What are you playing with your Shure M3D cart today?
- Thread starter illinoisteve
- Start date
beatcomber
AK Member
How does the M3D/M7D compare with, say, an M44-7 or M35X?
illinoisteve
Super Member
Your M3D is so shiny! Do you put some kind of polish on it? Looking at the first pic I was thinking some kind of tire shine product
. Mine has that something closer to (but not quite) a dull Bakelite finish.
illinoisteve
Super Member
Right now my M3D is playing:
"The Shearing Spell"
The George Shearing Quintet
Capitol T648
The record is monaural, but I swear there is so much depth to the presentation I could mistake it for for stereo. There is a lot of treble-zone percussion on some of the tracks, and it comes across as quite finely detailed, and I don't need to turn up the treble knob on my Kenwood KR 5150 to get the higher pitched harmonics--they come right through with the tone controls flat.
"The Shearing Spell"
The George Shearing Quintet
Capitol T648
The record is monaural, but I swear there is so much depth to the presentation I could mistake it for for stereo. There is a lot of treble-zone percussion on some of the tracks, and it comes across as quite finely detailed, and I don't need to turn up the treble knob on my Kenwood KR 5150 to get the higher pitched harmonics--they come right through with the tone controls flat.
The only thing I used was a clip-on reading light for illumination. I angled it to avoid glare. I would say it's more of a glossy rather than a satin finish in natural light, definitely not dull.Your M3D is so shiny! Do you put some kind of polish on it? Looking at the first pic I was thinking some kind of tire shine product
malden
Addicted Member
The M44-7 is livelier, but to my ears, not in a good way. The SC35C is a good alternative to the M3D. I personally think it's a better all round cartridge.
Both the M3D and SC35C have excellent bass, and with their stiff suspensions, are great cartridges for heavy tonearms or record changers. Both have .7 mil conical tips.
The advantages of the SC35C over the M3D are:
less expensive
still in production
can use the N78S stylus for 78's
easier to swap out the stylus
The SC35C can surpass the sound of the M3D by using a JICO SS35C which is a huge improvement over the stock stylus. The JICO replacement, like the original "Made in USA" stylus has a .6 mil conical tip. The current "Made In Mexico" stylus has a .7 mil tip.
https://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=1040
for 78's
https://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=1519
Keep in mind that the N78S tracks between 1.5 and 3 grams, so when swapping styli, you have to change the tracking force.
ivan100000
Active Member
Gentlemen:
If I may briefly interject: As my current N3D stylus is nearing the end, is the Jico replacement the best N3D alternative out there?
If I may briefly interject: As my current N3D stylus is nearing the end, is the Jico replacement the best N3D alternative out there?
malden
Addicted Member
Absolutely yes.
I have just about every after-market N3D replacement and they are all varying degrees of mediocre.
ivan100000
Active Member
Malden, et al:
Any thoughts on this one? I've been monitoring this page for years, and somehow it just doesn't pass the sniff test. I called the guy @2014, and he told me that he bought the stock of genuine Shure N3D styli in bulk packaging from a retired repairman in the UK; claimed he only had 5 or 6 left at that point. Now 5 years later, the ad is still up...
http://www.adelcom.net/ShureStylus1.htm
Any thoughts on this one? I've been monitoring this page for years, and somehow it just doesn't pass the sniff test. I called the guy @2014, and he told me that he bought the stock of genuine Shure N3D styli in bulk packaging from a retired repairman in the UK; claimed he only had 5 or 6 left at that point. Now 5 years later, the ad is still up...
http://www.adelcom.net/ShureStylus1.htm
malden
Addicted Member
I have several original Shure N3D styli, the JICO clone is every bit as good and you don't have to worry about a suspension that is compromised due to age.
ivan100000
Active Member
I'm not a huge Beatles guy, but I played my one Beatles record tonight--a mono Parlophone pressing of The Sarge--and it sounded fantastic.
beatcomber
AK Member
Curious that an auto table was chosen for the DJ's use!
illinoisteve
Super Member
I once talked to a guy who's dad was a radio dj in the early 60s who said his dad and his dj buddies called the M3D "The Nail"!
malden
Addicted Member
illinoisteve
Super Member
I'm curious why there was a DJ on a Navy ship...
Morale Department.
beatcomber
AK Member
I'm curious why there was a DJ on a Navy ship...
That's not too hard to figure out. There's not a whole lot of entertainment options when you're out at sea.
malden
Addicted Member
Sounds like you have some experience being out at sea.
Todd Dodds
Super Member
I'm curious why there was a DJ on a Navy ship...
Because a dance party without a DJ is just plain boring.
malden
Addicted Member
See, that's what I was afraid of...
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