P-mount cartridge: Shure V-15V or Grado Red ???

[Compwaco]

I need to purchase a new cartridge for my office turntable and it needs to be a P-mount.

Which do you think would sound better...

Shure V-15 type V P-mount ($129 on eBay)
or Grado Prestige1 Red ($140 on Amazon)

I listen mostly to jazz and chamber music and it will be playing through a NAD 3020 Integrated Amp and a pair of Spica TC-50 Speakers.

 

[avole]

I like the Grado Red on my normal mount tonearm, but the Black on my Technics Linear tracker is disappointing. Not a fan of the Shure sound any more but they are pretty neutral and track well.

The other option is Ortofon, in the form of the Digitrac 300SE, which can be bought over here at around the 60€ mark. Equivalent to the OM20 or 30, it works particularly well with classical and jazz. More detail than the Shure and Grado, less warm than the Grado but a touch more lively than both.

 

[dlaloum]

The Shure V15Vp is out of sight better than the Grado Red... not even close to the same league.

If the original stylus is on there and in good condition, you will have a Hypereliptical solid nude mounted needle, on a beryllium tube cantilever.

Other alternatives that would be in the same performance ballpark as the V15Vp:

Digitrack 300SE
Ortofon OMP30 / OMP40


Also the V15Vp can later be fitted with a Jico SAS stylus once the OEM one comes to the end of its life.

My V15Vp runs with a VN5MR-SAS stylus (with the brush) - and is truly superb

The Digitrack 300SE I have is also very very good...

bye for now

David

 

[dlaloum]

The other option is Ortofon, in the form of the Digitrac 300SE, which can be bought over here at around the 60€ mark. Equivalent to the OM20 or 30, it works particularly well with classical and jazz. More detail than the Shure and Grado, less warm than the Grado but a touch more lively than both.

I second the motion for the 300SE.... it is equivalent to the EARLY OM30 - not the current ones.... the early ones were higher compliance - which for a p-mount is definitely BETTER.....

 

[Sam Cogley]

I wish I could find more Digitrac stuff. Currently I have a 200NE stylus on a 300E (I think) body. Great sound quality.

 

[flavio81]

Shure V-15 type V P-mount ($129 on eBay)

That's a steal, this cart retailed about $299 new on LPgear. Be sure that if more people find out about this eBay listing, the cart will be gone soon.

or Grado Prestige1 Red ($140 on Amazon)

That's an overpriced cartridge. Although it sounds nice and mellow.

The Shure V15VP is a better cartridge by miles.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd go here and read up on all the P-Mounts (T4P) and pick something interesting: http://www.turntableneedles.com/search.asp?keyword=t4p&search=GO

I'd likely pass on either of the base options you started with. I'd more likely go with an AT or the Shure M92. I prefer the Shures below the V15 series. It's just me, but they seem to be sort of Grado Lite in that they are round and mellow and very listenable. And, you'd have some money left over for further acquisitions.

The I'd be looking for a few nice used P-Mount bodies like an ADC RPSX-30. There are Pickering and Stanton P-Mount bodies and good styli available for them. Also Ortofon (good choice) and others. There are a fair number of styli for P-Mount cartridges. It's just a matter of finding the right bodies.

Don't forget to do your searches as both P-Mount and T4P which is the actual spec.

 

[whoaru99]

Don't forget to do your searches as both P-Mount and T4P which is the actual spec.

Goes like this doesn't it; not all p-mount cartridges are T4P compliant, but all T4P compliant cartridges are p-mount.