The shure M55E & SC35C are my favourite old school cartridges and when properly modified and matched can outperform most of today's offerings. You need to make sure cartridge output isn't too high with these carts as sibilance can be a problem. Make sure the cartridges "see" the correct amount of loading. This can be done by working out the capacitance of all cables in the signal path and then adding the relevant amount of additional loading via loading plugs into your MM phonostage. The M55E works with with after market Stylii, especially JICO and I've found aftermarket wooden bodies dampen the cart sufficiently to improve it's performance but still allowing vibrancy. I personally use a snakewood body which can be purchase from online. Both the shure carts offer a cheap way into getting into MONO recordings if you so wish, especially the M55E with the N55-1 replacement stylus for pre 1970 mono recordings, post 1970 and you'll need 0.7 stylus. My Shure's are used exclusively with a valve MM phonostage and to be honest make a really nice sound.