ADC QLM MkIII vs. Shure m97xe

[Athabaska]

Hey y'all!

I've got a sweet Kenwood KP-5022 TT coming my way, with an ADC QLM MkIII cartridge installed. I was planning on replacing it with my Shure m97xe, but before I subject myself to the pain of alignment, track force adjustment, etc. I wanted to be SHURE this is a good switch.

From what little I've gathered on the ADC, it seems like the Shure is a no-brainer upgrade. Do I have that right?

ATHA

 

[marcmorin]

Hey y'all!

I've got a sweet Kenwood KP-5022 TT coming my way, with an ADC QLM MkIII cartridge installed. I was planning on replacing it with my Shure m97xe, but before I subject myself to the pain of alignment, track force adjustment, etc. I wanted to be SHURE this is a good switch.

From what little I've gathered on the ADC, it seems like the Shure is a no-brainer upgrade. Do I have that right?

ATHA

QLM 34 or 36, the M97xE will be a big jump. So to answer your question, you have that right.

 

[noise gate]

I got five bucks says there's an Aussie that will have an opinion on this.

 

[Vinylmasters]

I got five bucks says there's an Aussie that will have an opinion on this.

:yes:

 

[ZebraBlvd]

:yes:

I'll see your :yes: and raise you two :yes: :yes:

 

[KentTeffeteller]

And there would be a Southerner who would tell you to keep the QLM Mk III and enjoy it. It was one of the best tracking budget cartridges once upon a time. And can in many cases outperform said Shure in the tracking department.

 

[gadget73]

Will the QLM take the XLM stylii? If so, I'd rock the QLM with an upgrade stylus. I really like the sound of mine with that Jico RZL stylus on it.

 

[wualta]

If the stylus is a QLM 36 Mk III Improved with a flip-down stylus guard, it's basically a last-generation VLM, which would put it a step-and-a-half behind the last-gen XLM. No slouch, this last-gen QLM. The whole cartridge should look just like this:

If the cartridge under consideration has the closed bolt holes in the photo and/or the "Omni Pivot Improved" sticker on top, it will accept the Mk III styli of the XLM VLM and ZLM.