New to me (owing to number13!) - Shure V-15 type 3

davidro

davidro

Lunatic Member
A ridiculously generous AKer, Kevin of Sound Exchange Houston (aka number13), has made a gift of Shure V-15 type 3 to me. He was going to 'give' me a cartridge carrier for Philips 212 (which is going to fit into 202) and the Shure was humbly clipped into it. I couldn't believe his generosity! All he said was 'I joined this forum for information, not business'. I haven't even met this guy and quite possibly never will (me being in Australia)! Thanks heaps again Kev!

V-15 has always been one of those cartridges that I coveted big time. Having had a couple of M97xE however I thought I could just move on to the realm of LOMC without going through the V-15. What a big mistake that could have been! I knew M97xE was not exactly like V-15 but in fact they belonged to quite different spheres. The stylus of V-15 (VN35E?) was a lot thinner than N97xE to begin with and it read the groove information as well as my Ortofon MC cartridge. But what a luscious voice it has! I was listening to some piano pieces last night and they sounded as if they should! Thanks Kev!
 
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G'day mate, I dare say that cartridge may very well become your favourite. :yes: I remember reading the reviews about the type 3 back around 1973 and dearly wanted one. I still do. :yes:

Enjoy it mate. It was certainly a wonderful gestiure from your friend. Great stuff! Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
catman said:
G'day mate, I dare say that cartridge may very well become your favourite. :yes: I remember reading the reviews about the type 3 back around 1973 and dearly wanted one. I still do. :yes:

Enjoy it mate. It was certainly a wonderful gestiure from your friend. Great stuff! Regards, Felix aka catman.
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Thot you had one needing a stylus?
 
Comparing my old original VN35E stylus and my M97xE stylus, they are nearly identical in cantilever diameter and length.

And they are both .2 X .7 mil. ellipticals.

Doug
 
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catman said:
G'day mate, I dare say that cartridge may very well become your favourite. :yes: I remember reading the reviews about the type 3 back around 1973 and dearly wanted one. I still do. :yes:

Enjoy it mate. It was certainly a wonderful gestiure from your friend. Great stuff! Regards, Felix aka catman.
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You've also given me your preamp too! Thanks for that again!

ssmith3046 said:
The V-15 III is a keeper. Try a Jico SAS stylus when you're able to.
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How does Jico SAS compare against the original?

Doug G. said:
Comparing my old original VN35E stylus and my M97xE stylus, they are nearly identical in cantilever diameter and length.

Doug
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Then perhaps mine is VN35HE? It was definitely a lot thinner than N97xE.
 
Unless they have changed the N97xE?

The only difference between a Shure regular elliptical and HE elliptical would be the diamond. The cantilevers are the same. Both very slender.

But my N97xE cantilever is equally as slender.

Doug
 
davidro said:
You've also given me your preamp too! Thanks for that again!



How does Jico SAS compare against the original?



Then perhaps mine is VN35HE? It was definitely a lot thinner than N97xE.
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It's probably the HE version. While I never heard the original VN35HE, I do like the sound of my Jico SAS. Personally, if it sounds alright you don't need to replace the stylus, unless the cantilever is dried out but, I don't think it's a common problem on a Shure. I've had plenty of "second hand" Shure cartridges and they still sounded great, no harshness.
 
If it's an HE and all original, it will have a red fronted stylus guard and have the stylus type printed on the red front.

If it has a silver fronted stylus guard and says "Super Track Plus" on it, it is a regular VN35E stylus.

Doug
 
OK, here's what they look like.

f0018137_4dff405d8f8a3.jpg


f0018137_4dfd68ccd1364.jpg
 
G'day all. David, just a quick question, does the little preamp get much use? Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
That is a regular VN35E stylus (in the photo above).

It is too difficult to compare the cantilevers in those photographs.

We would need a view from the bottom of each cartridge.

Doug
 
catman said:
G'day all. David, just a quick question, does the little preamp get much use? Regards, Felix aka catman.
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Felix I would have had I the expertise to build a case to it! Unfortunately I don't so it's sleeping in my storage.

Doug G. said:
That is a regular VN35E stylus (in the photo above).

It is too difficult to compare the cantilevers in those photographs.

We would need a view from the bottom of each cartridge.

Doug
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Trust me they're very different. I don't have close-up photos here. And that's my second M97xE.
 
G'day all, ok mate, I only found the Digitrac. I'll check again. :scratch2: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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D'oh! It is in there!

G'day all. Pio1980 yes, the V15III is in there! Wow. I feel honoured, now for a stylus.

I can't believe I didn't find it in the box! I think I need even stronger spectacles. :yes: Many thanks mate! Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
That thing came new in a Dual 721 I used briefly in around 1979, I cut it down for an Infinity Black Widow but it never got my interest so it somehow got retired without finding it's way back to the '721 which went away rather quickly due to lack of interest. The stylus was damaged in storage and since I would probably never get around to putting it back into service I thought you should have it as it was on your 'Holy Grail' cart wish list. Enjoy!
 
:lurk:

Some of us here are waiting for the next installment...

Where Felix the cat publishes the best loading setup for a V15-III along with his comparative reviews of M97xE-SAS vs V15-III
 
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