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Did Shure stop making cartridges?

K Richner

K Richner

Active Member
Since getting my first TT in decades I finally remembered the brand Cartridge I liked "Shure" I read somewhere they got out.of the Cart business? Is this true? Is it worth buying a used or new old stock? If I do will the needles be available?
 
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Yep they left, but prices are way way way out of control for any NOS left.

Jico makes nice replacements, and many originals are out there. But once again, prices are higher for those.

Athanasios
 
Nashou66 said:
Yep they left, but prices are way way way out of control for any NOS left.

Jico makes nice replacements, and many originals are out there. But once again, prices are higher for those.

Athanasios
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Bought two Shure M97xE cartridges when they were $59.99 each on Amazon! Those were the days. Can't believe how much they want for a new one now! Still have both cartridges.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Bought two Shure M97xE cartridges when they were $59.99 each on Amazon! Those were the days. Can't believe how much they want for a new one now! Still have both cartridges.
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I bought a Shure M44G cause I needed a cart for a TT I bought on cragslist just to try it out, I think it was like 45 or 55 bucks. NOS now are crazy price wise!!

Athanasios
 
Makes me think I should sell my collection of cartridges and NOS stylus assemblies. ;) Not sure if the prices are at a peak but I think they will continue to rise along with the cost/price of gear. As long as a fresher generation then I continue to take an interest in analog prices will rise.
 
johnjhazel said:
There are plenty of used Shure cartridges at reasonable prices on eBay. Best deal is to buy one without a stylus and get whatever stylus you like separately.
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Second this. I foolishly sold the M91 that came with my AR-XA and decided I wanted one, got it on the Bay with a new aftermarket elliptical for the same price I sold the cart body. Basically got a free stylus and sold an untested cart body to someone who wanted that. Win-win.
 
zoombrewer77 said:
Second this. I foolishly sold the M91 that came with my AR-XA and decided I wanted one, got it on the Bay with a new aftermarket elliptical for the same price I sold the cart body. Basically got a free stylus and sold an untested cart body to someone who wanted that. Win-win.
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I bought a Shure M95 and an Ortofon VMS 20E MK II from eBay without styli and they were very inexpensive. I just received a box of cartridges from a friend who used to own an audio shop here in Phoenix. He retired and the business closed. It was my favorite audio dealership.
 
used the carts tend to be cheap, NOS prices are stupid though. The nails can sometimes be had for not incredible money, sometimes even NOS ones if you aren't after the really high end ones. Stanton stuff is the same story.
 
Towards the end of production (maybe it was just my bad luck) I had to purchase 3 Shure M97xE to get one 'good one' -- Thanks to amazon generous return policy , sent the other two back

But in the end it was and still is a very nice cart

OTOH... I picked up a V15-III on 'bay cheap... got an aftermarket stylus and it is superb
 
gadget73 said:
used the carts tend to be cheap, NOS prices are stupid though. The nails can sometimes be had for not incredible money, sometimes even NOS ones if you aren't after the really high end ones. Stanton stuff is the same story.
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NOS OEM can be really expensive. Used OEM(catridges) is not so bad. Used OEM needles are not in great demand. But one can always get a used OEM needle retipped and retain the original stylus assembly design. TOTL OEM NOS (LOL) prices can be stupid as you mentioned.
 
You should consider yourself lucky if you can’t afford the m97xe . I probably got one of the bad ones . It had to be the worst cartridge I have ever owned. I mean it worked and if I had no real experience or references to many other cartridges, I may have been happy . Get a used m91, m95, v15 etc and put a good stylus on it if needed. You’ll be money ahead and superior sound.
 
I was also not impressed with the M97xe I had, but enough people like them that I can't swear it wasn't just a dud or a setup problem or something. I traded it for a Garrard Lab 80 a bunch of years ago and was perfectly fine with that choice. The idea of spending 800 bucks for one is just insane to me. For that kind of money I'd be looking at a much higher caliber of cart.
 
Frank Sol said:
Towards the end of production (maybe it was just my bad luck) I had to purchase 3 Shure M97xE to get one 'good one' -- Thanks to amazon generous return policy , sent the other two back

But in the end it was and still is a very nice cart

OTOH... I picked up a V15-III on 'bay cheap... got an aftermarket stylus and it is superb
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Yep that V15-III is a wonderful thing with the right stylus. I paid 125.00 for a NOS MR stylus about seven years ago and it was like angels pulling a veil away from my ears and hearing a piece of heaven.
 
gadget73 said:
I was also not impressed with the M97xe I had, but enough people like them that I can't swear it wasn't just a dud or a setup problem or something. I traded it for a Garrard Lab 80 a bunch of years ago and was perfectly fine with that choice. The idea of spending 800 bucks for one is just insane to me. For that kind of money I'd be looking at a much higher caliber of cart.
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The Lab 80 is fun... I have five head shells, four armed with carts for quick changes of pace.
 
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