beatcomber
AK Member
Like with any stylus, it will take a little while for it to break in and show what it can do.
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JICO SAS vs. EVG for Shure V-15 III: my review
- Thread starter beatcomber
- Start date
Like with any stylus, it will take a little while for it to break in and show what it can do.
beatcomber
AK Member
EVG also makes available a 3 mil 78 stylus for the V-15 III, which retails for a little under $50 on eBay. I'm planning to order one of those in the near future as well.
Interestingly JICO does not offer that on their own website, which might explain the higher retail price for the EVG (ie: smaller production run).
Interestingly JICO does not offer that on their own website, which might explain the higher retail price for the EVG (ie: smaller production run).
Jeff K
Well-Known Member
I started looking on Ebay for replacement styli for an old M95ed. I'm just trying to get this straight.
The consensus seems to be that Phanstiel is crappy. EVG is good, and probably made by Jico.
Some are referred to on Ebay as "made in Switzerland". Does that equal Phanstiel?
What about the ones that are said to be made by Nagaoka?
Are LP Gear's "made in Japan" styli Jicos?
Thanks, if you can help clear this up for me.
The consensus seems to be that Phanstiel is crappy. EVG is good, and probably made by Jico.
Some are referred to on Ebay as "made in Switzerland". Does that equal Phanstiel?
What about the ones that are said to be made by Nagaoka?
Are LP Gear's "made in Japan" styli Jicos?
Thanks, if you can help clear this up for me.
beatcomber
AK Member
I've used a $14 EVG M95ED replacement, and its quality is on par with the M91ED and V-15 III budget replacements (ie: it's very good).
Jeff K
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I ordered one that the seller said was a Jico for $14. For some reason, all the M95ed styli that were called EVG by the sellers were over $100.
I have several more expensive carts, (OC9mlII, Shure type IV and Vxmr, etc.) but just wanted a beater to play with for nostalgia's sake.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
I spent a little time comparing my JICO SAS ($133) to my EVG 764-DE ($14) last night.
All indications point to JICO as the manufacturer of the EVG, which has a .3 x .7 mil bonded tip.
I found that the cheap EVG compares very favorably! Compared to the SAS, it actually has fuller mids and more bass, although the low end is not as defined. It is also considerably louder than the SAS, giving it a more energetic, peppy character.
As expected, the SAS provides greater detail, resolution and definition, and has more air on top.
Both styli track beautifully at 1.25g. For some applications, the EVG might actually be preferable to the SAS; I like to use it for records that have limited fidelity or are in poor condition. It's great for old mono records.
I would say that the EVG provides 70-80% of the performance of the SAS, which is astounding considering it costs less than 10% of what the SAS costs!!
Unfortunately I am unable to determine which one sounds the closed to OEM; the Shure stylus that came with my V-15 III was compromised when I received it (so I transferred the 'SUPER TRACK PLUS' stylus guard to the SAS).
My EVG showed up one day early. I spent an hour with it, comparing it to my SAS.
The OP's review pretty much nails it so far. The EVG sounds nice right out of the box. It comes with a stylus cover that says 'Special Tracking' on it.
I agree that it pumps up the upper bass/lower mids. Sounds like vintage 70's. I think 70-80% if the SAS performance is a good first estimate. Keep in mind that the SAS is a high bar.
The SAS has the bigger and deeper soundstage and the detail is better, especially in the high frequencies.
I played jazz for the first comparison, I will switch to rock later. I will leave the EVG on for break in, no problem listening to this.
$14 for the EVG. :thmbsp:
beatcomber
AK Member
Thanks for backing up my assessment! I'm glad that I didn't steer you in the wrong direction.
Do you mean that it has a similar character to the original Shure stylus? I don't have one to compare it to.
Do you mean that it has a similar character to the original Shure stylus? I don't have one to compare it to.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
Well I don't have a NOS Shure stylus to compare to either. There is a audio equipment repair shop in town and the owner has NOS V15 styli and says the SAS is better.
I say the EVG is vintage sounding because of the extra omph in the low mids. That warm Shure sound.
Just played Nell Young - After the Gold Rush; now playing ZEP II; in the queue is James Gang - Thirds. None of these records are playable on the SAS. The EVG is more tolerant of the scratches. I have had these records since I was a teen in the 70's.
Gonna break the EVG in with some old classics this weekend.
devildog
Active Member
Well I don't have a NOS Shure stylus to compare to either. There is a audio equipment repair shop in town and the owner has NOS V15 styli and says the SAS is better.
I say the EVG is vintage sounding because of the extra omph in the low mids. That warm Shure sound.
Just played Nell Young - After the Gold Rush; now playing ZEP II; in the queue is James Gang - Thirds. None of these records are playable on the SAS. The EVG is more tolerant of the scratches. I have had these records since I was a teen in the 70's.
Gonna break the EVG in with some old classics this weekend.
You need to drag yourself across the river and listen with me ... invites still open
Pio1980
AK Member
I've heard OEM and SAS in a Shure V15 type 3, OEM is very good, SAS is better IMO.
The EVG elliptical sounds good 1960s to me, more sophisticated 1970s post-CD-4 carts were much better and the SAS is comparable to some of the best if set up right in a good cart. The EVG in, say, an M91 Shure is good but not that. I use the M91/EVG in a PL-L1000 as my preview/ casual listening/ vintage LP player.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
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ssmith3046
Super Member
I'm listening to the EVG in my III now playing AP's Tea For The Tillerman. I still own two original Shure styli and the EVG does have the sonic signature of the original. What's surprising is my opinion is based on no break in. I might keep the SAS out for a bit let this play for a week see what happens. For fifteen dollars this stylus is an amazing buy. Really amazing. Thanks beatcomber for bringing it to my attention.
beatcomber
AK Member
:thmbsp:
beatcomber
AK Member
That makes sense.
One thing that I like about the EVG stylus is it is more compatible with heavier arms. For example, I have an EVG on an M91ED mounted on a Pioneer PL-15D and it sounds just fine; I wouldn't expect the same good results using the SAS on that table.
ssmith3046
Super Member
For fifteen bucks it's a great deal and sounds, at least to my old ears, like an original Shure stylus. Nothing beats the Jico SAS but this is a very good stylus at a great price.
beatcomber
AK Member
It is slightly cheaper to order direct from JICO (including shipping), but they are backlogged something like two months on SAS orders.
Instead I ordered mine from LP Gear, who had it in stock, ready to ship immediately.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
Alright Devildog ... pull the trigger. :thmbsp:
