soundoc03
Super Member
I have been shopping eBay for oem Shure styli for my M91 and M95ED cartridges for a while now and can't believe how much these NOS styli are selling for. I have been wondering how much better a 20yr old plus cantilever is than a current Swiss or Japanese made generic.
Tonight I have been experimenting with a V15-ll (NOS) and a M95ED with a $9.95 Swiss generic stylus purchased from Parts Express. I have a fully reburbished and tweaked Dual 1228 playing through a MX-110 phono input and Luxman MB-3045s monos. The speakers are KEF 103.2 on Sound Anchors stands.
I am listening to Brubeck's Gone with the Wind album and have played it over and over switching back and forth between the two Shures. For those not familiar, the V15- ll was one of the first high end Shures of the late 60's. I was able to find a NOS later "improved" stylus with the red Super Track logo. This was replaced in th early 70's with the lll which many claim to be a vast improvement. The M95ED was marketed by Shure as second only to the TOTL V15-lll
From the basis of my listening tonight I really can't make out any appreciable differences between the two. Considering that the set up allows me to quickly exchange the premounted headshells I think the A-B comparison has some validity
I am wondering if too much is being made about Shure oem styli. Perhaps a Swiss made one that is factory fresh is a much better economical choice and maybe just as good sonically. I am wondering if anyone else has had a different experience.
Tonight I have been experimenting with a V15-ll (NOS) and a M95ED with a $9.95 Swiss generic stylus purchased from Parts Express. I have a fully reburbished and tweaked Dual 1228 playing through a MX-110 phono input and Luxman MB-3045s monos. The speakers are KEF 103.2 on Sound Anchors stands.
I am listening to Brubeck's Gone with the Wind album and have played it over and over switching back and forth between the two Shures. For those not familiar, the V15- ll was one of the first high end Shures of the late 60's. I was able to find a NOS later "improved" stylus with the red Super Track logo. This was replaced in th early 70's with the lll which many claim to be a vast improvement. The M95ED was marketed by Shure as second only to the TOTL V15-lll
From the basis of my listening tonight I really can't make out any appreciable differences between the two. Considering that the set up allows me to quickly exchange the premounted headshells I think the A-B comparison has some validity
I am wondering if too much is being made about Shure oem styli. Perhaps a Swiss made one that is factory fresh is a much better economical choice and maybe just as good sonically. I am wondering if anyone else has had a different experience.
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