs for the Ortofon 2MB, prices seem to be around the £525 bracket whilst the Ortofon 2M Black LV250 top out at £1000ish. I will start to look into the LVB250 at some point, but let's remember we are at the beginning of our journey. The SC35C can be purchased for £100 -£200 delivered, and then there is the argument about mexican or american SC35C, I'll get into that again at some point into the future. The JICO SAS/B can be purchased for $252 (£196) or the JICO SAS/S for $349 (£271) + lets say £70 import duty so between £350 - £420 for a SC35C and a choice of stylii, still cheaper than £525 for the 2MB. The price of the SC35C + JICO combo is cheaper than the 2MB and then we have the very sticky subject of replacement Stylii for the 2MB which start at £435. So to conclude the SC35C/JICO combo is cheaper irrespective of whatever combo you purchase and the replacement stylii are also markedly cheaper. Now, are you holding onto your listening room chair seat, we are looking at £849 for a replacementy stylii for the Ortofon 2M LVB 250. So > £1K for the top of the range MM from Ortofon. I have not looked into other MM's from other companies, so maybe you could suggest something that topples the Ortofon offerings, PLEASE COMMENTS, LET'S MAKE THIS A DEBATE.
OK, enough for now, stay tuned.... :)
This combo is something that I decided I wanted to try after I had the Shure M55e and JICO SAS/S stylus combo. I was hugely impressed with the M55e combo and rather being a bit ham fisted knackered the SAS/S stylus. Anyways, after a little research I decided to try the SC35C, something which was used as a broadcast cartridge and comparable (to an extent) to the later shue V15 models. My sample has been modded in that I decided to add a PARADOX aluminium body, maybe not the best option but further experimentation may be needed here. This SC35C still needs another 10 hours or so usage to bed in, currently I would estimate its probably had about 30 hours. My speakers are an old pair of IMF Supercompact II's which have been slightly modded in that I have recapped them and replaced the speaker binding posts with some solid copper jobbies. The caps on the speakers have bedded in, they have had well over 100 hours so the sonic output should be stable. This experiment was originally started to look for a cheaper alternative than a Ortofon 2M black (2MB). I reviewed the 2MB in my third hi-fi system extensively earlier in the year and concluded it was the finest MM cartridge I'd ever heard, albeit with a few caveats, mainly, it was a PITA to set up and was very prone to excessive surface noise, but the sonic presentation more than compensated for these minor issues.
Currently, the SC35C is performing very well. It produces a very well defined soundstage. Soundstage is not the deepest I've heard and not the same depth as the 2MB but not that far away. Width of soundstage is equally on par with the 2MB. It is extremely easy to follow individual instruments in a complex piece of music I would say that a major bonus of the SC35C + JICO/S combo is lack of surface noise, it is far less prone to this problem than the Ortofon 2MB. Setup for the SC35C is less troublesome as well. I will detail my setup procedure at some point but for now let's just stick to the early stages of this experiment and enjoy the jormey. Lets have a look at costs for the Ortofon 2MB, prices seem to be around the £525 bracket whilst the Ortofon 2M Black LV250 top out at £1000ish. I will start to look into the LVB250 at some point, but let's remember we are at the beginning of our journey. The SC35C can be purchased for £100 -£200 delivered, and then there is the argument about mexican or american SC35C, I'll get into that again at some point into the future. The JICO SAS/B can be purchased for $252 (£196) or the JICO SAS/S for $349 (£271) + lets say £70 import duty so between £350 - £420 for a SC35C and a choice of stylii, still cheaper than £525 for the 2MB. The price of the SC35C + JICO combo is cheaper than the 2MB and then we have the very sticky subject of replacement Stylii for the 2MB which start at £435. So to conclude the SC35C/JICO combo is cheaper irrespective of whatever combo you purchase and the replacement stylii are also markedly cheaper. Now, are you holding onto your listening room chair seat, we are looking at £849 for a replacementy stylii for the Ortofon 2M LVB 250. So > £1K for the top of the range MM from Ortofon. I have not looked into other MM's from other companies, so maybe you could suggest something that topples the Ortofon offerings, PLEASE COMMENTS, LET'S MAKE THIS A DEBATE.
OK, enough for now, stay tuned.... :)